[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 226 (Tuesday, November 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73268-73269]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-29892]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA 2015-0007-N-29]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces that the Information Collection Requests (ICRs) 
abstracted below are being forwarded to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs describes the nature of 
the information collections and their expected burdens. The Federal 
Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the 
following collections of information was published on March 3, 2015 (80 
FR 11518).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 24, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Kimberly Toone, Office of 
Information Technology, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 
New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: 
(202) 493-6132). (These telephone numbers are not toll-free.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
Public Law 104-13, sec. 2, 109 Stat. 163 (1995) (codified as revised at 
44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), and its implementing regulations, 5 CFR part 
1320, require Federal agencies to issue two notices seeking public 
comment on information collection activities before OMB may approve 
paperwork packages. 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.5, 1320.8(d)(1), 
1320.12. On September 21, 2015, FRA published a 60-day notice in the 
Federal Register soliciting comment on ICR that the agency was seeking 
OMB approval. See 80 FR 57044. FRA received no comments after issuing 
this notice. Accordingly, these information collection activities have 
been re-evaluated and certified under 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and are being 
forwarded to OMB for review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12(c).
    Before OMB decides whether to approve these proposed collections of 
information, it must provide 30 days for public comment. 44 U.S.C. 
3507(b); 5 CFR 1320.12(d). Federal law requires OMB to approve or 
disapprove paperwork packages between 30 and 60 days after the 30 day 
notice is published. 44 U.S.C. 3507 (b)-(c); 5 CFR 1320.12(d); see also 
60 FR 44978, 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. OMB believes that the 30 day notice 
informs the regulated community to file relevant comments and affords 
the agency adequate time to digest public comments before it renders a 
decision. 60 FR 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. Therefore, respondents should 
submit their respective comments to OMB within 30 days of publication 
to best ensure having their full effect. 5 CFR 1320.12(c); see also 60 
FR 44983, Aug. 29, 1995.
    Below is a brief summary of the information collection activities 
that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under the PRA:
    Title: Grant Awards and Cooperative Agreements.
    Abstract: FRA solicits grant applications for viable projects 
including, but not limited to, preconstruction planning activities, 
safety improvements, congestion relief, improvement of grade crossings, 
rail line relocation, as well as projects that encourage development, 
expansion, and upgrades to passenger and freight rail infrastructure 
and services. Funded projects are those that meet FRA and government 
wide evaluation standards and align with the President's key strategic 
transportation goals to create safe and efficient transportation 
choices, build a foundation for economic competitiveness, promote 
energy efficiency and environmental quality, and support interconnected 
livable communities.

[[Page 73269]]

    FRA administers award agreements for both construction and non-
construction projects that will result in service benefits or other 
tangible improvements in rail corridors. These projects include 
completion of preliminary engineering, environmental research and 
development, final design, and construction.
    To ensure accountability of Federal award recipients through 
performance and results, including expenditures in support of agreed-
upon activities and allowable costs outlined in a FRA Notice of Grant 
Award (NGA), FRA requires systematic and uniform collection and 
submission of information, as approved by the OMB. Included in this 
information collection are reports and documentation mandated by OMB 
for completion, as well as additional resources to compile evidence 
relevant to addressing FRA's important policy challenges, promoting 
cost-effectiveness in FRA programs, and providing effective oversight 
of programmatic and financial performance. This justification draws on 
innovative FRA program designs to use sophisticated practices in 
delivering Federal financial assistance and encourage continuous 
improvements in service delivery.
    FRA issues and manages awards in compliance with Title 2 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR): Grants and Agreements. This 
justification includes one document package for collection over the 
entire lifecycle of the award process, in adherence to the Uniform 
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements 
for Federal Awards (78 FR 78589, Dec. 26, 2013; 79 FR 75871, Dec. 19, 
2014). All non-research awards are subject to the application, 
reporting, closeout, and other processes described in this 
justification.
    Additionally, the collection detailed in this justification 
represents a combination of previous FRA collection requests, 
including: OMB Control Number 2130-0578, OMB Control Number 2130-0580, 
OMB Control Number 2130-0584, and OMB Control Number 0587. Combining 
these collections under a new collection enables FRA to consolidate 
documentation under one collection, which allows for efficiency and 
provides a uniform period until expiration of this justification 
request.
    Form Number(s): FRA forms 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 229. SF forms 
270, 424, 424A, 424B, 424C, 424D, 425, and LLL.
    Affected Public: State and local governments, government sponsored 
authorities and corporations, and railroads.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 39,521 hours.
    Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 CFR 1320.5(b) and 
1320.8(b)(3)(vi), FRA informs all interested parties that it may not 
conduct or sponsor, and a respondent is not required to respond to, a 
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB 
control number.

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.

Rebecca Pennington,
Chief Financial Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-29892 Filed 11-23-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P