[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 185 (Friday, September 23, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65699-65701]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-22941]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA 2016-0002-N-17]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its 
implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the proposed 
information collection activities described below. Before submitting 
the proposed information collection requests (ICRs) to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is soliciting public 
comment on specific aspects of the activities, which are identified in 
this notice.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than November 22, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on any or all of the proposed 
activities by mail to either: Mr. Robert Brogan, Information Collection 
Clearance Officer, Office of Railroad Safety, Regulatory Analysis 
Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE., Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 20590; or Ms. Kim Toone, 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Information 
Technology, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590. Commenters requesting 
FRA to acknowledge receipt of their respective comments must include a 
self-addressed stamped postcard stating, ``Comments on OMB Control 
Number 2130-XXXX,'' and should also include the title of the collection 
of information. Alternatively, comments may be faxed to (202) 493-6216 
or (202) 493-6497, or emailed to Mr. Brogan at [email protected], 
or to Ms. Toone at [email protected]. Please refer to the assigned OMB 
control number in any correspondence submitted. FRA will summarize 
comments received in response to this notice in a subsequent notice and 
include them in its information collection submission to OMB for 
approval.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Brogan, Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Railroad Safety, Regulatory 
Analysis Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 
493-6292) or Ms. Kim Toone, Information Collection Clearance Officer, 
Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, Federal Railroad 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, 
DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6132). (These telephone numbers are not 
toll free.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520, and its 
implementing regulations, 5 CFR part 1320, require Federal agencies to 
provide 60-days' notice to the public to allow comment on information 
collection activities before seeking OMB approval to implement them. 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), 1320.10(e)(1), 1320.12(a). 
Specifically, FRA invites interested respondents to comment on the 
following summary of proposed information collection activities 
regarding: (1) Whether the information collection activities are 
necessary for FRA to properly execute its functions, including whether 
the activities will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of FRA's 
estimates of the burden of the information collection activities, 
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used to 
determine the estimates; (3) ways for FRA to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information being collected; and (4) ways 
for FRA to minimize the burden of information collection activities on 
the public by automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology (e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of responses). See 44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A), 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1).
    FRA believes soliciting public comment will promote its efforts to 
reduce the administrative and paperwork burdens associated with the 
collection of information Federal regulations mandate. In summary, FRA 
reasons that comments received will advance three objectives: (1) 
Reduce reporting burdens; (2) organize information collection 
requirements in a ``user-friendly'' format to improve the use of such 
information; and (3) accurately assess the resources expended to 
retrieve and produce information requested. See 44 U.S.C. 3501.
    Below is a brief summary of the proposed ICRs that FRA will submit 
for OMB clearance as the PRA requires:
    Title: Remotely Controlled Switch Operations.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0516.
    Abstract: Upon notification of work to be performed on a track a 
remotely controlled switch provides access to, 49 CFR 218.30 and 
218.77, require remotely controlled switch operators to ensure the 
switches are properly lined to protect workers vulnerable to being 
struck by moving cars as they inspect or service rolling equipment on 
the track or occupy camp cars on the track. FRA believes the required 
notifications promote safety by minimizing mental lapses of workers who 
are simultaneously handling several tasks. Sections 218.30 and 218.77 
require operators of remotely controlled switches to maintain a record 
of each notification requesting Blue Signal Protection for 15 days. 
Operators of remotely controlled switches use the information as a 
record documenting Blue Signal Protection of workers or camp cars. This 
record also serves as a valuable resource for railroad supervisors and 
FRA inspectors monitoring regulatory compliance.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.

[[Page 65700]]

    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Respondent Universe: 763 railroads.

                                                Reporting Burden
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                                                            Total annual       Average time per    Total annual
           CFR section             Respondent universe       responses             response        burden hours
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218.30--Blue signal protection of  70 railroads.......  3,600,000            1 minute...........          60,000
 workmen.                                                notifications.
218.77--Protection of occupied     1 railroad.........  575 notifications..  1 minute...........              10
 camp cars.
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    Total Estimated Responses: 3,600,575.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 60,010 hours.
    Status: Regular Review.
    Title: Bad Order and Home Shop Card.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0519.
    Abstract: Under 49 CFR part 215, railroads are required to inspect 
freight cars placed in service and take remedial action when defects 
are identified. Part 215 defects have a history of causing accidents or 
incidents by being inadvertently left in service when not properly 
tagged. A railroad freight car with a part 215 defect may be moved to 
another location for repair only after the railroad has complied with 
the process under 49 CFR 215.9. Section 215.9 requires railroads to 
affix a ``bad order'' tag describing each defect to each side of the 
freight car. It is imperative that a defective freight car be tagged 
``bad order'' so it can be readily identified and moved to another 
location for repair purposes only. At the repair location, the ``bad 
order'' tag serves as a notification of the defective condition of the 
freight car. Railroads must retain each tag for 90 days to verify 
proper repairs were made at the designated location. When inspecting a 
freight car, FRA and State inspectors review all pertinent records to 
determine railroads' compliance with the movement restrictions of 49 
CFR 215.9.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Respondent Universe: 763 railroads.

                                                Reporting Burden
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                                                            Total annual       Average time per    Total annual
           CFR section             Respondent universe       responses             response        burden hours
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215.9--Movement of Defective Cars  763 railroads......  150,000 tags.......  5 minutes..........          12,500
 for Repair--Tagging.
Notifications of Removal of        763 railroads......  75,000               2 minutes..........           2,500
 Defective Car Tags.                                     notifications.
215.11--Designated Inspectors--    763 railroads......  45,000 records.....  1 minute...........             750
 Records.
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    Total Estimated Responses: 270,000.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 15,750 hours.
    Status: Regular Review.
    Title: Bad Order and Home Shop Card.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0520.
    Abstract: 49 CFR 215.301 sets forth certain requirements for the 
stencilling of freight cars. Section 215.301 requires railroads and 
private car owners to stencil or otherwise display identification marks 
on railroad equipment.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Respondent Universe: 763 railroads.
    Total Estimated Responses: 25,000 stencilled/repainted freight 
cars.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 18,750 hours.
    Status: Regular Review.
    Title: Grade Crossing Signal System Safety Regulations.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0534.
    Abstract: FRA believes highway-rail grade crossing (grade crossing) 
accidents resulting from warning system failures can be reduced. 
Accordingly, FRA's regulations require railroads to take specific 
responses if there is an activation failure--when a grade crossing 
warning system fails to indicate the arrival of a train at least 20 
seconds before the train's arrival at the crossing or to indicate the 
presence of a train occupying the crossing. With this information, FRA 
can correlate accident data and equipment malfunctions with the types 
and ages of equipment. FRA can then identify the causes of activation 
failures and investigate them to determine whether periodic 
maintenance, inspection, and testing standards are effective.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.83.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion; record keeping.
    Respondent Universe: 728 railroads.

                                                Reporting Burden
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                                                            Total annual       Average time per    Total annual
           CFR section             Respondent universe       responses             response        burden hours
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234.7--Telephone Notification....  728 railroads......  8 phone calls......  15 minutes.........               2
234.9--Grade crossing signal       728 railroads......  600 reports........  15 minutes.........             150
 system failure reports.
234.105.106/107--Notification to   728 railroads......  24,000               15 minutes.........           6,000
 train crew and highway traffic                          notifications.
 control authority.
234.109--Record Keeping..........  728 railroads......  12,000 records.....  10 minutes.........           2,000
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[[Page 65701]]

    Total Estimated Responses: 36,608.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 8,152 hours.
    Status: Regular Review.
    Title: Bridge Worker Safety Rules.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0535.
    Abstract: Title 49 U.S.C. 20139 requires FRA to issue rules, 
regulations, orders, and standards for the safety of maintenance-of-way 
employees on railroad bridges, including standards for ``bridge safety 
equipment'' such as nets, walkways, handrails, and safety lines, along 
with requirements for using vessels when work is performed on bridges 
located over bodies of water. Subpart B of 49 CFR part 214 establishes 
minimum workplace safety standards for railroad employees as they apply 
to railroad bridges. Specifically, 49 CFR 214.105(c) establishes 
standards and practices for safety net systems. Safety nets and net 
installations must be drop-tested at the job site after initial 
installation and before being used as a fall-protection system, after 
major repairs, and at 6-month intervals if left at one site. If a drop-
test is not feasible and is not performed, then the railroad or 
railroad contractor, or a designated certified person, must provide 
written certification the net complies with the safety standards of 49 
CFR 214.105. FRA and State inspectors use the information to enforce 
Federal regulations. The information maintained at the job site 
promotes safe bridge worker practices.
    Under 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 a collection displays a currently valid OMB control 
number.

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

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 20, 2016.
Patrick T. Warren,
Acting Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 2016-22941 Filed 9-22-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P