[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 68 (Tuesday, April 11, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17498-17499]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07219]


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 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2017-0002-N-14]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

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

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 information 
collection activity listed below. Before submitting this information 
collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for approval, FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of 
the activity identified in this notice.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than June 12, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on any or all of the following 
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 acknowledge receipt of their respective comments must include a 
self-addressed stamped postcard stating, ``Comments on OMB Control 
Number 2130-0617,'' 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 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

[[Page 17499]]

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. See 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 renewed 
information collection activity regarding: (1) Whether the information 
collection activity is 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 activity, 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 activity on the public by automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques and 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. In summary, FRA reasons that comments 
received will advance three objectives: (1) Reduce reporting burdens; 
(2) ensure it organizes 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 currently approved information 
collection activity that FRA will submit for renewed clearance by OMB 
as required under the PRA:
    Title: Survey of Plant and Insular Tourist Railroads Subject to FRA 
Bridge Safety Standards (49 CFR part 237).
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0617.
    Abstract: Bridge Safety Standards regulations (49 CFR part 237) 
require all owners of railroad track with a gage of 2 feet or more 
supported by a bridge to comply with this part. This includes track 
owners with bridges located within an industrial installation (plant) 
that is not part of the general railroad system of transportation 
(general system) but over which a general system railroad operates. 
Currently, FRA relies on the railroad accident/incident reports (49 CFR 
part 225), to identify track owners subject to the requirements of part 
237, Bridge Safety Standards. However, plant and insular tourist 
railroads are exempt from part 225 (Railroad Accidents/Incidents: 
Reports Classification, and Investigations). This information 
collection request will close this data gap.
    FRA is requesting any railroad serving a plant and moving railroad 
equipment over bridges within the plant, or the plant itself, to advise 
FRA by email if there are railroad bridges within the plant potentially 
subject to FRA Bridge Safety Standards. FRA is also requesting insular 
tourist railroads whose tracks are supported by one or more bridges, to 
advise FRA of the existence of their bridges by email.\1\
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    \1\ As explained in FRA's jurisdiction policy published at 49 
CFR part 209, appendix A, FRA considers a tourist operation to be 
insular if its operations are limited to a separate enclave in such 
a way that there is no reasonable expectation that the safety of any 
member of the public--except a business guest, a licensee of the 
tourist operation or an affiliated entity, or a trespasser--would be 
affected by the operation. FRA does not consider a tourist operation 
to be insular if it has a bridge over a public road or waters used 
for commercial navigation or if it shares a common corridor with 
another railroad (i.e., its operations are within 30 feet of those 
of another railroad).
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    The email notification should include the name of the plant, 
installation, or insular tourist railroad, and address (including city 
and State, contact name, telephone number, and email address). This 
survey is ongoing with approval requested for 3 years.
    FRA wants to identify plant and insular tourist railroads that may 
be subject to part 237 requirements, but are exempt from the part 225 
reporting requirement, to determine risks to railroad safety bridges on 
these railroads pose and aid in planning oversight activities.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 689 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Reporting Burden:

 
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                                         Total number         Time per
                Form                     respondents          response        Total  number       Total burden
                                         (railroads)         (minutes)          responses           (hours)
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Email...............................                689                 15                210                 53
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    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 210.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 53 hours.
    Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved Collection.
    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 it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

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

Sarah L. Inderbitzin,
Acting Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2017-07219 Filed 4-10-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P