[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 133 (Thursday, July 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32439-32440]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14683]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2017-0002-N-20]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

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

ACTION: Notice and comment request.

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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice 
announces that FRA is forwarding the renewal Information Collection 
Requests (ICRs) abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs describe the information 
collections and their expected burden. On March 14, 2017, FRA published 
a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICRs.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 14, 2017.

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 Administration, 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 
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), and 1320.12. On March 14, 2017, FRA 
published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on 
the ICRs for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 82 FR 13711. FRA 
received no comments in response to this notice.
    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

[[Page 32440]]

published. 44 U.S.C. 3507(b)-(c); 5 CFR 1320.12(d); see also 60 FR 
44978, 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. OMB believes 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.
    The summaries below describe the ICRs and their expected burden. 
FRA is submitting the renewal requests for clearance by OMB as the PRA 
requires.
    Title: Hours of Service Regulations.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0005.
    Abstract: FRA's hours of service recordkeeping regulations (49 CFR 
part 228, subpart F), include substantive hours of service requirements 
and recordkeeping and reporting requirements for train employees (i.e., 
locomotive engineers and conductors) providing commuter and intercity 
rail passenger transportation (e.g., maximum on-duty periods, minimum 
off-duty periods, requirements to keep hours of service records and 
report excessive service). The regulations require railroads to 
evaluate work schedules for risk of employee fatigue and implement 
measures to mitigate the risk, and to submit to FRA for approval the 
relevant schedules and fatigue mitigation plans. These requirements 
were mandated by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-
432, Division A). FRA uses the information collected under this rule to 
ensure compliance with the requirements of the regulation. FRA uses the 
information collected to verify that train employees of commuter and 
intercity passenger railroads do not exceed maximum on-duty periods, 
abide by minimum off-duty periods, and adhere to other limitations in 
this regulation, to enhance rail safety and reduce the risk of 
accidents/incidents caused or contributed to by, train employee 
fatigue.
    Type of Request: Extension without change of a current information 
collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses (railroads and signal contractors).
    Form(s): FRA F 6180.3.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 27,687,317.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 3,514,805 hours.
    Title: Reflectorization of Freight Rolling Stock.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0566.
    Abstract: This regulation (49 CFR part 224) requires the 
reflectorization of freight rolling stock (using retroreflective 
material on freight cars and locomotives) to enhance the visibility of 
trains to reduce the number and severity of accidents at highway-rail 
grade crossings where visibility is a contributing factor. FRA uses the 
information collected to verify that the person responsible for the car 
reporting mark is notified after the required inspection when the 
freight equipment has less than 80 percent of the required 
retroreflective sheeting present, undamaged, and unobscured. Further, 
FRA uses the information collected to verify that the required 
locomotive records of retroreflective sheeting defects found after 
inspection are kept in the locomotive cab or in a railroad accessible 
electronic database FRA can access upon request. Finally, FRA uses the 
information collected to confirm that railroads/car owners meet the 
minimum requirements for the inspection and maintenance of the mandated 
retroreflective material. The total estimated annual responses and 
estimated annual burden hours associated with this ICR have been 
modified since the publication of FRA's first required notice under the 
PRA. The estimates in this notice are corrections to accurately account 
for inspection and maintenance requirements and the time required for 
railroads to notify car owners of the condition of the required 
retroreflective material.
    Type of Request: Revision of a current information collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses (railroads and car owners).
    Form(s): FRA F 6180.113.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 34,675.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 8,467 hours.
    Title: Railroad Safety Appliance Standards.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0594.
    Abstract: FRA amended 49 CFR part 231 (Railroad Safety Appliance 
Standards) on April 28, 2011 to add new procedures for approval or 
modification of safety appliances (Sec. Sec.  231.33 and 231.35). See 
76 FR 23714. FRA intended the amendments to promote the safe placement 
and securement of safety appliances on rail equipment by establishing a 
process for the review and approval of existing industry standards. 
This process permits railroad industry representatives to request 
approval of existing industry standards for the safety appliance 
arrangements on newly constructed railroad cars, locomotives, tenders, 
or other rail vehicles, in lieu of the provisions in 49 CFR part 231. 
This special approval process enhances railroad safety by allowing FRA 
to consider technological advancements and ergonomic design standards 
for new car construction. It ensures that new rail equipment complies 
with applicable statutory and safety-critical regulatory requirements 
related to safety appliances while providing the flexibility to 
efficiently address safety appliance requirements on new designs for 
railroad cars, locomotives, tenders, or other rail vehicles. FRA uses 
the information collected under this regulation to better adapt to 
changes in new rail car design while ensuring the safety-appliance 
arrangements on new cars meet the applicable statutory requirements and 
are safe. In this renewal submission, FRA is requesting an extension 
with change due to revised agency estimates.
    Type of Request: Extension with change of a current information 
collection.
    Affected Public: Railroads, Labor Unions/General Public.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 7,190.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 35,107 hours.
    Addressee: Send comments regarding these information collections to 
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management 
and Budget, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention: FRA 
Desk Officer. Comments may also be sent via email to OMB at the 
following address: [email protected].
    Comments are invited on the following: Whether the proposed 
collections of information are necessary for DOT to properly perform 
its functions, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; the accuracy of DOT's estimates of the burden of the proposed 
information collections; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the 
burden of the collections of information on respondents, including the 
use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    A comment to OMB is best assured of having its full effect if OMB 
receives it within 30 days of publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register.

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

Sarah L. Inderbitzin,
Acting Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2017-14683 Filed 7-12-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P