[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 176 (Wednesday, September 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43078-43079]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-19353]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2017-0002-N-12]


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 currently approved Information 
Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the 
information collection and its expected burden.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 13, 2017.

ADDRESSES: 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 
collection of information is 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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).

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 1320.10. On May 2, 2017, FRA 
published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on 
the ICR for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 82 FR 20530. 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 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 summary below describes the ICR and its expected burden. FRA is 
submitting the new request for clearance by OMB as the PRA requires.
    Title: Experimental Investigation of Automation-Induced Human Error 
in Locomotive Cab.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-XXXX.
    Abstract: The purpose of this collection is to identify and 
evaluate the potential for human error associated with the operation of 
systems and automation in the locomotive cab. This research addresses 
DOT's strategic goal of safety. Once the nature and risk of the human 
error in locomotive cab systems and automation is better understood, 
error mitigating steps can be taken to provide safer systems and reduce 
the risk of accidents or incidents involving these systems. FRA will 
use the research's results to identify training, operational 
procedures, or automation design standards that will improve the safety 
of automated systems in locomotive cabs.
    Type of Request: New information collection request.

[[Page 43079]]

    Affected Public: Railroad Engineers.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 30.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 195 hours.
    Title: Design and Evaluation of a Robust Manual Locomotive 
Operating Mode.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-XXXX.
    Abstract: The purpose of this study is to design and evaluate a 
prototype locomotive operating mode that allows an operator to 
``manually'' control a train by providing a desired speed target while 
the control system determines the throttle notch changes required. This 
research addresses DOT's strategic goal of safety. Information 
collected from this research will be used by researchers and equipment 
designers to evaluate the merit of a prototype display and control 
configuration maximizing the use of both automation and human 
capabilities. The information will also assist the Federal government 
in recommending display design standards to the rail industry for 
future displays and the results may help design future displays and 
controls for locomotives.
    Type of Request: New information collection request.
    Affected Public: Railroad Engineers and College Student Volunteers.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 30.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 270 hours.

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

Brett A. Jortland,
Acting Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2017-19353 Filed 9-12-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P