[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 127 (Monday, July 2, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31030-31032]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-14339]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2017-0002-N-5]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

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

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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[[Page 31031]]

SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its 
implementing regulations, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) 
seeks to renew the existing information collection abstracted below. 
FRA is soliciting public comment on the activities identified below 
before submitting this collection to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for approval.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
August 31, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the information collection 
activities by mail to either: Mr. Michael E. Jones, Information 
Collection Officer, Office of Railroad Policy & Development, Human 
Factors Division, RPD-34, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Room W38-119, 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, Room W34-212, 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 2130-0615,'' and should also include the title of the 
information collection. Alternatively, comments may be faxed to (202) 
493-6333 or (202) 493-6497, or emailed to Mr. Jones 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. Michael E. Jones, Information 
Collection Officer, Office of Railroad Policy & Development, Human 
Factors Division, RPD-34, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Room W38-119, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 
493-6106), or Ms. Kim Toone, Information Collection Clearance Officer, 
Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, Federal Railroad 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W34-212, Washington, DC 
20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6132).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520, and its 
implementing regulations, Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
(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 of the activities. See 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 
1320.8-12. FRA invites interested parties to comment on the following 
information collection 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, including the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology. See 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1).
    FRA believes that soliciting public comment may reduce the 
administrative and paperwork burdens associated with the collection of 
information that Federal regulations mandate. FRA reasons that comments 
received will advance three objectives: (1) Reducing reporting burdens; 
(2) organizing information collection requirements in a ``user-
friendly'' format to improve the use of such information; and (3) 
accurately assessing the resources expended to retrieve and produce 
information requested. See 44 U.S.C. 3501.
    The summary below describes the information collection that FRA 
will submit to OMB for renewal as the PRA requires:
    Title: Grant Management Requirements for Federal Railroad 
Administration Grant Awards and Cooperative Agreements (``Awards'').
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0615.
    Abstract: FRA is an Operating Administration of the U.S. Department 
of Transportation (DOT). FRA solicits grant applications for 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. FRA funds projects that meet FRA and government-wide 
evaluation standards and align with the DOT Strategic Plan.
    FRA administers award agreements for both construction and non-
construction projects that will result in benefits or other tangible 
improvements in rail corridors, service, safety, and technology. These 
projects include completion of preliminary engineering, environmental, 
research and development, final design, and construction.
    FRA requires systematic and uniform collection and submission of 
information, as approved by OMB, to ensure accountability of Federal 
assistance provided by FRA. Through this information collection, FRA 
will measure Federal award recipients' performance and results, 
including expenditures in support of agreed-upon activities and 
allowable costs outlined in a FRA Notice of Grant Award (NGA). This 
information collection includes OMB-required reports and documentation, 
as well as additional forms and submissions 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.
    FRA issues and manages awards in compliance with 2 CFR part 200: 
Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit 
Requirements for Federal Awards. The forms for which FRA is seeking 
renewal of its current approval in this information collection are 
listed below. All non-research awards are subject to the application, 
reporting, closeout, and other processes described in this 
justification.
    Form(s): All FRA forms may be located at FRA's public website; all 
SF forms may be located at Grants.gov. FRA forms 30 (FRA Assurances and 
Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other 
Responsibility Matters and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements), 31 (Grant 
Adjustment Request Form), 32 (Service Outcome Agreement Annual 
Reporting), 33 (Final Performance Report), 34 (Quarterly Progress 
Report), 35 (Application Form), 217 (Categorical Exclusion Worksheet), 
and 229 (NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership Supplier Scouting--
FRA--Item Opportunity Synopsis). SF forms 270 (Request for Advance or 
Reimbursement), 424 (Application for Federal Assistance), 424A (Budget 
Information for Non-Construction Programs), 424B (Assurances for Non-
Construction Programs), 424C (Budget Information for Construction 
Programs), 424D (Assurances for Construction Programs), 425 (Federal 
Financial Report), and LLL (Disclosure of Lobbying Activities).

[[Page 31032]]

    Respondent Universe: Generally includes State and local governments 
and railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden:

                                                  Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Number of                                     Total burden
                                      Form          respondents        Hours         Frequency         hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Application...................  FRA F 35........             250           34.00            1.00        8,500.00
Application...................  SF 424..........             250            1.10            1.00          275.00
Application...................  SF 424A.........              75            3.00            1.00          225.00
Application...................  SF 424B.........              75            0.25            1.00           18.75
Application...................  SF 424C.........             175            3.00            1.00          525.00
Application...................  SF 242D.........             175            0.25            1.00           43.75
Application...................  SF LLL..........             250            0.17            1.00           42.50
Application...................  FRA F 30........             250            0.25            1.00           62.50
                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal..................  ................  ..............           42.02  ..............        9,692.50
Award & Maintenance...........  FRA F 229.......              64          311.71            1.00       19,949.44
Award & Maintenance...........  SF 270..........             860            1.00            1.00          860.00
Award & Maintenance...........  FRA F 34........             341            2.00            4.00        2,728.00
Award & Maintenance...........  SF 425..........             341            1.50            4.00        2,046.00
Award & Maintenance...........  FRA F 31........             212            1.00            1.00          212.00
Award & Maintenance...........  FRA F 32........              24            1.00            1.00           24.00
Award & Maintenance...........  FRA F 217.......              50          156.00            1.00        7,800.00
Award & Maintenance...........  Environmental                  2       15,552.00            1.00       31,104.00
                                 Impact
                                 Statement (EIS).
Award & Maintenance...........  Environmental                  4        3,120.00            1.00       12,480.00
                                 Assessment (EA).
                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal..................  ................  ..............       19,146.21  ..............       77,203.44
Closeout......................  FRA F 33........              79            8.00            1.00          632.00
                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total.................  ................           3,477  ..............  ..............      174,423.88
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    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 3,477.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 174,423.88.
    Under 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 CFR 1320.5(b), 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.

Mathew Michael Sturges,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2018-14339 Filed 6-28-18; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P