[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 170 (Friday, August 31, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44692-44693]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17284]
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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 (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of Information Collection; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice
announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Request
(ICR) abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and comment. The ICR describes the information collections and
their expected burden. On July 2, 2018, FRA published a notice
providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICR.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
October 1, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the ICR 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].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael Jones, Information
Collection Clearance 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 Administration, 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, 5 CFR part 1320, require Federal agencies to
issue two notices seeking public comment on information collection
activities before OMB may approve paperwork packages. See 44 U.S.C.
3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.8-12. On July 2, 2018, FRA published a 60-day
notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on the ICR for which
it is now seeking OMB approval. See 83 FR 31030. FRA received no
comments in response to this notice.
[[Page 44693]]
Before OMB decides whether to approve these proposed collections of
information, it must provide 30 days for public comment. 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 1320.10(b); 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.
Comments are invited on the following ICR regarding: (1) whether
the information collection activities are necessary for FRA to properly
execute its functions, including whether the information 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 to minimize the burden of information
collection activities on the public, including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
The summary below describes the ICR that FRA will submit for OMB
clearance as the PRA requires:
Title: Grant Management Requirements for the Federal Railroad
Administration Grant Awards Activities 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): 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) may be located at FRA's public website. Standard Forms (SF)
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) may be located at Grants.gov.
Respondent Universe: Generally, includes State and local
governments and railroads.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
Total Estimated Annual Responses: 3,477.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 174,423.88 hours.
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.
Juan D. Reyes III,
Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2018-17284 Filed 8-30-18; 8:45 am]
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