[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]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P