[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 220 (Wednesday, November 14, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56909-56912]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-24716]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2018-0008-N-9]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), U.S. 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) and its 
implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the Information 
Collection

[[Page 56910]]

Requests (ICRs) abstracted below. Before submitting these ICRs to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is soliciting 
public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified below.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
January 14, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the ICRs activities by mail to 
either: Mr. Robert Brogan, Information Collection Clearance Officer, 
Office of Railroad Safety, Regulatory Analysis Division, RRS-21, 
Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W33-
497, 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-XXXX,'' (the 
relevant OMB control number for each ICR is listed below) and should 
also include the title of the ICR. Alternatively, comments may be faxed 
to (202) 493-6216 or (202) 493-6497, or emailed to Mr. Brogan 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. Robert Brogan, Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Railroad Safety, Regulatory 
Analysis Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Room W33-497, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 
493-6292) 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, 5 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 through 1320.12. Specifically, 
FRA invites interested parties to comment on the following ICRs 
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 require. In summary, FRA reasons 
that comments received will advance three objectives: (1) Reduce 
reporting burdens; (2) organize information collection requirements in 
a ``user-friendly'' format to improve the use of such information; and 
(3) accurately assess the resources expended to retrieve and produce 
information requested. See 44 U.S.C. 3501.
    The summaries below describe the ICRs that FRA will submit for OMB 
clearance as the PRA requires:
    Title: State Safety Participation Regulations and Reporting of 
Remedial Actions.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0509.
    Abstract: The collection of information is set forth under 49 CFR 
part 212, and requires qualified state inspectors to provide various 
reports to FRA for monitoring and enforcement purposes concerning state 
investigative, inspection, and surveillance activities regarding 
railroad compliance with Federal railroad safety laws and regulations. 
Additionally, under 49 CFR part 209, subpart E, railroads are required 
to report to FRA actions taken to remedy certain alleged violations of 
law.
    Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.33/61/67/96/96A/109/110/111/112/144.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: States and Railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.

                                                                    Reporting Burden
 
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                                                                                                                                           Burden  hours
                                                                                                                           Total annual       dollar
              CFR section                  Respondent universe     Total  annual  responses  Average  time per  response   burden hours     equivalent
                                                                                                                                             cost \1\
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Application for Participation.........  16 States................  16 updates..............  2.5 hours..................              40          $2,960
State Railroad Technical Training       32 States................  32 agreements...........  1 hour.....................              32           2,368
 Funding Agreement.
Inspector Travel Planning and           32 States................  400 vouchers............  1 hour.....................             400          29,600
 Reimbursement.
212.109--Annual Work Plan.............  32 States................  1,862 reports...........  5 hours....................           9,310         688,940
Inspection Form (FRA F 6180.96).......  32 States................  69,885 forms............  15 minutes.................          17,471       1,292,854
Violation Report--Motive, Power, and    19 States................  1,862 reports...........  4 hours....................           7,448         551,152
 Equipment Regulations (Form FRA F
 6180.109).
Violation Report--Operating Practices   19 States................  868 reports.............  4 hours....................           3,472         256,928
 Regulations (Form FRA F 6180.67).
Violation Report--Hazardous Materials   17 States................  856 reports.............  4 hours....................           3,424         253,376
 Regulations (Form FRA F 6180.110).
Violation Report--Hours of Service Law  19 States................  103 reports.............  4 hours....................             412          30,488
 (F 6180.33).

[[Page 56911]]

 
Violation Report--Accident/Incident     19 States................  146 reports.............  4 hours....................             584          43,216
 Reporting Rules (Form FRA F 6180.61).
Violation Report--Track Safety          26 States................  667 reports.............  4 hours....................           2,668         197,432
 Regulations (Form FRA F 6180.111).
Violation Report--Signal and Train      14 States................  440 reports.............  4 hours....................           1,760         130,240
 Control Regulations (Form FRA F
 6180.112).
209.405--Remedial Actions Reports.....  566 Railroads............  4,050 reports...........  15 minutes.................           1,013          74,962
209.407--Violation Report Challenge...  566 Railroads............  810 challenges..........  1 hour.....................             810          59,940
209.407--Delayed Reports..............  695 Railroads............  405 reports.............  30 minutes.................             203          15,022
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\1\ To determine the dollar equivalent cost for the estimated burden hours under OMB No. 2130-0509, FRA used an average hourly wage rate of $74. FRA
  derived this estimate from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data for management occupations, NAICS 99920--State Government, excluding schools and
  hospitals (OES Designation). To calculate the mean hourly wage of $42.17 for this category of workers, FRA included a 75-percent charge for overhead
  costs. The calculation is $42.17 per hour x 1.75 = $73.7975 or $74 per hour (rounded). The Web address for this data is: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_999200.htm#11-0000.

    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 82,402.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 49,047 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: 
$3,629,478.
    Title: Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0560.
    Abstract: Under 49 CFR part 222, FRA seeks to collect information 
from railroads and public authorities in order to increase safety at 
public highway-rail grade crossings nationwide by requiring that 
locomotive horns be sounded when trains approach and pass through these 
crossings or by ensuring that a safety level at least equivalent to 
that provided by routine locomotive horn sounding exists for quiet zone 
corridors in which horns are silenced. FRA reviews applications by 
public authorities intending to establish new quiet zones or, in some 
cases, continue pre-rule quiet zones to ensure the necessary level of 
safety is achieved.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 728 railroads/340 Public Authorities.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.

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                                                                                                                                           Burden hours
                                                                                                                           Total annual       dollar
              CFR section                  Respondent universe      Total annual responses    Average time per response    burden hours     equivalent
                                                                                                                                               cost
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222.15--Waiver Petitions..............  784 Railroads/531 Public   2 petitions.............  4 hours....................               8            $584
                                         Authorities.
222.39--Applications to Establish       531 Public Authorities...  15 applications.........  80 hours...................           1,200          88,800
 Quiet Zone.
    --Diagnostic Team Review..........  531 Public Authorities...  3 team reviews..........  16 hours...................              48           3,504
    --Updated Crossing Inventory Forms  531 Public Authorities...  75 updated forms........  1 hour.....................              75           5,550
    --Copies of Quiet Zone Application  531 Public Authorities...  90 copies...............  10 minutes.................              15           1,110
    --Comments to FRA on Quiet Zone     784 Railroads/State        30 comments.............  1.5 hours..................              45           3,285
     Application.                        Agencies.
222.43--Written Notice of Public        216 Communities/Public     60 notices + 180          40 hours + 10 minutes......           2,430         179,820
 Authority Intent to Create New Quiet    Authorities.               notifications.
 Zone and Notification to Required
 Parties.
    --Updated Crossing Inventory Forms  216 Communities..........  300 updated forms.......  1 hour.....................             300          22,200
    --Comments on proposed Quiet Zone.  784 Railroads/State        120 comments............  4 hours....................             480          35,040
                                         Agencies.
    --Notice of Quiet Zone              531 Public Authorities...  60 notices + 360          40 hours + 10 minutes......           2,460         182,040
     Establishment + Notification to                                notifications.
     Required Parties.
    --Updated Crossing Inventory Forms  531 Public Authorities...  300 updated forms.......  1 hour.....................             300          22,200
    --Certification by CEO of Public    531 Public Authorities...  60 certifications.......  5 minutes..................               5             370
     Authority Regarding Accuracy of
     Information.
222.47--Periodic Updates: Written       531 Public Authorities...  213 written affirmations  30 minutes + 2 minutes.....             150          11,100
 Affirmation that Supplementary Safety                              + 1,278 copies (to
 Measures Implemented w/in Quiet Zone                               required parties).
 Conform to Rule or Terms of Approval.
    --Updated Crossing Inventory Forms  531 Public Authorities...  810 updated forms.......  1 hour.....................             810          59,940
222.51--Written Commitment to Lower     15 Public Authorities....  10 written commitments..  5 hours....................              50           3,700
 Risk to Traveling Public in Quiet
 Zones Exceeding Nationwide
 Significant Risk Threshold.
    --Comments Upon FRA Review of       3 Public Authorities.....  2 comments..............  30 minutes.................               1              74
     Quiet Zone Status.

[[Page 56912]]

 
222.55--Request for FRA Approval of     265 Interested Parties/..  1 letter................  30 minutes.................               1              74
 New Supplementary Safety Measures/
 Alternative Safety Measures (ASMs)
 for Quiet Zone.
    --Comments on New SSMs or ASMs....  265 Interested Parties/    5 comments..............  30 minutes.................               3             222
                                         General Public.
    --Request for SSM/ASM Approval -    265 Interested Parties...  1 letter................  30 minutes.................               1              74
     Demo.
222.57--Petition for FRA Review of      531 Public Authorities/    1 petition + 5 petition   60 minutes + 2 minutes.....               1              74
 Decision Granting or Denying a New      Interested Parties.        copies.
 SSM or ASM; Petition Copies to
 Relevant Parties.
    --Request for FRA Reconsideration   531 Public Authorities...  1 letter + 6 letter       5 hours + 2 minutes........               5             370
     of Disapproval of Quiet Zone +                                 copies.
     Party Copies.
    --Additional Documents to FRA as    531 Public Authorities...  1 additional document/    2 hours....................               2             148
     Follow-up to Petition for                                      set of materials.
     Reconsideration.
    --Letter Requesting FRA Informal    531 Public Authorities...  1 letter................  30 minutes.................               1              74
     Hearing.
222.59--Written Notice of Use of        531 Public Authorities...  5 notices + 30 notice     2.5 hours + 10 minutes.....              18           1,332
 Wayside Horn at Grade Crossing within                              copies.
 Quiet Zone + Party Copies.
    --Notice of Wayside Horn Outside    531 Public Authorities...  5 notices + 30 notice     2.5 hours + 10 minutes.....              18           1,332
     Quiet Zone.                                                    copies.
Appendix B--Public Authority Record     531 Public Authorities...  1 record................  500 hours..................             500          37,000
 Relating to Monitoring and Sampling
 Efforts at Grade Crossing in Quite
 Zone with Programmed Enforcement.
    --Public Authority Record Relating  531 Public Authorities...  1 record................  9 hours....................               9             666
     to Monitoring and Sampling
     Efforts at Grade Crossing in
     Quite Zone with Photo Enforcement.
222.129--Written Reports/Records of     784 Railroads............  300 reports/records.....  60 minutes.................             300          21,900
 Locomotive Horn Testing.
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    Total Estimated Responses: 4,362.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 9,236 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: 
$681,983.
    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. 2018-24716 Filed 11-13-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P