[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 21, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43645-43648]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-17995]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2019-0004-N-13]


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

[[Page 43646]]

comment on specific aspects of the activities identified below.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
October 21, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the ICRs activities by mail to 
either: Ms. Hodan Wells, Information Collection Clearance Officer, 
Office of Railroad Safety, Regulatory Analysis Division, Federal 
Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 
20590; or Ms. Kim Toone, Information Collection Clearance Officer, 
Office of Information Technology, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE, 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 Ms. Wells 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: Ms. Hodan Wells, Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Railroad Safety, Regulatory 
Analysis Division, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-0440) or Ms. Kim 
Toone, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Information 
Technology, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
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 mandate. 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: Filing of Dedicated Cars.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0502.
    Abstract: Title 49 CFR part 215 contains freight car safety 
standards, including conditions for freight cars in dedicated service. 
``Dedicated service'' means the exclusive assignment of railroad cars 
to the transportation of freight between specified points under the 
conditions listed in 49 CFR 215.5(d), including stenciling, or 
otherwise displaying, in clear legible letters on each side of the car 
body, the words ''Dedicated Service.'' The railroad must notify FRA in 
writing that the cars are to be operated in dedicated service.
    Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Respondent Universe: 746 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion/monthly.
    Reporting Burden:
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    \1\ Throughout the tables in this document, the dollar 
equivalent cost is derived from the Surface Transportation Board's 
Full Year Wage A&B data series using the appropriate employee group 
hourly wage rate that includes 75-percent overhead charges.

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                                                                                                      Average time per     Total annual     Total cost
          CFR section            Respondent universe (railroads)       Total annual responses             responses        burden hours   equivalent \1\
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215.5(d)(6)--Dedicated          746 railroads...................  4 notifications.................  1 hour..............               4            $304
 Service--Notification to FRA.
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    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 4.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 4 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $304.

    Title: Rear End Marking Devices.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0523.
    Abstract: Title 49 CFR part 221 contains requirements for rear end 
marking devices. Railroads must give FRA a detailed description of the 
type of marking devices used for any locomotive operating singly or for 
cars or locomotives operating at the end of a train (trailing end) to 
ensure they meet minimum standards for visibility and display. 
Specifically, part 221 requires railroads to furnish a certification 
that each device has been tested in accordance with current 
``Guidelines for Testing of Rear End Marking Devices.'' Additionally, 
part 221 requires railroads to furnish detailed test records, which 
include the names of testing organizations, description of tests, 
number of samples tested, and the test results, to demonstrate 
compliance with the performance standard.
    Type of Request: Extension with change (revised estimates) of a 
currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses (railroads).
    Form(s): N/A.
    Respondent Universe: 746 railroads + 24 manufacturers.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden:

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                                                                                                      Average time per     Total annual     Total cost
          CFR section                  Respondent universe             Total annual responses             responses        burden hours     equivalent
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221.14 and Appendix A--Marking  746 railroads + 24 manufacturers  2 requests/submissions..........  1 hour..............               2            $152
 Devices, and Procedures for
 Approval of Rear End Marking.
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    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 2.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 2 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $152.

    Title: System Safety Program.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0599.
    Abstract: FRA uses the collection of information to ensure that 
commuter and intercity passenger railroads establish and implement 
System Safety Programs (SSPs) to improve the safety of their operations 
and to ensure compliance with the rule. Each railroad will use its SSP/
SSP Plan to proactively identify and mitigate or eliminate hazards and 
the resulting risk on its system at an early stage to reduce the number 
of railroad accidents, incidents, and associated injuries, fatalities, 
and property damage. A railroad has the flexibility to tailor an SSP to 
its specific operations. An SSP will be implemented when FRA approves a 
railroad's submitted SSP Plan. Under this information collection, FRA 
will audit a railroad's compliance with its SSP Plan. FRA will use the 
information to ensure and enforce compliance with this new regulation.
    Type of Request: Extension with change (revised estimates) of a 
currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses (railroads).
    Form(s): N/A.
    Respondent Universe: 33 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion/monthly.
    Reporting Burden:

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                                                                                                                                           Total annual
      CFR section/subject              Respondent universe             Total annual responses         Average time per     Total annual     dollar cost
                                                                                                          response         burden hours     equivalent
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270.103--System Safety Program  33 railroads....................  9 plans.........................  40 hours............             360         $32,976
 Plan (SSP Plan)--
 Comprehensive written SSP
 Plan that meets all of this
 section's requirements.
    --Records of system safety  33 railroads....................  495 records.....................  15 seconds..........               2             152
     training for employees/
     contractors/others.
    --(q)(1) Performance of     33 railroads....................  33 analyses results.............  20 hours............             660          50,160
     risk-based hazard
     analyses and furnishing
     of RR results of risk-
     based hazard analyses
     upon request of FRA/
     participating part 212
     States.
    --(q)(2) Identification     33 railroads....................  33 mitigation methods             10 hours............             330          25,080
     and implementation of                                         descriptions.
     risk mitigation methods
     and furnishing of
     descriptions of RR's
     specific risk mitigation
     methods that address
     hazards upon request of
     FRA/participating part
     212 States.
    --(r)(1) Performance of     33 railroads....................  33 results of technology          10 hours............             330          25,080
     technology analysis and                                       analysis.
     furnishing of results of
     railroad's technology
     analysis upon request of
     FRA/participating part
     212 States.
270.107(a)--Consultation        33 railroads....................  11 consults (w/labor union        1 hour..............              11             836
 requirements--RR consultation                                     reps.).
 with its directly affected
 employees on SSP Plan.
    --(a)(3)(ii) RR             33 railroads....................  11 notices......................  30 minutes..........               6             456
     notification to directly
     affected employees of
     preliminary meeting at
     least 60 days before
     being held.
    --(b) RR consultation       33 railroads....................  11 statements...................  1 hour..............              11             836
     statements that includes
     service list with name &
     contact information for
     labor organization
     chairpersons & non-union
     employees who
     participated in process.
    --Copies of consultations   33 railroads....................  11 copies.......................  1 minute............             .18              14
     statements by RR to
     service list individuals.
270.201(b)--SSP Plan found      33 railroads....................  4 amended plans.................  30 hours............             120           9,120
 deficient by FRA and
 requiring amendment.
    --Review of amended SSP     33 railroads....................  1 further amended plan..........  20 hours............              20           1,520
     Plan found deficient and
     requiring further
     amendment.
    --Reopened review of        33 railroads....................  1 amended plan..................  30 hours............              30           2,280
     initial SSP Plan approval
     for cause stated.
270.203--Retention of SSP       33 railroads....................  15 copies.......................  10 minutes..........               3             228
 Plans--Retained copies of SSP
 Plans.
270.303--Annual internal SSP    33 railroads....................  16 evaluations/reports..........  2 hours.............              32           2,432
 assessments/reports conducted
 by RRs.
    --Certification of results  33 railroads....................  33 certification statements.....  2 hours.............              66           7,590
     of RR internal assessment
     by chief safety official.
270.305--External safety        33 railroads....................  6 plans.........................  12 hours............              72           8,280
 audit--RR submission of
 improvement plans in response
 to results of FRA audit.
    --Improvement plans found   33 railroads....................  2 amended plans.................  10 hours............              20           1,520
     deficient by FRA and
     requiring amendment.
    --RR status report to FRA   33 railroads....................  2 reports.......................  4 hours.............               8             608
     of implementation of
     improvements set forth in
     the improvement plan.
Appendix B--Additional          33 railroads....................  4 documents.....................  15 minutes..........               1              76
 documents provided to FRA
 upon request.

[[Page 43648]]

 
Appendix C--Written requests    33 railroads....................  7 written requests..............  15 minutes..........               2             152
 by RRs to file required
 submissions electronically.
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    Totals....................  33 railroads....................  738 replies/responses...........  N/A.................           2,084         169,396
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    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 738.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 2,084 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: 
$169,396.
    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.

Brett A. Jortland,
Acting Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2019-17995 Filed 8-20-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P