[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Average time per Total annual Total cost CFR section Respondent universe (railroads) Total annual responses responses burden hours equivalent \1\ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 215.5(d)(6)--Dedicated 746 railroads................... 4 notifications................. 1 hour.............. 4 $304 Service--Notification to FRA. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: [[Page 43647]] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Average time per Total annual Total cost CFR section Respondent universe Total annual responses responses burden hours equivalent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total annual CFR section/subject Respondent universe Total annual responses Average time per Total annual dollar cost response burden hours equivalent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals.................... 33 railroads.................... 738 replies/responses........... N/A................. 2,084 169,396 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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