[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 209 (Tuesday, October 29, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57942-57943]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-23544]



[[Page 57942]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2019-0004-N-18]


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, this notice announces that FRA is forwarding 
the Information Collection Requests (ICRs) abstracted below to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs 
describe the information collections and their expected burden. On 
August 21, 2019, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for 
public comment on the ICRs.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
November 29, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the ICRs 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: 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 
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 through 1320.12. On August 21, 2019, FRA 
published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on 
the ICRs for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 84 FR 43645. FRA 
received no comments in response to this notice.
    Before OMB decides whether to approve these proposed collections of 
information, it must provide 30-days' notice 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 1320.12(d); 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 ICRs 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 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.
    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.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 2.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: \1\ 2 hours.
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    \1\ Total estimated annual burden includes recordkeeping.
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    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 regulation.

[[Page 57943]]

    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.
    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. 2019-23544 Filed 10-28-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P