[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 241 (Monday, December 16, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68540-68541]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26995]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2019-0004-N-21]


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 
October 2, 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 
January 15, 2020.

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, 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 October 2, 2019, FRA 
published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting public 
comment on the ICRs for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 84 FR 
52588. FRA received one comment from the Brotherhood of Railroad 
Signalmen (BRS), the collective bargaining representative for 
approximately 10,000 signal employees. BRS supports the information 
collection activities of both ICRs, considering them necessary to FRA's 
regulatory duties and public safety responsibilities. BRS urges FRA to 
continue to collect this information, noting that the information 
provided from these activities can help guide FRA in solving issues 
related to warning system failures at crossings and highway-rail grade 
crossing accidents.
    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 1320.10(b) and 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: Grade Crossing Signal System Safety Regulations.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0534.
    Abstract: FRA believes that highway-rail grade crossing (grade 
crossing) accidents resulting from warning system failures can be 
reduced. Accordingly, FRA's regulations require railroads to take 
specific responses in the event of an activation failure. An activation 
failure is defined as when a grade crossing warning system fails to 
indicate the approach of a train at least 20 seconds prior to the 
train's arrival at the crossing or to indicate the presence of a train 
occupying the crossing. Specifically, railroads must report to FRA 
every impact between on-track railroad equipment and an automobile, 
bus, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, farm vehicle, or pedestrian at a 
highway-rail grade crossing involving a crossing warning system 
activation failure. Notification must be provided to the National 
Response Center within 24 hours of occurrence at the stipulated toll-
free telephone number. Additionally, railroads must report to FRA 
within 15 days of each activation failure of a highway-rail grade 
warning system. Form FRA F 6180.83, ``Highway-Rail Grade Crossing 
Warning

[[Page 68541]]

System Activation Failure Report,'' \1\ must be used for this purpose 
and completed using the instructions printed on the form. With this 
information, FRA can identify the causes of activation failures and 
investigate them to determine whether periodic maintenance, inspection, 
and testing standards are effective.
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    \1\ FRA makes a technical correction to the title of Form FRA F 
6180.83 in this notice.
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    Type of Request: Extension with change (revised estimates) of a 
currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses (railroads).
    Form(s): FRA F 6180.83.
    Respondent Universe: 746 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion/monthly.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 60,252.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 5,042 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: 
$342,863.
    Title: Alleged Violation Reporting Form.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0590.
    Abstract: The Alleged Violation Reporting Form is a response to 
section 307(b) of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, which 
requires FRA to ``provide a mechanism for the public to submit written 
reports of potential violations of Federal railroad safety and 
hazardous materials transportation laws, regulations, and orders to the 
Federal Railroad Administration.'' The Alleged Violation Reporting Form 
allows the general public to submit alleged violations directly to FRA. 
The form allows FRA to collect information necessary to investigate the 
alleged violation and to follow up with the submitting party. FRA may 
share the information collected with partnering State departments of 
transportation and law enforcement agencies.
    Type of Request: Extension with change (revised estimates) of a 
currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: General public.
    Form(s): FRA F 6180.151.
    Respondent Universe: \2\ 570 individuals.
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    \2\ After an internal agency review, FRA updated the respondent 
universe estimate.
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    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 570.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 48 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $1,296.
    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. 2019-26995 Filed 12-13-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P