[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 73 (Wednesday, April 15, 2020)] [Notices] [Pages 21066-21068] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2020-07910] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [Docket No. FRA-2020-0027-N-7] 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 comment on specific aspects of the activities identified below. DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before June 15, 2020. 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 Administration, 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. 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 [[Page 21067]] 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: Passenger Train Emergency Preparedness. OMB Control Number: 2130-0545. Abstract: Under 49 CFR part 239, FRA requires railroads to meet minimum Federal standards for the preparation, adoption, and implementation of emergency preparedness plans connected with the operation of passenger trains, including freight railroads hosting passenger rail service operations. The information collected is necessary for compliance with the regulation. Type of Request: Extension with change (revised estimates) of a currently approved collection. Affected Public: Businesses. Form(s): N/A. Respondent Universe: 34 railroads. Frequency of Submission: On occasion. Reporting Burden: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Respondent Total annual Average time Total annual Total cost CFR section universe responses per responses burden hours equivalent \1\ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 239.13--Waivers............. 34 railroads... 1 waiver 10 hours....... 10 hours....... $760 petition. 239.101/201/203--Emergency 34 railroads... 6 amended plans 16 hours....... 96 hours....... 7,296 preparedness plan: amended plans. --Non-substantive changes to 34 railroads... 4 amended plans 1 hour......... 4 hours........ 304 emergency preparedness plan. --Emergency preparedness 34 railroads... 1 new plan..... 80 hours....... 80 hours....... 6,080 plans for new/start-up railroads. 239.101(a)(1)(ii)--RR 34 railroads... 34 designations 5 minutes...... 2.8 hours...... 213 designation of employees responsible for maintaining emergency phone numbers for use in contacting outside emergency responders and appropriate RR officials that a passenger emergency has occurred. --Commuter/intercity 34 railroads... 34 lists/ 1 hour......... 34 hours....... 2,584 passenger RRs gathering/ updated keeping emergency phone records. numbers. 239.101(a)(7)--RR 1 new railroad. 350 cards/1 5 minutes...... 29.3 hours..... 2,227 dissemination of safety message. information regarding emergency procedures/ instructions. 34 railroads... 1,000 cards/100 5 minutes...... 91.7 hours..... 6,969 safety messages. 239.105(d)--Debrief and 34 railroads... 25 debrief/ 5 minutes...... 2.1 hours...... 160 critique sessions. critique records. Total................... 34 railroads... 1,556.......... N/A............ 350 hours...... 26,592 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Estimated Annual Responses: 1,556. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ The dollar equivalent cost throughout this document 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 a 75-percent overhead charge. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Estimated Annual Burden: 350 hours. Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $26,592. Title: Critical Incident Stress Plans. OMB Control Number: 2130-0602. Abstract: Under 49 CFR part 272, Class I, intercity passenger, and commuter railroads are required to develop, and submit to FRA for approval, critical incident stress plans that provide for appropriate support services to be offered to their employees who are affected by a critical incident as defined in 49 CFR 272.9. FRA uses the information collected to ensure the minimum standards of part 272 are met. Type of Request: Extension with change (revised estimates) of a currently approved collection. Affected Public: Businesses/Rail Labor Unions. Form(s): N/A. Respondent Universe: 41 railroads. Frequency of Submission: On occasion. Reporting Burden: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Respondent Total annual Average time Total annual Total cost CFR section universe responses per responses burden hours equivalent ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 272.103(a)--Railroad 1 new railroad. 1 plan......... 12 hours....... 12 hours....... $912 submission of critical incident stress plan (CISP) to FRA for approval. --(b) RR CISP copy to 5 41 railroads... 20 plan copies. 5 minutes...... 1.7 hours...... 129 labor organizations. [[Page 21068]] --(c)(1) Rail labor 5 employee 5 comments..... 2 hours........ 10 hours....... 760 organization comment to FRA labor on CISP submission. organizations. --(c)(2) Rail labor 5 employee 5 5 minutes...... .4 hours....... 30 affirmative statement to labor certifications. FRA that comment copy has organizations. been served on railroad. --(e) Railroad submission of 41 railroads... 4 updated/ 6 hours........ 24 hours....... 1,824 updated/modified existing modified plans. CISP to FRA for approval. --(f) Copy to RR employees 41 railroads... 5,000 copies... 5 minutes...... 416.7 hours.... 31,669 of updated/modified CISP\2\. --(g) Railroads make copies 41 railroads... 25 plan copies. 5 minutes...... 2.1 hours...... 160 of CISP available to FRA inspector upon request. 272.105--Requirement to file 41 railroads... 4 CISP 8 minutes...... .5 hours....... 38 CISP electronically. electronic submissions. Total....................... 41 railroads... 5,064 responses N/A............ 467 hours...... 35,522 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Estimated Annual Responses: 5,064. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ FRA understands most railroads provide their CISP information to employees via a company portal or other electronic means, thus FRA reduced the estimate of actual physical copies to 5,000 to reflect that understanding. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Estimated Annual Burden: 467 hours. Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $35,522. 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. 2020-07910 Filed 4-14-20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-06-P