[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 73 (Wednesday, April 15, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21064-21066]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07911]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2020-0027-N-6]


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 Request (ICR) abstracted below. Before submitting this ICR 
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is 
soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities 
identified in the ICR.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
June 15, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the ICR 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 2130-0010,'' 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 ICR 
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

[[Page 21065]]

information requested. See 44 U.S.C. 3501.
    The summary below describes the ICR that FRA will submit for OMB 
clearance as the PRA requires:
    Title: Track Safety Standards.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0010.
    Abstract: The information collection associated with 49 CFR part 
213 is used by FRA to ensure and enhance rail safety by monitoring 
complete compliance with all regulatory requirements. Part 213 
prescribes minimum safety requirements for railroad track that is part 
of the general railroad system of transportation. While the 
requirements prescribed in this part generally apply to specific track 
conditions existing in isolation, a combination of track conditions, 
none of which individually amounts to a deviation from the requirements 
in this part, may require remedial action to provide safe operations 
over that track. Qualified persons inspect track and take action to 
allow safe passage of trains and ensure compliance with the prescribed 
standards. In 2013, FRA amended the Track Safety Standards and 
Passenger Equipment Safety Standards to promote the safe interaction of 
rail vehicles with the track over which they operate under a variety of 
conditions at speeds up to 220 m.p.h.
    Type of Request: Extension with change (revised estimates) of a 
currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Respondent Universe: 746 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Respondent
         CFR section             universe     Total annual     Average time per    Total annual     Total cost
                               (railroads)      responses          responses       burden hours   equivalent \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
213.4(f)--Excepted track--             746  15 notices......  10 minutes........             2.5            $190
 Notification to FRA about
 removal of excepted track.
213.5(c)--Responsibility for           746  15 notices......  1 hour............              15           1,140
 compliance--Notification of
 assignment to FRA.
213.7(a)-(b)--Designations:            746  2,500 documents.  10 minutes........           416.7          31,669
 Names on list with written
 authorizations.
213.17(a)--Waivers...........          746  10 petitions....  2 hours...........              20           1,520
213.57(e)--Curves, elevation           746  4 requests......  8 hours...........              32           2,432
 and speed limitations--
 Request to FRA for vehicle
 type approval.
213.57(f)--Written                     746  4 notifications.  2 hours...........               8             608
 Notification to FRA prior to
 implementation of higher
 curving speeds.
213.57(g)--Written consent of          746  4 written         45 minutes........               3             228
 track owners obtained by                    consents.
 railroad providing service
 over that track.
213.110(a)--Gage restraint             746  1 notification..  45 minutes........              .8              61
 measurement systems (GRMS)--
 Implementing GRMS--notices &
 reports.
213.110(g)--GRMS vehicle               746  1 report........  5 minutes.........              .1               8
 output reports.
213.110(h)--GRMS vehicle               746  1 report........  5 minutes.........              .1               8
 exception reports.
213.110(j)--GRMS/PTLF--                746  1 documented      1 hour............               1              76
 procedures for data                         procedure.
 integrity.
213.110(n)--GRMS inspection            746  2 records.......  30 minutes........               1              76
 records.
213.118(a)-(c)--Continuous             438  10 plans........  4 hours...........              40           3,040
 welded rail (CWR)--Revised
 plans w/procedures for CWR.
213.118(d)--Notification to            438  750               15 seconds........             3.1             236
 FRA and RR employees of CWR                 notifications
 plan effective date.                        to employees.
213.118(e)--Written                    438  5 written         2 hours...........              10             760
 submissions after plan                      submissions.
 disapproval.
213.118(e)--Final FRA                  438  5 amended plans.  1 hour............               5             380
 disapproval and plan
 amendment.
213.234(f)--Automated                   30  2,000 records...  30 minutes........           1,000          76,000
 inspection of track
 constructed with concrete
 crossties--Recordkeeping
 requirements.
213.237(b)(2)--Inspection of            65  4 requests......  15 minutes........               1              76
 Rail--Detailed request to
 FRA to change designation of
 a rail inspection segment or
 establish a new segment.
213.237(b)(3)--Notification             65  1 notice to FRA   15 minutes........               4             304
 to FRA and all affected                     + 15 bulletins.
 employees of designation's
 effective date after FRA's
 approval/conditional
 approval.
213.237(d)--Notice to FRA               65  4 notices.......  15 minutes........               1              76
 that service failure rate
 target in paragraph (a) of
 this section is not achieved.
213.237(d)--Explanation to              65  4 letters of      15 minutes........               1              76
 FRA as to why performance                   explanation/
 target was not achieved and                 plans.
 provision to FRA of remedial
 action plan.
213.241--Inspection                    746  1,375,000         10 minutes........       229,166.7      17,416,669
 records\2\.                                 records.
213.303(b)--Responsibility               2  5 notices.......  30 minutes........             2.5             190
 for compliance--Notification
 of assignment to FRA.
213.305(a)-(c)--Designation              2  20 written        30 minutes........              10             760
 of qualified individuals;                   documents.
 general qualifications--
 Written authorization for
 remedial actions.
213.305(e)--Designation of               2  200 records.....  10 minutes........            33.3           2,531
 qualified individuals;
 general qualifications;
 recordkeeping requirements
 for designations.

[[Page 21066]]

 
213.317(a)-(b)--Waivers......            2  2 petitions.....  8 hours...........              16           1,216
213.329(e)--Curves, elevation            2  2 cover letters   30 minutes + 16               33.5           2,546
 and speed limitations--FRA                  + 2 technical     hours + 15
 approval of qualified                       reports + 2       minutes.
 vehicle types based on                      diagrams.
 results of testing.
213.329(f)--Written                      2  2 notices.......  2 hours...........               4             304
 notification to FRA 30 days
 prior to implementation of
 higher curving speeds.
213.329(g)--Written consent              2  2 written         45 minutes........             1.5             114
 of other affected track                     consents.
 owners by railroad.
213.333(d)--Automated vehicle-           7  7 reports.......  1 hour............               7             532
 based inspection systems--
 Track Geometry Measurement
 System (TGMS) output/
 exception reports.
213.341(b)-(d)--Initial                  2  800 records.....  2 minutes.........            26.7           2,029
 inspection of new rail &
 welds--Inspection records.
213.343(a)-(e)--Continuous               2  2 plans.........  4 hours...........               8             608
 welded rail (CWR)--
 Procedures for installations
 and adjustments of CWR.
213.343(h)--Recordkeeping                2  8,000 records...  2 minutes.........           266.7          20,269
 requirements.
213.345(a)-(c)--Vehicle                  2  2 program plans.  120 hours.........             240          18,240
 qualification testing--
 Vehicle qualification
 program for all vehicle
 types operating at track
 Class 6 speeds or above.
213.345(d)--Previously                   2  2 program plans.  8 hours...........              16           1,216
 qualified vehicle types
 qualification programs.
213.345(h)--Written consent              4  4 written         30 minutes........               2             230
 of other affected track                     consents.
 owners by railroad.
213.369(d)--Inspection                   2  15,000 records..  10 minutes........           2,500         190,000
 Records--Record of
 inspection of track.
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total....................          746  1,404,410         N/A...............         233,899     17,776,417
                                             responses.
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\1\ 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 a 75-percent overhead charge.
\2\ Note: Each record of an inspection under Sec.  Sec.   213.4, 213.119, 213.233, 213.235, and 213.237 is
  covered under Sec.   213.241.

    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 1,404,410.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 233,899 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: 
$17,776,417.
    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. 2020-07911 Filed 4-14-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P