[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 100 (Friday, May 22, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31281-31282]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11021]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2020-0027-N-10]


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. These 
ICRs describe the information collections and their expected burdens. 
On March 16, 2020, 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 
June 22, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICRs 
should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find the particular ICR by selecting 
``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using 
the search function.

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.

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 March 16, 2020, FRA 
published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on 
the ICRs for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 85 FR 15020. 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 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: Railroad Communications.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0524.
    Abstract: This collection of information is used by FRA to promote 
safety in rail operations and to ensure compliance by railroads and 
their employees with all the requirements set forth in 49 CFR part 220. 
FRA amended its radio standards and procedures to promote compliance by 
making the regulations more flexible; require wireless communications 
devices, including radios, for specified classifications of railroad 
operations and roadway workers; and retitle this part to reflect its 
coverage of other means of wireless communications, such as cellular 
telephones and data radio terminals, to convey emergency and need-to-
know information. The amended rule established safe, uniform procedures 
covering the use of radio and other wireless communications within the 
railroad industry.
    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.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 4,119,004.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 95,902 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: 
$7,288,552.
    Title: Passenger Train Emergency Systems.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0576.
    Abstract: This information collection is due to passenger train 
emergency systems regulations under 49 CFR part 238. The purpose of 
this part is to prevent collisions, derailments, and other occurrences 
involving railroad passenger equipment that cause injury or death to 
railroad employees, railroad passengers, or the general public, and to 
mitigate the consequences of such occurrences to the extent they cannot 
be prevented.
    In its final rule issued on November 29, 2013 (see 78 FR 71785), 
FRA added requirements for emergency passage through vestibule and 
other interior passageway doors and enhanced emergency egress and 
rescue signage requirements. FRA also established requirements for low-
location emergency exit path markings to assist occupants in reaching 
and operating emergency exits, particularly under conditions of limited 
visibility. Moreover, FRA added standards to ensure emergency lighting 
systems are provided in all passenger cars and enhanced requirements 
for the survivability of emergency lighting systems in new passenger 
cars.
    Type of Request: Extension with change (revised estimates) of a 
currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses (railroads).

[[Page 31282]]

    Form(s): N/A.
    Respondent Universe: 34 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 8,310.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 859 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $65,269.
    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,
Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2020-11021 Filed 5-21-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P