[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 2, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54633-54634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-19330]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2020-0027-N-18]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), 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), this notice 
announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Request 
(ICR) abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review and comment. The ICR describes the information collection and 
its expected burden. On May 29, 2020, FRA published a notice providing 
a 60-day period for public comment on the ICR.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
October 2, 2020.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 (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 May 29, 2020, FRA 
published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on 
the ICR for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 85 FR 32440. FRA 
received one comment from Rio Metro Regional Transit Authority 
suggesting that the current grant application be improved to eliminate 
redundancies. It recommended that FRA capture from applicants 
additional information in the project narrative so that the Statement 
of Work (SOW) can be eliminated. After careful consideration, FRA 
determined that this recommendation could not be implemented as the 
documents serve distinct functions. The primary purpose of the project 
narrative is to address statutory grant evaluation and selection 
criteria and the primary purpose of the SOW is to determine project 
readiness for obligations. Therefore, FRA plans on continuing both the 
project narrative and SOW.
    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 1320.10(b); 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 ICR 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 ICR that FRA will submit for OMB 
clearance as the PRA requires:
    Title: Grants Management Requirements for Federal Railroad 
Administration. Grant Awards and Cooperative Agreements.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0615.
    Abstract: FRA solicits grant applications for projects including, 
but not limited to, preconstruction planning activities, safety 
improvements, congestion relief, improvements of grade crossings, and 
rail line relocation, as well as projects that encourage development, 
expansion, and upgrades to passenger and freight rail infrastructure 
and services. FRA funds projects that meet FRA and government-wide 
evaluation standards and align with the DOT Strategic Plan.
    FRA administers award agreements for both construction and non-
construction projects that will result in benefits or other tangible 
improvements in rail corridors, service, safety, and technology. These 
projects include completion of preliminary engineering environmental, 
research and development, final design, and construction.
    FRA requires systematic and uniform collection and submission of 
information, as approved by OMB, to ensure accountability of Federal 
assistance provided by FRA. Through this information collection, FRA 
will measure Federal award recipients' performance and results, 
including expenditures in support of agreed-upon activities and 
allowable costs outlined in FRA Notice of Grant Award. This information 
collection includes OMB-required reports and documentation, as well a 
additional forms and submission to compile evidence relevant to 
addressing FRA's important policy challenges, promoting cost-
effectiveness in FRA programs, and providing effective oversight of 
programmatic and financial performance. FRA issues and manages awards 
in compliance with 2 CFR part 200; Uniform Administrative Requirements, 
Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards.
    Form(s): All FRA forms are located at FRA's public website; all SF 
forms are located at Grants.gov. FRA forms 30 (FRA Assurance and 
Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other 
Responsibility Matters and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements), 31 (Grant 
Adjustment Require Form), 32 (Service Outcome Agreement Annual 
Reporting), 33 (Final Performance Report), 34 (Quarterly Progress 
Report), 35 (Application Form), 217 (Categorical Exclusion Worksheet), 
229 (NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership Supplier Scouting--FRA 
Item Opportunity Synopsis), 251 (Applicant Financial Capability 
Questionnaire), and 252 (Payment Summary Spreadsheet). SF forms 270 
(Request for Advance or Reimbursement), 424 (Application for Federal 
Assistance), 424 A (Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs), 
424B (Assurance for Non-Construction Programs), 424C (Budget 
Information for Construction Programs), 424D (Assurances for 
Construction

[[Page 54634]]

Programs), 425 (Federal Financial Report), and LLL (Disclosure of 
Lobbying Activities).
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Generally includes States, d local governments and 
railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: Varied.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 6,551 responses.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 88,293.50 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: 
$3,619,150.57.
    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. 2020-19330 Filed 9-1-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P