[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 248 (Monday, December 28, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 84460-84462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-28472]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2020-0027-N-31]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), 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, 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 
September 11, 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 
January 27, 2021.

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 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, telephone: (202) 
493-0440, email: [email protected].

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 September 11, 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 56286. FRA 
received no comments in response to this notice.
    Before OMB decides whether to approve the proposed collection 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 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 summary below describes the ICR that FRA will submit for OMB 
clearance as the PRA requires:
    Title: Railroad Operating Rules.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0035.
    Abstract: The collection of information associated with Title 49 
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 217 and 218, Railroad Operating 
Rules and Practices, requires railroads to file with FRA copies of 
their operating rules, timetables, timetable special instructions, and 
subsequent amendments. The regulations also require railroads to retain 
copies of these documents at their systems headquarters and make these 
documents available to FRA upon request.

[[Page 84461]]

Through these requirements, FRA learns of operating rules and practices 
for trains and instructions railroads provide their employees on 
operating practices.
    Type of Request: Extension with change (revised estimates) of a 
currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Respondent Universe: 765 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden:\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ FRA provides a revised PRA table that includes updated 
burdens associated with Sec. Sec.  217.11, 218.95, and 218.97. The 
estimates have been updated after an internal review.
    \2\ Note: The current inventory estimates a total burden of 
4,791,614 hours while the requesting inventory estimates a total 
burden of 763,236 hours. There is no change in the method of the 
collection. However, FRA determined some of the estimates were 
double counted and/or outdated, while other estimates were not PRA 
requirements, thus leading to the increased figures in the current 
inventory, which were decreased accordingly in this notice. Also, 
totals may not add due to rounding.
    \3\ 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. The hourly wage rate used is $77 per hour 
($44.27 * 1.75 = $77).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                           Total annual     Total cost
            CFR section \2\                Respondent universe      Total annual responses    Average time per response    burden hours   equivalent \3\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
217.7(a)--Operating rules; filing and   2 new railroads..........  2 documents.............  1 hour.....................               2            $154
 recordkeeping--Filing of code of
 operating rules, timetables, and
 timetable special instructions by
 Class Is, Class IIs, Amtrak, and
 commuter railroads with FRA.
    --(b) Amendments to code of         53 railroads.............  312 revised documents...  20 minutes.................             104           8,008
     operating rules, timetables, and
     timetable special instructions by
     Class Is, Class IIs, Amtrak, and
     commuter railroads with FRA.
    --(c) Class III and other           2 new railroads..........  2 documents.............  1 hour.....................               2             154
     railroads--Copy of code of
     operating rules, timetables, and
     timetable special instructions at
     system headquarters.
    --(c) Class III and other           798 railroads............  1,596 copies............  15 minutes.................             399          30,723
     railroads--Amendments to code of
     operating rules, timetables, and
     timetable special instructions at
     system headquarters.
217.9(b)(2)--Program of operational     765 railroads............  4,732 records...........  2 minutes..................             158          12,166
 tests and inspections; recordkeeping--
 Written records documenting
 qualification of each railroad
 testing officer.
    --(c) Written program of            2 new railroads..........  2 programs..............  10 hours...................              20           2,300
     operational tests and inspections.
    --(d)(1) Records of operational     765 railroads............  9,120,000 test records    5 minutes..................         760,000      58,520,000
     tests/inspections.                                             and updates.
    --(d)(2) Railroad copy of current   53 railroads.............  159 program revisions...  70 minutes.................             186          14,322
     program operational tests/
     inspections--Amendments.
    --(e)(1)(i) Written quarterly       7 Class I railroads +      32 reviews..............  2 hours....................              64           4,928
     review of operational tests/        Amtrak.
     inspections by RRs other than
     passenger RRs.
    --(e)(1)(ii) 6-month review of      7 Class I railroads......  14 reviews..............  2 hours....................              28           2,156
     operational tests/inspections/
     naming of officer.
    --(e)(2) 6-month review by          35 Amtrak + passenger      70 reviews..............  2 hours....................             140          10,780
     passenger railroads designated      railroads.
     officers of operational testing
     and inspection data.
    --(e)(3) Records of periodic        50 railroads.............  116 records.............  1 minute...................               2             154
     reviews.
    --(f)-(g) Annual summary of         50 railroads.............  50 summary records......  1 hour.....................              50           3,850
     operational tests and inspections.
    --(h)(1)(i) RR amended program of   765 railroads............  6 revised programs......  30 minutes.................               3             231
     operational tests/inspections.
    --(h)(1)(ii) FRA disapproval of RR  765 railroads............  6 supporting documents..  1 hour.....................               6             462
     program of operational tests/
     inspections and RR written
     response in support of program.
217.11(a)--RR periodic instruction of   2 new railroads..........  2 written programs......  8 hours....................              16           1,232
 employees on operating rules--New
 railroads.
217.11(b)--RR copy of program           765 railroads............  110 modified written      30 minutes.................              55           4,235
 amendments for periodic instruction                                programs.
 of employees.
218.95(a)(5)-(b)--Instruction,          765 railroads............  85,600 employee records.  1 minute...................           1,427         109,879
 training, examination--Employee
 completed test records.

[[Page 84462]]

 
    --(c)(1)(i) Amended RR program of   765 railroads............  5 amended programs......  30 minutes.................               3             231
     instruction, testing, examination.
218.97(b)(4)--RR copy of good faith     765 railroads............  4,732 copies to new       6 minutes..................             473          36,421
 challenge procedures.                                              employees.
218.97(c)(1) and (4)--RR employee good  10 workers...............  10 good faith challenges  15 minutes.................               3             231
 faith challenge of RR directive.
    --(c)(5) RR resolution of employee  2 new railroads..........  5 responses.............  15 minutes.................               1              77
     good faith challenge.
    --(d)(1) RR officer immediate       2 new railroads..........  3 reviews...............  30 minutes.................               2             154
     review of unresolved good faith
     challenge.
    --(d)(2) RR officer explanation to  2 new railroads..........  3 answers...............  15 minutes.................               1              77
     employee that Federal law may
     protect against employer
     retaliation for refusal to carry
     out work if employee refusal is a
     lawful, good faith act.
    --(d)(3) Employee written/          2 new railroads..........  3 written protests......  15 minutes.................               1              77
     electronic protest of employer
     final decision.
    --(d)(3) Employee copy of protest.  2 new railroads..........  3 copies................  1 minute...................             0.1               8
    --(d)(4) Employer further review    2 new railroads..........  2 further reviews.......  15 minutes.................             0.5              39
     of good faith challenge after
     employee written request.
    --(d)(4) RR verification decision   2 new railroads..........  2 decisions.............  15 minutes.................             0.5              39
     to employee in writing.
    --(e) Recordkeeping and record      765 railroads............  765 copies..............  5 minutes..................              64           4,928
     retention--Employer's copy of
     written procedures at division
     headquarters.
218.99(a)--Shoving or pushing           2 new railroads..........  2 rule modifications....  1 hour.....................               2             154
 movement--RR operating rule complying
 with section's requirements.
218.101(a)-(c)--Leaving equipment in    2 new railroads..........  2 rule modifications....  30 minutes.................               1              77
 the clear--Operating rule that
 complies with this section.
218.103(a)(1)--Hand-Operated Switches-- 2 new railroads..........  2 rule modifications....  30 minutes.................               1              77
 Operating Rule that Complies with
 this section.
                                       -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.............................  765 railroads............  9,348,371 responses.....  N/A........................         763,236      58,770,040
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 9,348,371.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 763,236 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: 
$58,770,040.
    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 a respondent is not required to 
respond to, conduct, or sponsor a collection of information that does 
not display a currently valid OMB control number.

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.

Brett A. Jortland,
Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2020-28472 Filed 12-23-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P