[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 160 (Monday, August 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47195-47198]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17982]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2021-0006-N-10]


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) 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 
October 22, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR

[[Page 47196]]

should be submitted on regulations.gov to the docket, Docket No. FRA-
2021-0006. All comments received will be posted without change to the 
docket, including any personal information provided. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Hodan Wells, Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: [email protected] or 
telephone: (202) 493-0440, or Mr. John Purnell, Information Collection 
Clearance Officer at email: [email protected] or telephone: (202) 
493-0500.

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 
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: Railroad Locomotive Safety Standards and Event Recorders.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0004.
    Abstract: FRA's locomotive safety standards (49 CFR part 229) 
require railroads to inspect, repair, and maintain locomotives, 
including their event recorders, to ensure they are safe and free of 
defects.
    The data gathered from locomotive event recorders is used by the 
railroad industry and by railroad employees (locomotive engineers, 
train crews, dispatchers) to improve train handling and promote the 
safe and efficient operation of trains throughout the country. 
Locomotive event recorders also provide FRA and State railroad safety 
inspectors with verified data elements for use in their oversight 
responsibilities that show how trains are operated from lead 
locomotives.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form(s): FRA F 6180.49A.
    Respondent Universe: 754 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden:

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                                                                                                    Total cost
        CFR section 1            Respondent      Total annual     Average time     Total annual    equivalent 2
                                  universe        responses      per responses     burden hours
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229.9--Movement of non-       754 railroads..  1,307 tags.....  1 minute.......  21.79 hours....       $1,566.48
 complying locomotives--
 Tagging to indicate ``non-
 complying locomotive``.
229.15(a)(11)--Remote         754 railroads..  349 tags.......  1 minute.......  5.82 hours.....          418.40
 control locomotives--
 Tagging to indicate in
 remote control.
229.20(c)--Operational        754 railroads..  21,000           1 second.......  5.83 hours.....          451.48
 requirements--Automatic                        automatic
 notice to railroads each                       notifications.
 time locomotive is due for
 inspection or maintenance
 (Note: This requirement
 does not apply to daily
 inspections.).
229.21(a)--Daily inspection-- 754 railroads..  7,443,020        3 minutes        148,860.40        11,527,749.38
 Except for multiple-unit                       written          (paper           hours.
 (MU) operated locomotive.                      inspection       records) + 1
                                                reports.         minute
                                                                 (electronic
                                                                 records).
--(b) Written reports of MU   754 railroads..  1,300,000        3 minutes......  65,000.00 hours    4,672,850.00
 locomotive inspections.                        written
                                                reports.
229.23(d)-(g)--Periodic       718 railroads..  28,627 other     15 minutes.....  7,156.75 hours.      514,498.76
 Inspection--Locomotive                         than passenger
 Inspection & Repair Record--                   locomotives.
 Form FRA F 6180.49A.

[[Page 47197]]

 
229.23(d)-(g)--Periodic       36 railroads...  4,500 passenger  15 minutes.....  1,125.00 hours.       80,876.25
 Inspection--Locomotive                         locomotives.
 Inspection & Repair Record--
 Form FRA F 6180.49A 3.
229.25(d)(2)--Data            754 railroads..  5,908 readout    90 minutes.....  8,862.00 hours.      686,273.28
 verification readout of                        records and
 event recorder.                                reports.
229.46--Tagging locomotive    754 railroads..  2,269 tags.....  1 minute.......  37.81 hours....        2,718.16
 with inoperative or
 ineffective automatic/
 independent brake that can
 only be used in trailing
 position.
229.85--Marking of all        754 railroads..  1,080 decals or  1 minute.......  18.00 hours....        1,078.02
 doors, cover plates, or                        markings.
 barriers having direct
 access to high voltage
 equipment with words
 ``Danger High Voltage'' or
 with word ``Danger''.
229.123(b)(2)--Locomotives    754 railroads..  22 markings/     4 minutes......  1.44 hours.....          104.96
 equipped with a pilot,                         stencils.
 snowplow & plate with
 clearance above 6 inches--
 Marking/stenciling with
 words ``9-inch Maximum End
 Plate Height, Yard or Trail
 Service Only''.
229.303--Requests to FRA for  754 railroads..  5 written        1 hour.........  5.00 hours.....          387.20
 on-track testing of                            requests.
 products outside a facility.
229.307--Safety Analysis for  754 railroads..  3 safety         240 hours......  720.00 hours...       55,756.80
 each product subject to                        analysis
 this subpart--Document                         documents.
 establishing minimum
 requirements.
229.309--Safety critical      754 railroads..  5 notifications  8 hours........  40.00 hours....        3,097.60
 changes to product subject
 to this subpart--Notice to
 FRA.
--(b) and (c) Report by       3 manufacturers  15 reports.....  8 hours........  120.00 hours...        9,292.80
 product suppliers and
 private owners to railroads
 of any safety-critical
 changes to product.
229.311(a)--Notice to FRA by  754 railroads..  3 notifications  2 hours........  6.00 hours.....          464.64
 railroad before placing
 product in service.
--(d) Railroad maintenance    754 railroads..  3 databases....  2 hours........  6.00 hours.....          464.64
 of data base of all safety
 relevant hazards
 encountered after product
 is placed in service.
--(d)(1) Written report to    754 railroads..  1 written        2 hours........  2.00 hours.....          154.88
 FRA disclosing frequency of                    report.
 safety-relevant hazards for
 product exceeding threshold
 set forth in Safety
 Analysis.

[[Page 47198]]

 
229.315(b)--Railroad          754 railroads..  3 filings of     1 minute.......  .05 hour.......            3.87
 maintenance of Operations                      manuals.
 and Maintenance Manual
 containing all documents
 related to installation,
 maintenance, repair,
 modification, & testing of
 a product subject to this
 part.
--(c) Configuration           754 railroads..  3 filings of     1 minute.......  .05 hour.......            3.87
 management control plan.                       revised plans.
229.317(a)--Training and      754 railroads..  90 filings of    1 minute.......  1.50 hours.....          116.16
 qualification program--                        new or revised
 Establishment and                              training
 implementation of training                     programs.
 qualification program for
 products subject to this
 subpart.
--(b) Employees trained       754 railroads..  10,000 trained   1 minute.......  166.67 hours...       12,906.92
 under RR program.                              employees'
                                                records.
--(f) Periodic refresher      754 railroads..  1,000 re-        1 minute.......  16.67 hours....        1,290.92
 training of employees.                         trained
                                                employees'
                                                records.
--(g) RR regular and          754 railroads..  90 evaluations.  2 hours........  3.00 hours.....          232.32
 periodic evaluation of
 effectiveness of its
 training program.
--(h) RR record of            754 railroads..  10,000           1 minute.......  166.67 hours...       12,906.92
 individuals designated as                      electronic
 qualified under this                           records.
 section.
    Total 4.................  754 railroads..  8,829,303        N/A............  232,348 hours..      17,585,665
                                                responses.
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    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 8,829,303.
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    \1\ The current inventory exhibits a total burden of 3,815,751 
hours while the total burden of this notice is 232,348 hours. As 
part of its review of this ICR renewal, FRA determined many of the 
previous estimates were preliminary, outdated, or duplicative. 
Moreover, FRA removed locomotive safety requirements outside the 
scope of the PRA, thus decreasing the total estimates accordingly in 
this notice.
    \2\ The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the Surface 
Transportation Board's 2020 Full Year Wage A&B data series using the 
appropriate employee group hourly wage rate that includes a 75-
percent overhead charge.
    \3\ FRA is proposing to create a new form for use by passenger 
railroads, Form F 6180-49AP (Passenger Locomotive Inspection and 
Repair Record), under OMB Control Number 2130-0035. Once the new 
form is approved, FRA will move this under the proposed 49 CFR 
229.22 of OMB 2130-0035.
    \4\ Totals may not add due to rounding.
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    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 232,348 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: 
$17,585,665.
    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,
Acting Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2021-17982 Filed 8-20-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P