[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 184 (Monday, September 27, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53385-53386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20854]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2021-0006-N-12]


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, 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 June 
29, 2021, 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 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 at email: [email protected] or 
telephone: (202) 493-0440.

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 June 29, 2021, FRA 
published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on 
the ICR for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 86 FR 34303. FRA 
received no comments in response to this 60-day 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 1320.10(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 summary below describes the ICR that FRA will submit for OMB 
clearance as the PRA requires:
    Title: Hours of Service Regulations.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0005.
    Abstract: FRA's hours of service recordkeeping regulations (49 CFR 
part 228), amended as mandated by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 
2008, include substantive hours of service requirements for train 
employees (i.e., locomotive engineers and conductors) providing 
commuter and intercity rail passenger transportation (e.g., maximum on-
duty periods, minimum off-duty periods, and other limitations). The 
regulations also require railroads to evaluate passenger train employee 
work schedules for risk of employee fatigue and implement measures to 
mitigate the risk, and to submit to FRA for approval certain schedules 
and mitigation plans. Finally, the regulations include recordkeeping 
and reporting provisions requiring railroads to keep hours of service 
records, and report excessive service, for train employees, signal 
employees, and dispatching service employees on both freight and 
passenger railroads.
    FRA uses the information collected to verify that railroads do not 
require or allow their employees to exceed maximum on-duty periods, and 
ensure that they abide by minimum off-duty periods, and adhere to other 
limitations in this regulation, to enhance rail safety and reduce the 
risk of accidents/

[[Page 53386]]

incidents caused, or contributed to, by train employee fatigue.
    Type of Request: Extension without change (with changes in 
estimates) of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses (railroads and signal contractors).
    Form(s): FRA F 6180.3.
    Respondent Universe: 796 railroads, signal contractors and 
subcontractors.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 18,660,400.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 1,283,507 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: 
$99,404,352.
    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. 2021-20854 Filed 9-24-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P