[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 57 (Friday, March 24, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17922-17925]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06083]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2023-0002-N-6]


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 will seek 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 
May 23, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR 
should be submitted on regulations.gov to the docket, Docket No. FRA-
2023-0002. All comments received will be posted without change to the 
docket, including any personal information provided. Please refer to 
the assigned OMB control number (2130-0560) 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. Arlette Mussington, Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: [email protected] or 
telephone: (571) 609-1285 or Ms. Joanne Swafford, Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: [email protected] or 
telephone: (757) 897-9908.

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 1320.8-1320.12.

[[Page 17923]]

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 statutes and 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: Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0560.
    Abstract: FRA plans to publish in the Federal Register a final 
administrative rule on its procedures for service of documents in 
railroad safety enforcement proceedings and other administrative 
updates. This rule will update FRA's railroad safety enforcement 
procedures and rules of practice to require electronic service of 
documents. Specifically, this rule modernizes 49 CFR part 209's 
provisions and other FRA procedures regarding service to require 
service through electronic methods of transmission. For example, with 
respect to updating FRA's rules of practice to require electronic 
service of documents, this rule will remove the certified mail 
requirements in 49 CFR part 222 and provide for electronic submission 
of documents to FRA and other affected parties (such as railroads and 
State agencies).
    This 60-day notice provides the public with the opportunity to 
comment on the modifications made to eliminate the need for certified 
mail in sections 222.39, 222.43, 222.47, and 222.51. These adjustments 
will also decrease the burden hours by 47 hours, reducing the current 
inventory's 7,254 hours to 7,207 hours in the requesting inventory. 
Additionally, this rule will reduce the certified mailed cost by $5,000 
annually to the affected parties.
    The other provisions under parts 209, 211, 212, 216, 231, 233, 235, 
238, and 239 with respect to electronic methods of transmission 
requirements will not impact the current PRA inventory under multiple 
OMB control numbers \1\ since the affected parties are already 
submitting their written products electronically to FRA.
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    \1\ Covered under multiple OMB Control Numbers, such as, 2130-
0006, 2130-0504, 2130-0509, 2130-0544, 2130-0545, and 2130-0594.
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    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Respondent Universe: 784 railroads/645 public authorities.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden:
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    \2\ FRA used the Surface Transportation Board's 2021 Full-Year 
Wage A&B data series as the basis for each cost calculation. For 
professional and administrative staff, the hourly wage rate is 
$77.91 per hour ($44.52 * 1.75). For transportation (train and 
engine) staff, the hourly wage rate is $62.67 per hour ($35.81 * 
1.75).

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                                                                                              Average time  per      Total annual        Total cost
             CFR section                  Respondent universe     Total annual responses           response          burden hours        equivalent
                                                                 (A).....................  (B)....................     (C) = A * B   (D) = C * wage rate
                                                                                                                                                     \2\
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222.15--How does one obtain a waiver   784 railroads + 645       2 petitions.............  4 hours................            8.00               $623.28
 of a provision of this regulation?--   public Authorities.
 Petition for waiver.
                                      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
222.17--How can a State agency become  FRA anticipates zero applications, as FRA has yet to receive any submissions under this provision.
 a recognized State agency?
                                      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
222.39(b)--How is a quiet zone         645 public authorities..  15 applications.........  80 hours...............        1,200.00             75,204.00
 established?--Public authority
 application to FRA--Applications for
 quiet zone approval.
    --(b)(1)(i) Updated Grade          645 public authorities..  75 updated forms........  30 minutes.............           37.50              2,350.13
     Crossing Inventory Form
     (includes requirements under
     Sec.   222.49(a)).
    --(b)(1)(iii) Diagnostic team      645 public authorities..  3 team reviews..........  16 hours...............           48.00              3,739.68
     review of proposed quiet zone
     crossings.
    --(b)(3)(i) 60-day comment         645 public authorities..  90 copies...............  1 minute...............            1.50                 94.01
     period--Copies of quiet zone
     application (Revised
     requirement).
    --(b)(3)(ii) 60-day comment        784 railroads...........  30 comments.............  1.5 hours..............           45.00              3,505.95
     period--Comments to FRA on
     Applications for quiet zone
     approval.
                                      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    --(b)(3)(iii) 60-day comment       FRA anticipates zero written statements.
     period--Written no-comment
     statements.
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222.43(a)(1)--What notices and other   645 public authorities,   60 notices + 180          40 hours + 1 minute....        2,403.00            150,596.01
 information are required to create     784 railroads, and        notifications.
 or continue a quiet zone?--Written     state agencies.
 notice of public authority's intent
 to create new quiet zone and
 notification to required parties
 (Revised requirement).
    --(b)(3) Notice of Intent--60-day  784 railroads and state   120 comments............  1.5 hours..............          180.00             14,023.80
     comment period.                    agencies.

[[Page 17924]]

 
    --(d) Notice of Quiet Zone         645 public authorities..  60 notices + 360          40 hours + 10 minutes..        2,460.00            154,168.20
     Establishment--Written notice of                             notifications.
     quiet zone establishment and
     notification to required parties.
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    --(d)(2)(ii)(A) Required           The estimated paperwork burden for this requirement is covered under Sec.   222.43(d).
     contents--Public authority to
     include a copy of the quiet zone
     calculator web page in its
     notice of quiet zone
     establishment.
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    --(d)(2)(v)-(vi) Required          645 public authorities..  300 updated forms.......  30 minutes.............          150.00              9,400.50
     contents--Updated Grade Crossing
     Inventory Forms (includes
     requirements under Sec.
     222.49(a)).
    --(d)(2)(xi) Required contents--   645 public authorities..  60 certifications.......  5 minutes..............            5.00                313.35
     Certification by chief executive
     officer that the information
     submitted by the public
     authority is accurate.
222.47--What periodic updates are      645 public authorities..  180 written affirmations  30 minutes + 1 minute..          108.00              6,768.36
 required?--Written affirmation to                                + 1,080 copies.
 FRA that Supplementary or
 Alternative Safety Measures (SSMs or
 ASMs) conform to the requirements of
 Appendices A and B or the terms of
 the Quiet Zone approval (Revised
 requirement).
    --(a)(2) and (b)(2) Updated Grade  645 public authorities..  900 updated forms.......  30 minutes.............          450.00             28,201.50
     Crossing Inventory Forms
     (includes requirements under
     Sec.   222.49(a)).
222.51(a)-(b)--Under what conditions   645 public Authorities..  15 written commitments..  5 hours................           75.00              4,700.25
 will quiet zone status be
 terminated?--Written commitment to
 lower the potential risk to the
 traveling public at the crossings
 within the quiet zone.
    --(c) Review at FRA's initiative-- 645 public authorities,   2 comments..............  30 minutes.............            1.00                 62.67
     Comments from interested parties   railroads, state
     during FRA's review of quiet       agencies, and the
     zone status.                       general public.
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    --(d) Termination by the public    FRA estimates zero public authorities will elect to terminate a quiet zone that they only recently designated or
     authority--Written notice of       established, and so there will be no need to provide any written notices of termination. Consequently, there is
     quiet zone termination (Revised    no estimated paperwork burden associated with this requirement.
     requirement).
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    --(e) Notification of termination  FRA estimates that there will be zero quiet zones terminated under the provisions of this section, and that there
     (Revised requirement).             will be no need to provide written notifications to relevant parties. Consequently, there is no estimated
                                        paperwork burden associated with this requirement.
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222.55(b)--How are new supplementary   645 public authorities    1 letter................  30 minutes.............             .50                 31.34
 or alternative safety measures         and interested parties.
 approved?--Request for FRA approval
 of new SSMs or ASMs for quiet zones.
    --(d) Request for SSM/ASM          645 public authorities    1 letter................  30 minutes.............             .50                 31.34
     approval upon completion of        and interested parties.
     demonstration of proposed new
     SSMs or ASMs.
222.57(a)--Can parties seek review of  645 public authorities    1 petition + 6 copies...  2 hours + 2 minutes....            2.20                137.87
 the Associate Administrator's          and interested parties.
 actions?--A public authority or
 other interested party may petition
 FRA for review of any decision by
 the Associate Administrator granting
 or denying an application for
 approval of a new SSM or ASM under
 Sec.   222.55 (plus copies to the
 required parties).
    --(b) Request for FRA              645 public authorities..  1 petition letter + 6     2 hours + 2 minutes....            2.20                137.87
     reconsideration of disapproval                               copies.
     of application for Quiet Zone
     approval and copies of requests
     to the required parties.
    --(b) Additional documents         645 public authorities..  1 additional document     2 hours................            2.00                125.34
     submitted to FRA to support                                  and set of materials.
     petition for reconsideration.
    --(b) Letter to FRA requesting an  645 public authorities..  1 letter................  30 minutes.............             .50                 31.34
     informal hearing.
222.59(b)--When may a wayside horn be  645 public authorities..  5 notices + 30 copies...  2.5 hours + 2 minutes..           13.50                846.05
 used?--Written notice of use of
 wayside horn at grade crossing
 within a quiet zone plus copies of
 the written notices to the required
 parties.
    --(c) Written notice of wayside    645 public authorities +  5 notices + 30 copies...  2.5 hours + 2 minutes..           13.50                846.05
     horn use located outside a quiet   784 railroads.
     zone.
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Appendix B to Part 222--Alternative    FRA anticipates zero submissions. Additionally, FRA has yet to receive any submissions under this provision.
 Safety Measures--Non-engineering
 ASMs--Programmed Enforcement.
                                      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appendix B to Part 222--Alternative    FRA anticipates zero submissions. Additionally, FRA has yet to receive any submissions under this provision.
 Safety Measures--Non-engineering
 ASMs--Photo Enforcement.
                                      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 17925]]

 
229.129(c)(10)--Locomotive horn--      The one-time testing requirement under this provision for locomotives built before September 18, 2016 has been
 Written Reports and Records of         fulfilled. However, any estimated burden for testing records will be covered under OMB control number 2130-0004
 Locomotive Horn Testing.               under 229.23.
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    Total............................  784 railroads + 645       3,620 responses.........  N/A....................           7,207               455,939
                                        public authorities.
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    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 3,620.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 7,207 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: 
$455,939.
    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 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. 2023-06083 Filed 3-23-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P