[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 12, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22088-22089]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-07717]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2023-0002-N-7]


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 
January 20, 2023, 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 
May 12, 2023.

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. 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 
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 January 20, 2023, FRA 
published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting public 
comment on the ICR for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 88 FR 
3772. FRA has received one comment from the public that was outside the 
scope of this notice.
    Before OMB decides whether to approve this proposed collection of 
information, it must provide 30-days' notice 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: Grade Crossing Signal System Safety Regulations.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0534.
    Abstract: FRA believes that highway-rail grade crossing (grade 
crossing) accidents resulting from warning system failures can be 
reduced when railroads take certain actions, as required by FRA's 
regulations, in the event of an activation failure.\1\ These required 
actions are set forth in 49 CFR part 234. An activation failure is 
defined as when a grade crossing warning system fails to indicate the 
approach of a train at least 20 seconds prior to the train's arrival at 
the crossing or to indicate the presence of a train occupying the 
crossing. Specifically, railroads must report to FRA every impact 
between on-track railroad equipment and an automobile, bus, truck, 
motorcycle, bicycle, farm vehicle, or pedestrian at a highway-rail 
grade crossing involving a crossing warning system activation failure. 
Notification must be provided to the National Response Center within 24 
hours of occurrence at the stipulated toll-free telephone number. 
Additionally, railroads must report to FRA within 15 days each 
activation failure of a highway-rail grade warning system. Form FRA F 
6180.83, ``Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Warning System Activation 
Failure Report,'' must be used for this purpose and completed using the 
instructions printed on the form. With this information, FRA can 
identify the causes of activation failures and investigate them to 
determine whether periodic maintenance, inspection, and testing 
standards are effective.
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    \1\ 59 FR 50086.
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    Type of Request: Extension without change (revised estimates) of a 
currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses (railroads).
    Form(s): FRA F 6180.83.
    Respondent Universe: 784 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion/monthly.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 60,252 responses.

[[Page 22089]]

    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 5,042 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: 
$363,737.
    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. 2023-07717 Filed 4-11-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P