[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 118 (Wednesday, June 21, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40369-40372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13133]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2023-0002-N-11]


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 March 
24, 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 
July 21, 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 Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the 
search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Joanne Swafford, Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: [email protected] or 
telephone: (757) 897-9908 or [email protected] or telephone: 
(571) 609-1285.

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 March 24, 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 
17919. FRA has received one comment related to the proposed collection 
of information. This commenter expressed concerns about FRA's estimated 
paperwork burdens with respect to the Risk Reduction Program (RRP), but 
did not articulate in detail which burdens were of concern. While FRA 
notes this feedback, FRA's stakeholder-informed process re-evaluates 
the estimated paperwork burdens periodically to ensure accuracy and 
FRA's subject matter experts also analyze the updated data to determine 
accurate estimates.
    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: Risk Reduction Program.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0610.
    Abstract: In 2020, FRA issued a final rule \1\ that requires each 
Class I freight railroad and each freight railroad with inadequate 
safety performance (ISP) to develop and implement a RRP to improve the 
safety of its operations. RRP is a comprehensive, system-oriented 
approach to safety that determines a railroad operation's level of risk 
by identifying and analyzing applicable hazards, and develops plans to 
mitigate, if not eliminate, that risk.
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    \1\ 85 FR 9262 (Feb. 18, 2020).
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    The information collected under this regulation will be used by 
railroads, and FRA, to improve safety through structured, proactive 
processes that systematically evaluate railroad safety hazards on their 
systems and manage the risks associated with those hazards to help 
reduce the number and rates of railroad accidents/incidents, injuries, 
and fatalities. Each railroad has flexibility to tailor an RRP to its 
specific railroad operations. Each railroad must implement its RRP 
under a written, FRA-approved RRP plan and conduct an annual internal 
assessment of its RRP, with FRA also auditing railroads' RRPs.
    The primary reason for the reduction in the estimated paperwork 
burden is the expected decrease in the number of responses. 
Specifically, all Class I freight railroads have already submitted 
their RRP plans, leading to a decrease in the overall PRA burden, 
resulting in no anticipated submissions under certain regulatory 
sections.
    As a result of the merger between the Canadian Pacific and Kansas 
City Southern railroads, Class I the respondent universe was reduced 
from seven to six Class I railroads. While the individual burden 
remains the same, for transparency, the burden table is being re-
published in this 30-day notice to illustrate the updates made.
    Type of Request: Extension without change (with changes in 
estimates) of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Respondent Universe: 6 Class I railroads and 15 Class II or Class 
III freight railroads demonstrating inadequate safety performance.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden:

[[Page 40370]]



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                                                                                                                           Total
                                                                                                     Average  time per     annual         Total cost
           CFR section                   Respondent universe             Total annual responses           responses        burden     equivalent in U.S.
                                                                                                                           hours            dollar
                                                                    (A)............................  (B)..............  (C = A * B)        (D = C * wage
                                                                                                                                                  rates)
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271.13(c)--Determination of        15 railroads...................  5.00 notices...................  3 hours..........        15.00            $1,168.65
 inadequate safety performance
 (ISP)--Qualitative assessment--
 Notice to employees of possible
 ISP identification by FRA.
--(i)Employee confidential         125 employees..................  5.00 comments..................  30 minutes.......         2.50               194.78
 comments to FRA regarding RR
 possible ISP identification.
--(ii)RR Documentation to FRA      15 railroads...................  5.00 documents.................  8 hours..........        40.00             3,116.40
 refuting possible ISP
 identification.
--(f) and (g) Petition for         15 railroads...................  0.67 petition..................  16 hours.........        10.72               835.20
 reconsideration of ISP
 determination and petition to
 discontinue compliance with this
 part.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
271.101--Risk Reduction Programs   The estimated paperwork burden for this regulatory requirement is covered under Sec.   271.103, 271.105, 271.107,
 (RRPs)--Class I railroads.         271.109, and 271.111.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
271.103--RRP hazard management     6 railroads....................  2.33 HMPs analyses.............  3,360 hours......     7,828.80           609,941.81
 program (HMPs) Class I.
271.105--RRP safety performance    6 railroads....................  2.33 SPEs evaluation...........  147 hours........       342.51            26,684.95
 evaluation (SPEs): evaluation/    6 railroads....................  2.33 assessments...............  1,060 hours......     2,470.15           192,449.39
 assessments--Class I.
271.107--Safety Outreach--         6 railroads....................  44,333.00 communications.......  1 hour...........    44,333.00         2,636,040.18
 communications/reporting to       6 railroads....................  28.00 communications...........  30 minutes.......        14.00             1,090.74
 senior management--Class I.
271.109--Technology analysis and   6 railroads....................  2.33 reports...................  10 hours.........        23.30             1,815.30
 technology implementation plans--
 Class I.
271.111--RRP implementation        6 railroads....................  1,400.00 records of trained      3 minutes........        70.00             5,453.70
 training--programs/training.                                        employees.
 employees/records.--Class I.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
271.113--Involvement of RR         The estimated paperwork burden for this regulatory requirement is covered under Sec.   271.401 and 271.405.
 employees--Class I.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
271.101(c)--Communication by       6 railroads....................  40.00 communications/            2 hours..........        80.00             6,232.80
 Class I that host passenger                                         consultations.
 train services with RRs subject
 to FRA System Safety Program
 Requirements.
--(d) Identification/              6 railroads....................  212.00 communications/           1 hour...........       212.00            16,516.92
 communication w/entities                                            consultations.
 performing/utilizing significant
 safety-related services--Class I.
--RR Identification/further        6 railroads....................  1,488.00 communications/         1 hour...........     1,488.00           115,930.08
 communication with contractors                                      consultations.
 performing/utilizing significant
 safety related services--Class I.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
271.101(a)--Risk Reduction         The estimated paperwork burden for this regulatory requirement is covered under Sec.   271.103, 271.105, 271.107,
 Programs (RRPs)--ISP.              271.109, and 271.111.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
271.103--RRP hazard management     15 railroads...................  5.00 HMPs......................  240 hours........     1,200.00            93,492.00
 program (HMPs) ISP.
271.105--RRP safety performance    15 railroads...................  5.00 surveys...................  15 hours.........        73.65             5,738.07
 evaluation (SPEs): survey/        15 railroads...................  5.00 SPEs......................  51 hours.........       255.55            19,909.90
 evaluation--ISP.
271.107--Safety Outreach--         15 railroads...................  5.00 communications............  1 hour...........         5.00               297.30
 communications/reporting to       15 railroads...................  5.00 reports...................  3 hours..........        15.00             1,168.65
 management--ISP.
271.109--Technology analysis and   15 railroads...................  5.00 plans.....................  5 hours..........        25.00             1,947.75
 technology implementation plans--
 ISP.
271.111--RRP implementation        15 railroads...................  50.00 records of trained         3 minutes........         2.50               194.78
 training--Records ISP RRs (Note:                                    employees.
 The associated burdens related
 to training were appropriately
 calculated as economic costs of
 the regulatory requirement.).
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
271.113--Involvement of RR         The estimated paperwork burden for this regulatory requirement is covered under subparts B and E of part 271.
 employees.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
271.101(d)--ISPs--Identification/  15 railroads...................  5.00 communications/             2 hours..........        10.00               779.10
 communication w/entities                                            consultations.
 performing significant safety-
 related services.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
271.201/203--Written risk          The PRA burden associated with this requirement for Class I railroads has been completed.
 reduction program plans (RRP
 plans)--Adoption and
 implementation of RRP plans--
 Class I.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--Written RRP plans--ISP.........  15 railroads...................  5.00 RRP plans.................  96 hours.........       480.00            37,396.80
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
271.207--RR Good faith             The PRA burden associated with this requirement for Class I railroads has been completed.
 consultation w/directly affected
 employees--Class I.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--RR Notification to non-          The PRA burden associated with this requirement for Class I railroads has been completed.
 represented employees of
 consultation meeting--Class I.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--RR Good faith consultations/     15 railroads...................  5.00 consults/notices..........  20 hours.........       100.00             7,791.00
 notices: ISP.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(d)--Submission of detailed        The PRA burden associated with this requirement for Class I railroads has been completed.
 consultation statement along w/
 RRP plan by Class I.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--Submission of detailed           15 railroads...................  5.00 consults/statements.......  40 hours.........       200.00            15,582.00
 consultation statement along w/
 RRP plan by ISPs (Burden for
 plan copies included).
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--Copy of RRP Plan--Class I......  The PRA burden associated with this requirement for Class I railroads has been completed.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 40371]]

 
--Consultation Statement to        The PRA burden associated with this requirement for Class I railroads has been completed.
 Service List Individuals--Class
 I.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--Statements from directly         The PRA burden associated with this requirement for Class I railroads has been completed.
 affected employees--Class I
 railroads.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--Statements from directly         15 railroads...................  12.00 statements...............  1 hour...........        12.00               934.92
 affected employees--ISP.
271.209--Substantive amendments    6 railroads....................  1.00 amended written plan......  8 hours..........         8.00               623.28
 to RRP plan--Class I.
--Substantive amendments to RRP    15 railroads...................  0.67 amended written plan......  8 hours..........         5.36               417.60
 plan--ISP railroads.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
271.301--Filing of RRP plan w/     The PRA burden associated with this requirement for Class I RRs has been completed.
 FRA--Class I.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--Filing of RRP plan w/FRA--ISP    15 railroads...................  5.00 filed plans...............  2 hours..........        10.00               779.10
 railroads.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--Class I RR corrected RRP plan..  The PRA burden associated with this requirement for Class I railroads has been completed.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--FRA requested Class I            The PRA burden associated with this requirement for Class I railroads has been completed.
 consultation with directly
 affected employees regarding
 substantive corrections/changes
 to RRP plan.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--ISP railroad corrected RRP plan  15 railroads...................  1.00 RRP plan..................  2 hours..........         2.00               155.82
--FRA requested ISP railroad       15 railroads...................  1.00 consult/statement.........  1 hour...........         1.00                77.91
 further consultation with
 directly affected employees
 regarding substantive amendment
 to RRP plan.
271.303--Amendments consultation   21 railroads (Class I + ISP)...  2.00 consults..................  1 hour...........         2.00               155.82
 w/directly affected employees on
 substantive amendments to RRP
 plan--Class I + ISP.
--Employee statement to FRA on     21 railroads (Class I + ISP)...  2.00 employee statements.......  30 minutes.......         1.00                77.91
 railroad RRP plan substantive
 amendment where agreement could
 not be reached Class I + ISP.
271.303--Filed amended RRP plan--  6 railroads....................  1.00 plan......................  30 minutes.......         0.50                38.96
 Class I railroads.
--Filed amended RRP plan--ISP....  15 railroads...................  0.67 plan......................  30 minutes.......         0.34                26.49
--Amended RRP plan disapproved by  21 railroads (Class I + ISP)...  1.00 corrected RRP plan........  2 hours..........         2.00               155.82
 FRA & requested correction--
 Class I and ISPs.
271.307--Retention of RRP plans--  21 railroads (Class I + ISP)...  2.00 plan copies...............  10 minutes.......         0.33                25.71
 Copies of RRP Plan/Amendments by
 railroad at system/division
 headquarters --Class I + ISP.
217.401/403--Annual internal       6 railroads....................  7.00 assessments/improvement     120 hours........       840.00            65,444.40
 assessment/improvement plans--                                      plans.
 Class I.
--Annual internal assessment/      15 railroads...................  5.00 assessments/improvement     32 hours.........       160.00            12,465.60
 improvement plans--ISP.                                             plans.
271.405--Copy of Internal          6 railroads....................  7.00 reports...................  8 hours..........        56.00             4,362.96
 assessment to FRA--Class I.
--Copy of Internal assessment      15 railroads...................  5.00 reports...................  2 hours..........        10.00               779.10
 report to FRA--ISP.
271.501/.503--External audits--    21 railroads...................  7.33 responses.................  4 hours..........        29.32             2,284.32
 Response to FRA's written notice
 (Note: The associated burdens
 related to audit were
 appropriately calculated as
 economic costs of the regulatory
 requirement.).
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appendix A--Request by FRA for     The PRA burden associated with this requirement for Class I railroads has been completed.
 additional information/documents
 to determine whether railroad
 has met good faith and best
 efforts consultation
 requirements of section 271.207--
 Class I.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--Further railroad consultation w/ The PRA burden associated with this requirement for Class I railroads has been completed.
 employees after determination by
 FRA that railroad did not use
 good faith/best efforts--Class I.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--Meeting to discuss               The PRA burden associated with this requirement for Class I railroads has been completed.
 administrative details of
 consultation process during the
 time between initial meeting and
 applicability date--Class I s.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--Meeting to discuss               15 railroads...................  7.00 meetings/consults.........  1 hour...........         7.00               545.37
 administrative details of
 consultation process during the
 time between initial meeting and
 applicability date--ISP.
--Notification to non-represented  15 railroads...................  600.00 notices.................  15 minutes.......       150.00            11,686.50
 employees of good faith
 consultation process -ISP.
--Draft RRP plan proposal to       15 railroads...................  20.00 proposals/copies.........  2 hours..........        40.00             3,116.40
 employees--ISP.
--Employee comments on RRP plan    2,000 employees................  60.00 comments.................  1 hour...........        60.00             4,674.60
 draft proposal--ISP RRs.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appendix B--Request to FRA for     FRA anticipates zero railroad submissions during this 3-year ICR period.
 electronic submission or FRA
 review of written materials.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Totals...................  21 railroads...................  48,374 responses...............  N/A..............       60,694            3,910,597
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[[Page 40372]]

    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 48,374.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 60,694.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: 
$3,910,597.
    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. 2023-13133 Filed 6-20-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P