[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 184 (Monday, September 25, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65765-65768]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20662]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2023-0002-N-15]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

[[Page 65766]]


ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its 
implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the Information 
Collection Request (ICR) summarized 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 
November 24, 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 (2130-0010) in any correspondence 
submitted. FRA will summarize comments received in response to this 
notice in a subsequent notice, made available to the public, 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 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, 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: Track Safety Standards.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0010.
    Abstract: The Track Safety Standards regulations under 49 CFR part 
213 prescribe minimum safety requirements for railroad track that is 
part of the general railroad system of transportation. FRA uses this 
information collection to ensure and enhance rail safety by monitoring 
complete compliance with all regulatory requirements. While the 
requirements prescribed in this part generally apply to specific track 
conditions existing in isolation, a combination of track conditions, 
none of which individually amounts to a deviation from the requirements 
in this part, may require remedial action to provide safe operations 
over that track. Qualified persons inspect track and take action to 
allow safe passage of trains and ensure compliance with the prescribed 
standards.
    In 2020, FRA published a final rule \1\ revising the minimum safety 
requirements for railroad track. The changes allowed inspection of rail 
using continuous rail testing; the use of flange-bearing frogs in 
crossing diamonds; relaxed the guard check gage limits on heavy-point 
frogs used in Class 5 track; removed an inspection-method exception for 
high density commuter lines; and other miscellaneous revisions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 85 FR 63362.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, in 2011, FRA promulgated a rule \2\ mandating specific 
requirements for effective concrete crossties, for rail fastening 
systems connected to concrete crossties, and for automated inspections 
of track constructed with concrete crossties. These requirements 
supplement visual inspections by Class I and Class II railroads, 
intercity passenger railroads, and commuter railroads.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ 76 FR 18073.
    \3\ To more effectively manage FRA's ICRs, the concrete crosstie 
ICR, OMB Control No. 2130-0592, has been combined with that of track 
safety standards, OMB Control No. 2130-0010 in this renewal cycle.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In this 60-day notice, FRA made multiple adjustments to its 
estimated paperwork burden, resulting in an increase of 278 hours, from 
234,016 hours in the current inventory to 234,294 hours in the 
requested inventory. This increase is the result of FRA combining the 
annual burden hours with OMB Control Number 2130-0592, which covers 
concrete crossties, as detailed below:
     Under Sec.  213.234(e), FRA added 31.25 hours.
     Under Sec.  213.234(g), FRA added 60.00 hours.
     Under Sec.  213.234(h)(3), FRA added 187.50 hours.
    Type of Request: Extension without change (with changes in 
estimates) of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Respondent Universe: 784.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                           Total cost
          CFR section               Respondent universe         Total annual responses     Average time per response    Total annual     equivalent in
                                                                                                                        burden hours      U.S. dollar
                                ...........................  (A)........................  (B)........................     (C = A * B)           (D = C *
                                                                                                                                         wage rates) \4\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
213.4(f)--Excepted track--      784 railroads..............  15 notices.................  10 minutes.................            2.50            $214.83
 Notification to FRA about
 removal of excepted track.
213.5(c)--Responsibility for    784 railroads..............  15 notices.................  1 hour.....................           15.00           1,288.95
 compliance--Notification of
 assignment to FRA.

[[Page 65767]]

 
213.7(a)(b)--Designations:      784 railroads..............  2,500 names................  10 minutes.................          416.67          35,804.45
 Names on list with written
 authorizations.
213.17(a)--Waivers............  784 railroads..............  10 petitions...............  2 hours....................           20.00           1,718.60
213.57(e)--Curves; elevation    784 railroads..............  4 requests.................  8 hours....................           32.00           2,749.76
 and speed limitations--
 Request to FRA for vehicle
 type approval.
--(f) Written notification to   784 railroads..............  4 notifications............  2 hours....................            8.00             687.44
 FRA prior to implementation
 of higher curving speeds.
--(g) Written consent of track  784 railroads..............  4 written consents.........  45 minutes.................            3.00             257.79
 owners obtained by railroad
 providing service over that
 track.
213.110(a)--Gage restraint      784 railroads..............  1 notification.............  45 minutes.................            0.75              64.45
 measurement systems (GRMS)--
 Implementing GRMS--notices &
 reports.
--(g) GRMS vehicle output       784 railroads..............  1 report...................  5 minutes..................            0.08               6.87
 reports.
--(h) GRMS vehicle exception    784 railroads..............  1 report...................  5 minutes..................            0.08               6.87
 reports.
--(j) GRMS/PTLF--procedures     784 railroads..............  1 documented procedure.....  1 hour.....................            1.00              85.93
 for data integrity.
--(n) GRMS inspection records.  784 railroads..............  2 records..................  30 minutes.................            1.00              85.93
213.118(a)-(c)--Continuous      438 railroads..............  10 plans...................  4 hours....................           40.00           3,437.20
 welded rail (CWR)--Revised
 plans w/procedures for CWR.
--(d) Notification to FRA and   438 railroads..............  750 notices................  15 seconds.................            3.13             268.96
 RR employees of CWR plan
 effective date.
--(e) Written submissions       438 railroads..............  5 written submissions......  2 hours....................           10.00             859.30
 after plan disapproval.
--(e) Final FRA disapproval     438 railroads..............  5 amended plans............  1 hour.....................            5.00             429.65
 and plan amendment.
213.234(e)--Automated           30 railroads...............  125 reports................  15 minutes.................           31.25           2,097.19
 inspection of track
 constructed with concrete
 crossties--Exception reports
 listing all exception to Sec.
   213.109(d)(4) Added
 requirement and burden hours
 from 2130-0592.
--(f) Automated inspection of   30 railroads...............  2,000 records..............  30 minutes.................        1,000.00          85,930.00
 track constructed with
 concrete crossties--
 Recordkeeping requirements.
--(g) Procedure for integrity   30 railroads...............  30 revised procedures......  2 hours....................           60.00           7,404.60
 of data--Track owners to
 institute procedures for
 maintaining the integrity of
 the data collected by the
 measurement system. Added
 requirement and burden hours
 from 2130-0592.
--(h)(3) Training Track owners  30 railroads...............  2,250 records of trained     5 minutes..................          187.50          12,583.13
 to provide annual training in                                employees.
 handling rail seat
 deterioration exceptions to
 all persons designated as
 fully qualified under Sec.
 213.7 and whose territories
 are subject to the
 requirements of Sec.
 213.234--Recordkeeping. Added
 requirement and burden hours
 from 2130-0592.
213.237(b)(2)--Inspection of    65 railroads...............  4 requests.................  15 minutes.................            1.00              85.93
 Rail--Detailed request to FRA
 to change designation of a
 rail inspection segment or
 establish a new segment.
--(b)(3) Notification to FRA    65 railroads...............  1 notice to FRA + 15         15 minutes.................            4.00             343.72
 and all affected employees of                                bulletins.
 designation's effective date
 after FRA's approval/
 conditional approval.
--(d) Notice to FRA that        65 railroads...............  4 notices..................  15 minutes.................            1.00              85.93
 service failure rate target
 in paragraph (a) of this
 section is not achieved.
--(d)--Explanation to FRA as    65 railroads...............  4 letters of explanation/    15 minutes.................            1.00              85.93
 to why performance target was                                plans.
 not achieved and provision to
 FRA of remedial action plan.
213.238--Qualified operators--  3 railroads + 5 testing      250 records................  5 minutes..................           20.83           1,789.92
 Written or electronic of        entities.
 qualification.
213.240(b)--Continuous Rail     12 railroads...............  4 procedures...............  8 hours....................           32.00           2,749.76
 Testing--Procedures for
 conducting continuous testing.
--(c) Type of rail test         12 railroads...............  25,000 documents/records...  2 seconds..................           13.89           1,193.57
 (continuous or stop-and-
 verify)--Record.
--(c)--Type of rail test        12 railroads...............  100 documents..............  1 minute...................            1.67             143.50
 (continuous or stop-and-
 verify)--Documented changes.
--(g) Annual reports to FRA...  12 railroads...............  12 reports.................  4 hours....................           48.00           4,124.64
213.241--Inspection records...  784 railroads..............  1,375,000 records..........  10 minutes.................      229,166.67      19,692,291.95
213.303(b)--Responsibility for  2 railroads................  5 notices..................  30 minutes.................            2.50             214.83
 compliance--Notification of
 assignment to FRA.
213.305(c)(4)--Designation of   2 railroads................  20 written documents.......  30 minutes.................           10.00             859.30
 qualified individuals;
 general qualifications--
 Written authorization for
 remedial actions.
--(e) Railroads produced        2 railroads................  200 records................  10 minutes.................           33.33           2,864.05
 designation record upon FRA
 request.
213.317(a)-(b)--Waivers.......  2 railroads................  2 petitions................  8 hours....................           16.00           1,374.88

[[Page 65768]]

 
213.329(e)--Curves, elevation,  2 railroads................  2.00 cover letters + 2.00    30.00 minutes + 16.00 hours           33.50           2,878.66
 and speed limitations--FRA                                   technical reports + 2.00     + 15.00 minutes.
 approval of qualified vehicle                                diagrams.
 types based on results of
 testing.
--(f) Written notification to   2 railroads................  2 notices..................  2 hours....................            4.00             343.72
 FRA 30 days prior to
 implementation of higher
 curving speeds.
--(g) Written consent of other  2 railroads................  2 written consents.........  45 minutes.................            1.50             128.90
 affected track owners by
 railroad.
213.333(d)--Automated vehicle-  7 railroads................  7 reports..................  1 hour.....................            7.00             601.51
 based inspection systems--
 Track Geometry Measurement
 System (TGMS) output/
 exception reports.
213.341(b)-(d)--Initial         2 railroads................  800 records................  2 minutes..................           26.67           2,291.75
 inspection of new rail &
 welds--Inspection records.
213.343(a)-(e)--CWR--Procedure  2 railroads................  2 plans....................  4 hours....................            8.00             687.44
 s for installations and
 adjustments of CWR.
--(h) Recordkeeping             2 railroads................  8,000 records..............  2 minutes..................          266.67          22,914.95
 requirements.
213.345(a)-(c)--Vehicle         2 railroads................  2 program plans............  120 hours..................          240.00          20,623.20
 qualification testing--
 Vehicle qualification program
 for all vehicle types
 operating at track Class 6
 speeds or above.
--(d) Previously qualified      2 railroads................  2 program plans............  8 hours....................           16.00           1,374.88
 vehicle types qualification
 programs.
--(h) Written consent of other  4 railroads................  4 written consents.........  30 minutes.................            2.00             246.82
 affected track owners by
 railroad.
213.369(d)--Inspection          2 railroads................  15,000 record sets.........  10 minutes.................        2,500.00         214,825.00
 Records--Record of inspection
 of track.
                                                                                                                      ----------------------------------
    Total \5\.................  784 railroads..............  1,432,181 responses........  N/A........................         234,294         20,131,107
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 1,432,181.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the 2022 Surface 
Transportation Board Full Year Wage A&B data series using the 
employee groups 100 (Executives, Officials, and Office Staff 
Assistants) $70.52, 200 (Professional and Administrative) $49.10, 
and 400 (Maintenance of Equipment & Stores) $38.35. The total burden 
wage rate (Straight time plus 75%) used in the table is $85.93 
($49.10 x 1.75 = $85.93) except for the following: Sec.  213.234(g) 
and Sec.  213.345(h) which uses an hourly wage rate of $123.41 
(70.52 x 1.75 = $123.41) and Sec.  213.234(h)(3) which uses an 
hourly wage rate of $67.11 ($38.35 x 1.75 = $67.11).
    \5\ Totals may not add up due to rounding.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 234,294.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: 
$20,131,107.
    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.

Christopher S. Van Nostrand,
Acting Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2023-20662 Filed 9-22-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P