[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 10, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1626-1627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00295]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2023-0002-N-41]


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

[[Page 1627]]

implementing regulations, this notice announces that FRA is forwarding 
the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR 
describes the information collection and its expected burden. On 
October 2, 2023, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for 
public comment on the ICR. FRA received no comments related to the 
proposed collection of information.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
February 9, 2024.

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. 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 October 2, 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 
67864. FRA received no comments related to the proposed collection of 
information.
    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: Safety Appliance Concern Recommendation Report, Safety 
Appliance Standards Guidance Checklist Forms.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0565.
    Abstract: Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 231, 
Railroad Safety Appliance Standards, was supplemented and expanded in 
2013 to include the industry standard established by the Association of 
American Railroads (AAR), Standard 2044 or S-2044, which prescribed 
safety appliance arrangements for 11 new types of cars. As a result of 
the inclusion, FRA developed Forms FRA F 6180.161(a)-(k) as guidance 
checklist forms to facilitate railroad, rail car owner, and rail 
equipment manufacturer compliance with S-2044 and 49 CFR part 231. AAR 
has since updated S-2044 to include seven new types of cars.
    Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form(s): 18 forms (FRA F 6180.161(a)-(r)).
    Respondent Universe: Car manufacturers/State inspectors.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 142.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 142 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $13,061.
    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. 2024-00295 Filed 1-9-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P