[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 21, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13139-13140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03477]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2023-0002-N-42]


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 Requests (ICRs) summarized below to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. These 
ICRs describe the information collection and their expected burden. On 
October 2, 2023, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for 
public comment on the two ICRs. FRA received no comments related to the 
proposed collections of information.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
March 22, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICRs 
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 Ms. Arlette Mussington, Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: [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 October 2, 2023, FRA 
published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting public 
comments on the ICRs for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 88 
FR 67866. FRA received no comments related to the proposed collections 
of information.
    Before OMB decides whether to approve the proposed collections of 
information, it must provide 30 days 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 ICRs 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 summaries below describe the ICRs that FRA will submit for OMB 
clearance as the PRA requires:
    Title: Identification of Railroad Cars.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0506.
    Abstract: This collection of information is associated with 49 CFR 
232.3(d), formerly contained in Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) 
Order 13528. Paragraph (d)(3) of 49 CFR 232.3 conditionally excepts 
certain export, industrial, and other cars not owned by a railroad from 
part 232 compliance. It requires cars to be identified by a card 
attached to each side of the equipment, signed by the shipper, 
specifically noting that the car

[[Page 13140]]

is being moved under the proper authority. Railroads typically use 
carrier bad order forms or tags for these purposes. These forms are 
readily available from all carrier repair facilities. FRA estimates 
approximately 400 cars per year, each bearing two forms or tags, are 
moved under this regulation.
    Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Respondent Universe: 765 railroads and freight car owners.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 800.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 67 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $4,496.
    Title: U.S. Locational Requirement for Dispatching U.S. Rail 
Operations.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0556.
    Abstract: Title 49 CFR part 241 requires, in the absence of a 
waiver, that all dispatching of United States railroad operations be 
performed in the United States. A railroad may, however, dispatch from 
a country other than the United States in an emergency situation, but 
only for the duration of the emergency situation.\1\ A railroad relying 
on this exception must provide written notification of its action to 
FRA as soon as practicable; such notification is not required before 
addressing the emergency situation. The information collected under 
this ICR is used as part of FRA's oversight function to help ensure 
that extraterritorial dispatchers comply with applicable safety 
regulations.
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    \1\ See 49 CFR 241.9(c).
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    Type of Request: Extension without change (with changes in 
estimate) \2\ of a currently approved collection.
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    \2\ FRA published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register on 
October 2, 2023, that reflected a total burden of 8 hours for Sec.  
241.9(c). After further review, FRA is making an adjustment in this 
30-day notice, reducing the total burden hours from 8 to 2 hours. 
The adjustment is due to the increased use of electronic delivery 
systems. All other reporting information remains the same.
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    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Respondent Universe: 4 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 1.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 2 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $171.86.
    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. 2024-03477 Filed 2-20-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P