[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 9, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56474-56476]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-15032]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2024-0012]


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, 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 
September 9, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR 
should be submitted at www.regulations.gov to the docket, Docket No. 
FRA-2024-0012. All comments received will be posted without change to 
the docket, including any personal information provided. Please refer 
to the assigned OMB control number (2130-0008) in any correspondence 
submitted. FRA will summarize comments received in a subsequent 30-day 
notice.

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: Inspection Brake System Safety Standards for Freight and 
Other Non-Passenger Trains and Equipment (Power Brakes).
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0008.
    Abstract: Title 49 CFR part 232 prescribes Federal safety standards 
for freight and other non-passenger train brake systems and equipment. 
Part 232 includes recordkeeping and information reporting requirements 
including the following:
    General (subpart A)--procedures for special approvals of 
alternative standards or test procedures and waivers, and procedures 
related to the movement of equipment with defective brakes.
    General requirements (subpart B)--generally applicable system 
requirements for the operation of brake systems on complete trains, 
including braking systems, locomotive brakes, dynamic braking, train 
handling and securement.
    Inspection and testing requirements (subpart C)--various airbrake 
test requirements for specific train operating scenarios, including 
initial terminal tests, intermediate inspections, continuity tests, and 
extended haul trains. This subpart also has specific rules regarding 
the use of yard air for conducting the above tests in lieu of 
locomotives and the use of independent locomotives in double-heading 
and helper service.
    Periodic maintenance and testing requirements (subpart D)--yearly 
and other periodic testing of individual equipment. This subpart also 
specifies the equipment and procedures necessary to modify the 
instructions used to perform these tests.
    End-of-train (EOT) devices (subpart E)--design and performance 
standards of both one-way and two-way EOT devices used on all trains 
with air brakes. This section also includes the inspection and testing 
requirements for EOT devices.
    Introduction of new brake system technology (subpart F)--approval 
procedures for the introduction of new technologies not already covered 
by existing regulations, and requirements for the development of a pre-
revenue service acceptance testing plan.
    Electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) braking systems (subpart 
G)--alternate standards for the operation and maintenance of ECP brake 
systems, particularly where the ECP system is not harmonious with 
previous standards. This includes interoperability, training, 
inspection and testing, movement of defective equipment, and periodic 
maintenance.
    Tourist, scenic, historic, and excursion operations (T&H) braking 
systems (subpart H)--regulations that apply specifically to T&H 
railroads. Those regulations are the same as existed in 2001, as stated 
in current 49 CFR 232.1(c).
    Overall, the information collection requirements of part 232 serve 
two important safety purposes. First, the regulations allow FRA to 
monitor compliance with braking system safety regulations. Second, FRA 
refers to records regularly maintained under part 232 to assess the 
effectiveness of the regulations and identify opportunities for 
improvement.
    In this 60-day notice, FRA made multiple adjustments that decreased 
the previously approved burden hours from 528,432 to 324,638 hours. The 
decrease in burden is the result of the changes described in the 
following sections discussed below:
     Under Sec.  232.17, Special approval procedure, FRA 
determined that the estimated paperwork burden to develop the 
alternative standard or test plan is already included under Sec.  
232.505, Pre-

[[Page 56475]]

revenue service acceptance plan. The estimated paperwork burden under 
this section is reduced by 244 hours. Additionally, FRA anticipates 
receiving zero statements of interest and has determined that the 
burden previously reported for public comments is excluded from the 
definition of information covered by the PRA under 5 CFR 1320.3(h)(4).
     The previously reported burdens under Sec.  232.103 
related to job briefings and Sec.  232.209 related to ``roll-by'' 
inspections are not considered information collections under the PRA 
because the agency is not collecting any information or requiring a 
third party to collect any information or keep any records. Therefore, 
the 328 burden hours associated with those regulatory requirements have 
been removed.
     Under Sec. Sec.  232.107, Air source requirements and cold 
weather operations; 232.109, Dynamic brake requirements; 232.203, 
Training requirements; 232.207, Class IA brake tests--1,000-mile 
inspection; 232.213, Extended haul trains; and 232.303, General 
requirements, FRA made burden estimate adjustments that more accurately 
reflect the number of responses and estimated average time required by 
each section, reducing the burden by 6,523 hours.
     Under Sec.  232.505, Pre-revenue service acceptance 
testing plans, FRA concluded that the previously reported burden hours 
for the design plan are already included in the 160 hours reported for 
each test plan. Accordingly, burden hours have been reduced by 137.29 
hours.
    Additionally, FRA made rounding adjustments that reduced the burden 
hours by 1,658.76 hours. Overall, total adjustments reduced the total 
burden by 203,794 hours.
    Type of Request: Extension without change (with changes in 
estimates) of a currently approved information collection.
    Affected Public: Railroads, Association of American Railroads 
(AAR), and manufacturers.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Respondent Universe: 784 Railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reported Burden:

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                                                                                                     Avg. time per
              CFR part 232 section                      Respondent universe             Annual         response        Total annual        Total cost
                                                                                       responses        (hours)      burden hours (C)   equivalent U.S.D
                                                                                               (A)             (B)        (A * B = C)     (C * wage rate
                                                                                                                                                    \1\)
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232.3--Applicability...........................  784 railroads....................               8  ..............               1.36            $116.86
    (d)(3)--Identification of cars not owned by  .................................               8            0.17               1.36             116.86
     RR.
232.7--Waivers.................................  784 railroads....................               2  ..............             320.00          27,497.60
    (a)--Waivers...............................  .................................               2             160             320.00          27,497.60
232.15--Movement of defective equipment........  784 railroads....................         153,400  ..............           6,642.80         570,815.80
    (a)(11)(ii)--Written Notification..........  .................................          25,000            0.05           1,250.00         107,412.50
    (b)--Tagging of defective equipment........  .................................         128,400           0.042           5,392.80         463,403.30
232.17--Special approval procedure.............  784 railroads....................            0.67  ..............               0.67              57.57
    (b) through (d)--Submission of petition for  .................................            0.67               1               0.67              57.57
     special approval of alternative standard
     or test procedure and pre-revenue service
     acceptance plan.
232.103--General requirements for all train      784 railroads....................          70,014  ..............          11,958.50       1,027,593.91
 brake systems.
    --Requirement for legible decal/stencil/     .................................          70,000            0.17          11,900.00       1,022,567.00
     sticker on all cars.
    (n)--Securement of unattended equipment--    .................................               1              10              10.00             859.30
     Unattended equipment plans (new plans).
    --Notification to FRA when RR develops and   .................................               1            0.50               0.50              42.97
     has plan in place or modifies existing
     plan.
    --(n)(10) Records of inspection following    .................................              12               4              48.00           4,124.64
     non-railroad emergency responder on
     equipment.
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232.105--General requirements for locomotives--  The burden for this requirement is included under OMB control number 2130-0004 under 49 CFR 229.23.
 Inspection records.
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232.107--Air source requirements and cold        5 new railroads..................           1,156  ..............             335.50          28,829.52
 weather operations.
    (a)--Monitoring plans for yard air sources   .................................               1              40              40.00           3,437.20
     (new).
    --Updates/revisions........................  50 existing plans................               5              20             100.00           8,593.00
    --Recordkeeping............................  50 existing plans................           1,150            0.17             195.50          16,799.32
232.109--Dynamic brake requirements............  784 railroads....................       1,668,748  ..............         116,474.22      10,008,630.07
    (a)--Brake status records..................  .................................       1,656,000            0.07         115,920.00       9,961,005.60
    (c)--Inoperative dynamic brakes, tagging     30,000 locomotives...............           6,358            0.07             445.06          38,244.01
     and records.
    (d)--Tagging inoperative dynamic breaks....  30,000 locomotives...............           6,358           0.008              50.86           4,370.74
    (e)--Deactivated dynamic brakes markings...  1000 locomotives.................              10            0.08               0.80              68.74
    (J)--Operating rules.......................  .................................               5               4              20.00           1,718.60
    --Amended/revised operating rules..........  .................................              15               1              15.00           1,288.95
    --Request to increase mph overspeed          .................................               1            20.5              20.50           1,761.57
     restriction.
    (k)--Knowledge, skill ability training plan  .................................               1               2               2.00             171.86
232.111--Train handling information............  784 railroads....................       2,112,105  ..............            171,160      14,707,778.80
    (a)--Written procedures for train handling.  .................................               5              40             200.00          17,186.00
    --Amendments/revisions.....................  .................................             100              20           2,000.00         171,860.00
    --Provide crew with report.................  .................................       2,112,000            0.08         168,960.00      14,518,732.80
232.203--Training requirements.................  784 railroads....................          50,587  ..............           6,889.15         591,984.66
    (a)--Training programs.....................  .................................               5             100             500.00          42,965.00
    --Periodic assessment of training program..  .................................             784               1             784.00          67,369.12
    --Amendments...............................  .................................             236               8           1,888.00         162,235.84
    (e)--Training records and notifications....  .................................          24,781            0.13           3,221.53         276,826.07
    --Notifications............................  .................................          24,781            0.02             495.62          42,588.63
232.205--Class I brake test--initial terminal    784 railroads....................         383,850  ..............           4,686.08         402,674.85
 inspection.
    (c)(1)(ii)(B)--Operating rules for airflow   .................................              10               8              80.00           6,874.40
     compliance.
    (e)--Brake test notice records.............  .................................         383,840           0.012           4,606.08         395,800.45
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[[Page 56476]]

 
    (c) (1)(iii)--Form 49A notation/             The estimated paperwork burden for this requirement is included under OMB Control Number 2130-0004.
     certification of last date of air flow
     method (AFM) indicator calibration
     (formally under Sec.   229.29(b).
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232.207--Class IA brake tests--1000-mile         784 railroads....................              53  ..............               9.84             845.55
 inspection.
    (c)--Designated list of inspection           .................................               1               1               1.00              85.93
     locations.
    (c)(2)--Notice of change to inspection       .................................              52            0.17               8.84             759.62
     locations..
232.213--Extended haul trains..................  83,000 long-haul trains..........             208  ..............              43.68           3,753.42
    (a)--Written designation in writing to FRA.  .................................             104            0.25              26.00           2,234.18
    (a)(8)--Notice of change of location of      7 railroads......................             104            0.17              17.68           1,519.24
     brake test.
232.219--Double-heading and helper service.....  2 railroads......................             100  ..............               8.00             687.44
    (c)(4)--Records of device testing..........  .................................             100            0.08               8.00             687.44
232.303--General requirements--shop or repair    1,633,792 freight cars...........          37,600  ..............           1,408.00         120,989.44
 track.
    (d)(1)--Tagging of moved equipment.........  .................................           5,600            0.08             448.00          38,496.64
    (f)--Last repair track brake test or single  .................................          32,000            0.03             960.00          82,492.80
     car air brake test marking.
232.307--Modification of brake test procedures.  AAR/railroads....................               2  ..............              20.50           1,761.57
    (a)--Request to modify brake test            .................................               1              20              20.00           1,718.60
     procedures.
    (a)(4)--Affirmation statement and copies     .................................               1            0.50               0.50              42.97
     served to designated representatives..
232.309--Equipment and devices used to perform   640 shops........................            5000  ..............             150.00          12,889.50
 single car air brake tests.
    (d)--Labeling/tagging of test devices......  .................................            5000            0.03             150.00          12,889.50
232.403--Design standards for one-way end-of-    245 railroads....................              12  ..............               0.96              82.49
 train devices.
    (e)--Requesting unique code................  .................................              12            0.08               0.96              82.49
232.409--Inspection and testing of end-of-train- 784 railroads....................         464,501  ..............           4,102.00         352,484.86
 devices.
    (c)--Two-way end-of-train testing            .................................         447,500           0.008           3,580.00         307,629.40
     notification record.
    (d) through (e)--Telemetry/air pressure      .................................          17,000            0.03             510.00          43,824.30
     equipment testing record.
    (f)(2)--Annual reports to FRA..............  1 manufacturer...................               1              12              12.00           1,031.16
232.503--Process to introduce new brake system   784 railroads....................               2  ..............               4.00             343.72
 technology.
    (a)--Special approval--approval for non-     .................................               1               1               1.00              85.93
     standard brake technology letter for
     approval.
    (b)--Pre-revenue service demonstration.....  .................................               1               3               3.00             257.79
232.505--Pre-revenue service acceptance testing  784 railroads....................            3.01  ..............             182.71          15,700.27
 plan.
    (a)--Submission of testing plan............  .................................            0.67             160             107.20           9,211.70
    --Revision to testing plan.................  .................................            0.67              40              26.80           2,302.92
    --Report to FRA............................  .................................            0.67              13               8.71             748.45
    --(f) Testing records for brake system       .................................               1              40              40.00           3,437.20
     technology previously used in revenue
     service in United States.
232.717--Freight and passenger train car brakes  40 railroads.....................              40  ..............             240.00          20,623.20
    (c)--Written maintenance plan..............  .................................              40               6             240.00          20,623.20
                                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total \2\..............................  784 railroads; 30,000                   4,947,392  ..............      324,638 hours        $27,896,141
                                                  locomotives; 1 manufacturer.           responses
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\1\ The dollar equivalent cost throughout this table is derived from the 2022 Surface Transportation Board Full Year Wage A&B data series using employee
  group 200 (Professional & Administrative) hourly wage rate of $49.10. The total burden wage rate (straight time plus 75%) used in the table is $85.93
  ($49.10 x 1.75 = $85.93).
\2\ Total may not add up due to rounding.

    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 4,947,392.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 324,638 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: 
$27,896,141.
    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,
Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2024-15032 Filed 7-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P