[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 34 (Wednesday, February 20, 2013)] [Notices] [Pages 11948-11950] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2013-03869] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [Docket No. FRA-2013-0002-N-4] Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration, DOT. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and its implementing regulations, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) hereby announces that it is seeking renewal of the following currently approved information collection activities. Before submitting these information collection requirements (ICRs) for clearance by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified below. DATES: Comments must be received no later than April 22, 2013. ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on any or all of the following proposed activities by mail to either: Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Safety, Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 20590, or Ms. Kimberly Toone, Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590. Commenters requesting FRA to acknowledge receipt of their respective comments must include a self-addressed stamped postcard stating, ``Comments on OMB Control Number 2130-0533.'' Alternatively, comments may be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493- 6216 or (202) 493-6170, or via email to Mr. Brogan at [email protected], or to Ms. Toone at [email protected]. Please refer to the assigned OMB control number in any correspondence submitted. FRA will summarize comments received in response to this notice in a subsequent notice and include them in its information collection submission to OMB for approval. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6292) or Ms. Ms. Kimberly Toone, Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493- 6132). (These telephone numbers are not toll-free.) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104-13, Sec. 2, 109 Stat. 163 (1995) (codified as revised at 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 for comment on information collection activities before seeking approval for reinstatement or renewal by OMB. 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), 1320.10(e)(1), 1320.12(a). Specifically, FRA invites interested respondents to comment on the following summary of proposed information collection activities regarding (i) Whether the information collection activities are necessary for FRA to properly execute its functions, including whether the activities will have practical utility; (ii) 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; (iii) ways for FRA to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information being collected; and (iv) ways for FRA to minimize the burden of information collection activities on the public by automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology (e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses). See 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)(I)-(iv); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1)(I)-(iv). FRA believes that soliciting public comment will promote its efforts to reduce the administrative and paperwork burdens associated with the collection of information mandated by Federal regulations. In summary, FRA reasons that comments received will advance three objectives: (i) Reduce reporting burdens; (ii) ensure that it organizes information collection requirements in a ``user friendly'' format to improve the use of such information; and (iii) accurately assess the resources expended to retrieve and produce [[Page 11949]] information requested. See 44 U.S.C. 3501. Below is a brief summary of the currently approved ICRs that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under the PRA: Title: Qualifications for Locomotive Engineers. OMB Control Number: 2130-0533. Abstract: Section 4 of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 1988 (RSIA), Public Law 100-342, 102 Stat. 624 (June 22, 1988), later amended and re-codified by Public Law 103-272, 108 Stat. 874 (July 5, 1994), required that FRA issue regulations to establish any necessary program for certifying or licensing locomotive engineers. The collection of information is used by FRA to ensure that railroads employ and properly train qualified individuals as locomotive engineers and designated supervisors of locomotive engineers. The collection of information is also used by FRA to verify that railroads have established required certification programs for locomotive engineers and that these programs fully conform to the standards specified in the regulation. Affected Public: Businesses. Respondent Universe: 733 railroads. Frequency of Submission: On occasion; annually; tri-annually. Reporting Burden ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total annual Average time per Total annual CFR section Respondent universe responses response burden hours ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 240.9--Waivers................... 733 railroads...... 3 waiver petitions. 1 hour............. 3 240.101/103--Cert. Prog.-- 733 railroads...... 50 amendments...... 1 hour............. 50 Amendmnts. --Cert. Prog.--New........... 20 railroads....... 20 programs........ 40 hours........... 800 --Final Review............... 20 railroads....... 20 reviews......... 1 hour............. 20 --Material Modification to 733 railroads...... 30 modified prog... 45 minutes......... 23 Program. 240.105(b)--Selection Criteria 733 railroads...... 50 examinations.... 1 hour............. 50 for DSLEs--Exams. (c) Written Reports/ 10 railroads....... 10 reports......... 1 hour............. 10 Determinations of DSLE Performance Skills. 240.109/App. C--Prior Safety 17,667 candidates.. 25 responses....... 60 minutes......... 25 Conduct Data. 240.111/App C--Driver's License 17,667 candidates.. 17,667 requests.... 15 minutes......... 4,417 Data. --NDR Match--notifications 733 railroads...... 177 notices + 177 15 min. + 15 min... 89 and requests for data. requests. --Written response from 733 railroads...... 20 cases/comments.. 15 minutes......... 5 candidate on driver's lic. data candidates. 240.111(g)--Notice to RR of 53,000 candidates.. 4 letters.......... 15 minutes......... 1 Absence of License. 240.111(h)--Duty to furnish data 733 railroads...... 200 phone calls.... 10 minutes......... 33 on prior safety conduct as motor vehicle op.. 240.113--Notice to RR Furnishing 17,667 candidates.. 353 requests + 353 15 min./30 min..... 265 Data on Prior Safety Conduct-- responses. Diff. RR. 240.119--Self-referral to EAP re: 53,000 locomotive 50 self-referrals.. 5 minutes.......... 4 active substance abuse disorder. engineers. 240.121--Criteria--Vision/Hearing 20 railroads....... 20 copies.......... 15 minutes......... 5 Acuity Data--New Railroads. 240.121--Criteria--Vision/Hearing 733 railroads...... 20 reports......... 1 hour............. 20 Acuity Data--Cond. Certification. 240.121--Criteria--Vision/Hearing 733 railroads...... 10 notifications... 15 minutes......... 3 Acuity Data--Not Meeting Standards--Notice by Employee. 240.127--Criteria for Examining 733 railroads...... 46 amended programs 48 hours + 8 hours. 7,704 Skill Performance--Modification + 687 amended to Certification Program to programs. Include Scoring System. 240.201/221--List of Qualified 733 railroads...... 733 updates........ 60 minutes......... 733 DSLEs. 240.201/221--List of Qualified 733 railroads...... 733 updated lists.. 60 minutes......... 733 Loco. Engineers. 240.201/223/301--Loco. Engineers 53,000 candidates.. 17,667 certificates 5 minutes.......... 1,472 Certificate. --False entry on certificates N/A................ N/A................ N/A................ N/A 240.205--Data to EAP Counselor... 733 railroads...... 177 records........ 5 minutes.......... 15 240.207--Medical Certificate 53,000 candidates.. 17,667 certificates 70 minutes......... 20,612 Showing Hearing/Vision Standards are Met. --Written determinations 733 railroads...... 10 determinations.. 2 hours............ 20 waiving use of corrective device. 240.219--Denial of Certification. 17,667 candidates.. 30 letters + 30 1 hour............. 60 responses. --Notification to Employee of 733 railroads...... 30 notifications... 1 hour............. 30 Adverse Decision. 240.227--Canadian Certification N/A................ N/A................ N/A................ N/A Data. 240. 229--Joint Operations-- 321 railroads...... 184 employee calls. 5 minutes.......... 15 Notice--not qualified. 240.309--RR Oversight Resp.: 15 railroads....... 6 annotations...... 15 minutes......... 2 Detected Poor Safety Conduct-- Annotation. Testing Requirements: 240.209/213--Written Tests... 53,000 candidates.. 17,667 tests....... 2 hours............ 35,334 240.211/213--Performance Test.... 53,000 candidates.. 17,667 tests....... 2 hours............ 35,334 240.303--Annual operational 53,000 candidates.. 53,000 tests/docs.. 2 hours............ 106,000 monitor observation. 240.303--Annual operating rules 53,000 candidates.. 53,000 tests....... 1 hour............. 53,000 compliance test. [[Page 11950]] Recordkeeping: 240.215--Retaining Info. 733 railroads...... 17,667 records..... 30 minutes......... 8,834 Supporting Determination. 240.305--Engineer's Notice of Non- 53,000 engineers or 100 notifications.. 5 minutes.......... 8 Qualification to RR --Relaying. candidates. --Certification Denial or 1,060 engineers.... 2 letters.......... 30 minutes......... 1 Revocation Status to other certifying railroad. 240.307--Notice to Engineer of 733 railroads...... 900 letters........ 1 hour............. 900 Disqualification. 240.309--Railroad Annual Review.. 51 railroads....... 51 reviews......... 40 hours........... 2,040 --Report of findings......... 51 railroads....... 12 reports......... 1 hour............. 12 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Responses: 217,325. Estimated Total Annual Burden: 278,682 hours. Status: Regular Review. Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 CFR 1320.5(b), 1320.8(b)(3)(vi), 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 unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520. Issued in Washington, DC, on February 13, 2013. Rebecca Pennington, Chief Financial Officer, Federal Railroad Administration. [FR Doc. 2013-03869 Filed 2-19-13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P