[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 118 (Wednesday, June 19, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36817-36819]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14578]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2013-0002-N-14]
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment
Request
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice and Request for Comments.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces that the Information Collection Requirements (ICRs)
abstracted below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs describes the nature of
the information collections and their expected burdens. The Federal
Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the
following collections of information was published on March 27, 2013
(78 FR 18668).
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 19, 2013.
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. 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 issue two notices seeking public
comment on information collection activities before OMB may approve
paperwork packages. 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.5, 1320.8(d)(1),
1320.12. On March 27, 2013, FRA published a 60-day notice in the
Federal Register soliciting comment on ICRs that the agency was seeking
OMB approval. See 78 FR 18668. FRA received no comments after issuing
this notice. Accordingly, these information collection activities have
been re-evaluated and certified under 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and forwarded to
OMB for review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12(c).
Before OMB decides whether to approve these proposed collections of
information, it must provide 30 days for public comment. 44 U.S.C.
3507(b); 5 CFR 1320.12(d). 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 that 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. 5 CFR 1320.12(c); see also 60
FR 44983, Aug. 29, 1995.
The summary below describes the nature of the information
collection requirements (ICRs) and the expected burden. The revised
requirements are
[[Page 36818]]
being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by the PRA.
Title: Stenciling Reporting Mark on Freight Cars.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0520.
Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected Public: Railroads.
Form(s): N/A.
Abstract: Title 49, Section 215.301 of the Code of Federal
Regulations, sets forth certain requirements that must be followed by
railroad carriers and private car owners relative to identification
marks on railroad equipment. FRA, railroads, and the public refer to
the stencilling to identify freight cars.
Annual Estimated Burden: 18,750 hours.
Title: Rear-End Marking Devices.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0523.
Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected Public: Railroads.
Form(s): N/A.
Abstract: The collection of information is set forth under 49 CFR
Part 221 which requires railroads to furnish a detailed description of
the type of marking device to be used for the trailing end of rear cars
in order to ensure rear cars meet minimum standards for visibility and
display. Railroads are required to furnish a certification that the
device has been tested in accordance with current ``Guidelines For
Testing of Rear End Marking Devices.'' Additionally, railroads are
required to furnish detailed test records which include the testing
organizations, description of tests, number of samples tested, and the
test results in order to demonstrate compliance with the performance
standard.
Annual Estimated Burden: 39 hours.
Title: Locomotive Certification (Noise Compliance Regulations).
OMB Control Number: 2130-0527.
Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected Public: Locomotive Manufacturers.
Form(s): N/A.
Abstract: Part 210 of title 49 of the United States Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) pertains to FRA's noise enforcement procedures which
encompass rail yard noise source standards published by the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA has the authority to set
these standards under the Noise Control Act of 1972. The information
collected by FRA under Part 210 is necessary to ensure compliance with
EPA noise standards for new locomotives.
Annual Estimated Burden: 2,767 hours.
Title: Grade Crossing Signal System Safety Requirements.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0534.
Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected Public: Railroads.
Form(s): FRA F 6180.83.
Abstract: FRA believes that highway-rail grade crossing (grade
crossing) accidents resulting from warning system failures can be
reduced. Motorists lose faith in warning systems that constantly warn
of an oncoming train when none is present. Therefore, the fail-safe
feature of a warning system loses its effectiveness if the system is
not repaired within a reasonable period of time. A greater risk of an
accident is present when a warning system fails to activate as a train
approaches a grade crossing. FRA's regulations require railroads to
take specific responses in the event of an activation failure. FRA uses
the information to develop better solutions to the problems of grade
crossing device malfunctions. With this information, FRA is able to
correlate accident data and equipment malfunctions with the types of
circuits and age of equipment. FRA can then identify the causes of
grade crossing system failures and investigate them to determine
whether periodic maintenance, inspection, and testing standards are
effective. FRA also uses the information collected to alert railroad
employees and appropriate highway traffic authorities of warning system
malfunctions so that they can take the necessary measures to protect
motorists and railroad workers at the grade crossing until repairs have
been made.
Annual Estimated Burden: 8,152 hours.
Title: Bridge Worker Safety Rules.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0535.
Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected Public: Railroads.
Form(s): N/A.
Abstract: Section 20139 of Title 49 of the United States Code
required FRA to issue rules, regulations, orders, and standards for the
safety of maintenance-of-way employees on railroad bridges, including
for ``bridge safety equipment'' such as nets, walkways, handrails, and
safety lines, and requirements for the use of vessels when work is
performed on bridges located over bodies of water. FRA has added 49 CFR
Part 214 to establish minimum workplace safety standards for railroad
employees as they apply to railroad bridges. Specifically, section
214.15(c) establishes standards and practices for safety net systems.
Safety nets and net installations are to be drop-tested at the job site
after initial installation and before being used as a fall-protection
system; after major repairs; and at six-month intervals if left at one
site. If a drop-test is not feasible and is not performed, then a
written certification must be made by the railroad or railroad
contractor, or a designated certified person, that the net does comply
with the safety standards of this section. FRA and State inspectors use
the information to enforce Federal regulations. The information that is
maintained at the job site promotes safe bridge worker practices.
Annual Estimated Burden: 1 hour.
Title: Railroad Police Officers.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0537.
Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected Public: Railroads.
Form(s): N/A.
Abstract: Under 49 CFR Part 207, railroads are required to notify
states of all designated police officers who are discharging their
duties outside of their respective jurisdictions. This requirement is
necessary to verify proper police authority.
Annual Estimated Burden: 181 hours.
Title: Foreign Railroads' Foreign-Based (FRFB) Employees Who
Perform Train or Dispatching Service in the United States.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0555.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Railroads.
Form(s): N/A.
Abstract: The collection of information is used by FRA to determine
compliance of FRFB train and dispatching service employees and their
employers with the prohibition against the abuse of alcohol and
controlled substances. Because of the increase in cross-border train
operations and the increased risk posed to the safety of train
operations in the United States, FRA seeks to apply all of the
requirements of 49 CFR 219 to FRFB train and dispatching service
employees. The basic information--evidence of unauthorized use of drugs
and alcohol--is used by FRA to help prevent accidents/incidents by
screening FRFB who perform safety-sensitive functions for unauthorized
drug or alcohol use. FRFB train and dispatching service employees
testing positive for unauthorized use of alcohol and drugs are removed
from service, thereby enhancing safety and serving as a deterrent to
other FRFB train and dispatching service employees who
[[Page 36819]]
might be tempted to engage in the unauthorized use of drugs or alcohol.
Annual Estimated Burden: 33 hours.
Addressee: Send comments regarding these information collections to
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management
and Budget, 725 Seventeenth Street NW., Washington, DC, 20503,
Attention: FRA Desk Officer.
Comments are invited on the following: Whether the proposed
collections of information are necessary for the proper performance of
the functions of the Department, including whether the information will
have practical utility; the accuracy of the Department's estimates of
the burden of the proposed information collections; ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
ways to minimize the burden of the collections of information on
respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
A comment to OMB is best assured of having its full effect if OMB
receives it within 30 days of publication of this notice in the Federal
Register.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.
Issued in Washington, DC on June 13, 2013.
Rebecca Pennington,
Chief Financial Officer, Federal Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 2013-14578 Filed 6-18-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P