[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 96 (Monday, May 19, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28800-28801]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11412]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2014-0011-N-11]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (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 renewal Information Collection Request (ICR) 
abstracted below is being forwarded to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of 
the information collection and its expected burden. The Federal 
Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the 
following collection of information was published on March 4, 2014 (79 
FR 12263).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 18, 2014.

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,

[[Page 28801]]

1320.8(d)(1), 1320.12. On March 4, 2013, FRA published a 60-day notice 
in the Federal Register soliciting comment on ICR that the agency is 
seeking OMB approval. See 79 FR 12263. FRA received no comments in 
response to this notice.
    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 request (ICR) and the expected burden. The revised request 
is being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by the PRA.
    Title: Railroad Safety Appliance Standards (Miscellaneous 
Revisions).
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0594.
    Abstract: FRA amended the regulations related to safety appliance 
arrangements on railroad equipment on April 28, 2011. See 76 FR 23714. 
The amendments are intended to promote the safe placement and 
securement of safety appliances on modern rail equipment by 
establishing a process for the review and approval of existing industry 
standards. This process permits railroad industry representatives to 
submit requests for the approval of existing industry standards 
relating to the safety appliance arrangements on newly constructed 
railroad cars, locomotives, tenders, or other rail vehicles in lieu of 
the specific provisions currently contained in part 231. It is 
anticipated that this special approval process enhances railroad safety 
by allowing FRA to consider technological advancements and ergonomic 
design standards for new car construction and ensuring that modern rail 
equipment complies with the applicable statutory and safety-critical 
regulatory requirements related to safety appliances while also 
providing the flexibility to efficiently address safety appliance 
requirements on new designs in the future for railroad cars, 
locomotives, tenders, or other rail vehicles. The information collected 
under this regulation is used by FRA to better serve the goal of 
adapting to changes in modern rail car design while also facilitating 
statutory and regulatory compliance.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses (Railroads).
    Form(s): N/A.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 52,518 hours.
    Addressee: Send comments regarding this 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 may also be sent via email to OMB 
at the following address: [email protected].
    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 May 13, 2014.
Rebecca Pennington,
Chief Financial Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-11412 Filed 5-16-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P