[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 134 (Monday, July 14, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40835-40836]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16354]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2014-0011-N-14]
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 Requests
(ICRs) abstracted below are being forwarded to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs describe 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 April 21, 2014
(79 FR 22178).
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 13, 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, 1320.8(d)(1),
1320.12. On April 21, 2014, FRA published a 60-day notice in the
Federal Register soliciting comment on ICRs that the agency was seeking
OMB approval. See 79 FR 22178. 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
[[Page 40836]]
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 summaries below describe the nature of the information
collection requests (ICRs) and their expected burdens. The revised
requests are being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by the
PRA.
Title: Railroad Operating Rules.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0035.
Abstract: The collection of information is due to the railroad
operating rules set forth in 49 CFR part 217 which require Class I and
Class II railroads to file with FRA copies of their operating rules,
timetables, and timetable special instructions, and subsequent
amendments thereto. Class III railroads are required to retain copies
of these documents at their systems headquarters. Also, 49 CFR
220.21(b) prescribes the collection of information which requires
railroads to retain one copy of their current operating rules with
respect to radio communications and one copy of each subsequent
amendment thereto. These documents must be made available to FRA upon
request. Through these rules, FRA learns the condition of operating
rules and practices with respect to trains and instructions provided by
the railroad to their employees in operating practices.
Type of Request: Extension with change of a currently approved
information collection.
Affected Public: Businesses (Railroads).
Form Number(s): N/A.
Annual Estimated Burden: 4,835,299 hours.
Title: Reflectorization of Freight Rolling Stock.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0566.
Abstract: The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued this
regulation to mandate the reflectorization of freight rolling stock
(freight cars and locomotives) to enhance the visibility of trains in
order to reduce the number and severity of accidents at highway-rail
grade crossings in which train visibility acted as a contributing
factor. The information collected is used by FRA to ensure that
railroads/car owners follow the schedule established by the regulation
for placing retro-reflective material on the sides of freight rolling
stock (freight cars and locomotives) in order to improve the visibility
of trains. The information is also used by FRA to confirm that
railroads/car owners meet the prescribed standards for the application,
inspection, and maintenance of the required retro-reflective material.
Type of Request: Extension with change of a currently approved
information collection.
Affected Public: Businesses (Railroads).
Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.113.
Annual Estimated Burden: 8,769 hours.
Title: Track Safety Standards: Concrete Crossties.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0592.
Abstract: On April 1, 2011, FRA amended the Federal Track Safety
Standards to promote the safety of railroad operations over track
constructed with concrete crossties. In particular, FRA mandated
specific requirements for effective concrete crossties, for rail
fastening systems connected to concrete crossties, and for automated
inspections of track constructed with concrete crossties. The
information collected under Sec. 213.234 is used by FRA to ensure that
automated track inspections of track constructed with concrete
crossties are carried out as specified in this section to supplement
visual inspections by Class I and Class II railroads, intercity
passenger railroads, and commuter railroads or small government
jurisdictions that serve populations greater than 50,000.
Type of Request: Extension with change of a currently approved
information collection.
Affected Public: Businesses (Railroads).
Form Number(s): N/A.
Annual Estimated Burden: 5,677 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 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 July 7, 2014.
Rebecca Pennington,
Chief Financial Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-16354 Filed 7-11-14; 8:45 am]
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