[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 182 (Monday, September 21, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57044-57046]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23620]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA 2015-0007-N-23]
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment
Request
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice.
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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
[[Page 57045]]
activities. Before submitting these information collection requirements
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 November 20, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on any or all of the following
proposed activities by mail to 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
Grant Awards and Cooperative Agreement.'' Alternatively, comments may
be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493-6170, or via email 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: 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
information requested. See 44 U.S.C. 3501.
Below is a brief summary of the information collection activities
that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under the PRA:
Title: Grant Awards and Cooperative Agreements.
Abstract: FRA solicits grant applications for viable projects
including, but not limited to, preconstruction planning activities,
safety improvements, congestion relief, improvement of grade crossings,
rail line relocation, as well as projects that encourage development,
expansion, and upgrades to passenger and freight rail infrastructure
and services. Funded projects are those that meet FRA and government
wide evaluation standards and align with the President's key strategic
transportation goals to create safe and efficient transportation
choices, build a foundation for economic competitiveness, promote
energy efficiency and environmental quality, and support interconnected
livable communities.
FRA administers award agreements for both construction and non-
construction projects that will result in service benefits or other
tangible improvements in rail corridors. These projects include
completion of preliminary engineering, environmental research and
development, final design, and construction.
To ensure accountability of Federal award recipients through
performance and results, including expenditures in support of agreed-
upon activities and allowable costs outlined in a FRA Notice of Grant
Award (NGA), FRA requires systematic and uniform collection and
submission of information, as approved by the OMB. Included in this
information collection are reports and documentation mandated by OMB
for completion, as well as additional resources to compile evidence
relevant to addressing FRA's important policy challenges, promoting
cost-effectiveness in FRA programs, and providing effective oversight
of programmatic and financial performance. This justification draws on
innovative FRA program designs to use sophisticated practices in
delivering Federal financial assistance and encourage continuous
improvements in service delivery.
FRA issues and manages awards in compliance with Title 2 of the
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR): Grants and Agreements. This
justification includes one document package for collection over the
entire lifecycle of the award process, in adherence to the Uniform
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements
for Federal Awards (78 FR 78589, Dec. 26, 2013; 79 FR 75871, Dec. 19,
2014). All non-research awards are subject to the application,
reporting, closeout, and other processes described in this
justification.
Additionally, the collection detailed in this justification
represents a combination of previous FRA collection requests,
including: OMB Control Number 2130-0578, OMB Control Number 2130-0580,
OMB Control Number 2130-0584, and OMB Control Number 0587. Combining
these collections under a new collection enables FRA to consolidate
documentation under one collection, which allows for efficiency and
provides a uniform period until expiration of this justification
request.
Form Number(s): FRA forms 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 229. SF forms
270, 424, 424A, 424B, 424C, 424D, 425, and LLL.
Affected Public: State and local governments, government sponsored
authorities and corporations, and railroads.
Reporting Burden:
[[Page 57046]]
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Average time
Item Total annual per response Total annual
responses (hours) burden hours
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FRA Form 30..................................................... 383 .25 95.75
FRA Form 31..................................................... 1 212 212
FRA Form 32..................................................... 1 24 24
FRA Form 33..................................................... 8 79 632
FRA Form 34..................................................... 2 897 1,794
FRA Form 35..................................................... 34 383 13,022
FRA Form 229.................................................... 18 .25 4.5
Additional Buy America Documentation............................ 1 19,944.50 19,944.50
SF Form 270..................................................... 1 716 716
SF Form 424..................................................... 1.1 383 421.30
SF Form 424A.................................................... 3 192 576
SF Form 424B.................................................... .25 192 48
SF Form 424C.................................................... 3 191 573
SF Form 424D.................................................... .25 191 47.75
SF 425.......................................................... 1.5 897 1,345
SF Form LLL..................................................... .17 383 65.11
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* In minutes.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 39,521 hours.
Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 CFR 1320.5(b) and
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.
Rebecca Pennington,
Chief Financial Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-23620 Filed 9-18-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P