[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 207 (Tuesday, October 27, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65848-65850]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27195]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2015-0007-N-27]
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 collections of information was published on August 5, 2015.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 27, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Brogan, Safety Regulatory
Analysis 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
[[Page 65849]]
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), and 1320.12. On August 5, 2015, FRA
published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on
ICR that the agency is seeking OMB approval. See 80 FR 35712. FRA
received one comment in response to this notice.
The Association of American Railroads submitted a comment on
October 5 on behalf of its member railroads and itself. In its letter,
AAR recommended four changes to the PTC Implementation Status Update
Questionnaire. First, AAR recommended that FRA adjust its estimate of
the amount of time required to fill out each questionnaire/form (Form
FRA F 6180.162).
Second, AAR/its members recommended that FRA ``clarify the second
survey question,'' which relates to the ``current number of full
mission capable PTC equipped locomotives completely implemented under
the regulation.'' In particular, ``the railroads recommend that FRA
specify that this question pertains to the locomotives which have been
fully equipped with PTC hardware.''
Third, AAR/its members recommended that ``FRA clarify the fourth
survey question,'' which relates to the ``. . . current number of fully
mission capable PTC equipped track segments completely implemented
under the regulations. The railroads recommend that FRA refer to track
miles instead of the unclear reference to `track segment.' ''
Last, AAR stated ``the railroads request that FRA ensures that the
comment box for the fourteenth question be large enough to accept
substantial comments regarding the status of each individual railroad's
PTC implementation status.''
Regarding AAR's first recommendation, FRA based its estimate on the
average amount of time that it would take all railroads--Class Is,
Class IIs, Class IIIs, and passenger railroads--to complete the
questionnaire each month on an ongoing basis. FRA realizes that it
might take some railroads longer than the estimated average amount of
time to complete the questionnaire. However, FRA does not agree with
AAR's comment that it will take all affected railroads an average of
three hours each month to complete the questionnaire. FRA believes that
30 minutes is a more accurate estimate of the average amount of time
that it will take railroads to complete the questionnaire on a
recurring monthly basis. Accordingly, FRA is modifying its estimate to
reflect this higher number.
Regarding AAR's second recommendation relating to the second survey
question, FRA is modifying footnote number 2 of the questionnaire to
make clear that this question pertains to locomotives fully equipped
with PTC hardware and software.
Regarding AAR's third recommendation, FRA is taking a flexible
approach and is modifying footnote number 3 of the questionnaire to
state that railroads use a uniform unit of measurement that is
consistent for the fourth survey question. Thus, track miles would be
fine as a uniform unit of measurement.
Last, regarding AAR's recommendation about enlarging the comment
box for the fourteenth question, FRA is expanding the comment box to
the maximum number of characters permitted on the electronic version of
the questionnaire/form.
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: PTC Implementation Status Update Questionnaire.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0612.
Abstract: The statutory and regulatory deadline for Positive Train
Control (PTC) system implementation is December 31, 2015. Congress and
FRA are concerned that the railroads will not make the mandated
deadline. To date, the vast majority of railroads have not submitted,
in accordance with 49 CFR 236.1009 and 236.1015, a PTC Safety Plan
(PTCSP) and have not submitted, in accordance with 49 CFR 236.1035, a
request for testing approval to support a PTCSP, which is necessary to
achieve PTC System Certification and operate in revenue service. So
that Congress and FRA may better understand the status of each
railroad's implementation efforts and be able to monitor affected
railroads progress on a continuing basis until full implementation is
achieved, FRA is seeking accurate and up-to-date information under its
investigative authority pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 20103, 20107, and 20902,
and 49 CFR 236.1009(h). The railroads' responses will also be used for
compliance purposes.
On July 24, 2015, OMB granted Emergency Processing approval for the
PTC Implementation Status Update Questionnaire information collection
for a period of 180 days. This approval currently expires on January
31, 2016. FRA is now seeking a three-year approval under Regular
Clearance Procedures from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Type of Request: Extension with Change of an Approved Information
Collection previously approved under Emergency Processing Procedures.
Affected Public: Businesses (Railroads).
Form(s): FRA F 6180.162.
Total Annual Estimated Responses: 456.
Total Annual Estimated Burden: 228 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
[[Page 65850]]
within 30 days of publication of this notice in the Federal Register.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.
Issued in Washington, DC, on October 20, 2015.
Corey Hill,
Acting Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 2015-27195 Filed 10-26-15; 8:45 am]
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