[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 14, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 13722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-05047]
[[Page 13722]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2017-0002-N-6]
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment
Request
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice and comment request.
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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice
announces that FRA is forwarding the currently approved Information
Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the
information collection and its expected burden.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 13, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Brogan, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Railroad Safety, Regulatory
Analysis Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 20590 (Telephone: (202)
493-6292); or Ms. Kim Toone, Information Collection Clearance Officer,
Office of Administration, Office of Information Technology, RAD-20,
Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Mail Stop
35, Washington, DC 20590 (Telephone: (202) 493-6132). (These telephone
numbers are not toll free.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PRA, 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 November 16, 2016,
FRA published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting
comment on the ICR for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 81 FR
80714. 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 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 ICR and its expected burden. FRA is
submitting the new request for clearance by OMB as the PRA requires.
Title: Track Safety Standards.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0010.
Abstract: Part 213 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations
(Track Safety Standards) prescribes minimum safety requirements for
railroad track that is part of the general railroad system of
transportation. While the requirements prescribed in Part 213 generally
apply to specific track conditions existing in isolation, a combination
of track conditions, none of which individually amounts to a deviation
from regulatory requirements, may require remedial action to ensure
safe operations over that track. Qualified persons inspect track and
take action to allow safe passage of trains and ensure compliance with
the Track Safety Standards.
In March 2013, FRA amended the Track Safety Standards and Passenger
Equipment Safety Standards applicable to high-speed and high cant
deficiency train operations to promote the safe interaction of rail
vehicles with the tracks over which they operate. The final rule
revised limits for vehicle response to track perturbations and added
new limits. The rule accounts for a range of vehicle types currently
used and likely may be used in future high-speed or high cant
deficiency rail operations, or both. The rule is based on the results
of simulation studies designed to identify track geometry
irregularities associated with unsafe wheel/rail forces and
accelerations, thorough reviews of vehicle qualification and revenue
service test data, and consideration of international practices. FRA
uses this information collection to ensure and enhance rail safety by
monitoring railroads' compliance with regulatory requirements.
Type of Request: Extension with change of a currently approved
information collection.
Affected Public: Businesses.
Form(s): N/A.
Total Estimated Annual Responses: 2,762,261.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 1,816,152 hours.
Addressee: Send comments regarding these information collections to
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management
and Budget, 725 17th 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
collection of information is necessary for DOT to properly perform its
functions, including whether the information will have practical
utility; the accuracy of DOT'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.
Sarah L. Inderbitzin,
Acting Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2017-05047 Filed 3-13-17; 8:45 am]
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