Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request, 76411-76412 [2016-26414]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 212 / Wednesday, November 2, 2016 / Notices comments or ask a question. The second question asks users what their comment or question relates to—the aesthetics or the functionality. Users who select functionality are asked a third question that will sort their comment into either the functionality of the acoustics or the functionality of the user interface (UI). If users elect the UI they will be allowed to check multiple boxes from a list of possible concerns. All responses will lead to the blank comment box with an option to add attachments totaling no more than 500 mb in size. Participation by using the model and providing comments is entirely voluntary. Respondents: Approximately 200 participants including the 52 State DOTs, consultant/contractors, researchers, academia and other interested transportation and environmental stakeholders. Estimated Average Burden per Response: Estimated time is approximately 15 hours per participant over the six months. Participants are each expected to spend 10 minutes per comment and to enter an average of 20 questions and/or comments each. Time expended will vary based on the number and complexity of the situations the user is modeling. Estimated Total Annual Burden: The estimated total annual burden for all respondents is approximately 3,667 hours over six months. Electronic Access: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for accessing the dockets. Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48. Issued on: October 27, 2016. Michael Howell, Information Collection Officer. implementing regulations, FRA seeks the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) approval of the proposed information collection activities abstracted below. However, before submitting this proposed information collection request (ICR) to OMB for clearance, FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified below. DATES: Comments must be received no later than January 3, 2017. ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on any or all of the information activities described in this notice by mail to either Ms. Rachel Grice, Engineering Psychologist or Michael Jones, Engineering Psychologist, Office of Railroad Policy and Development, Human Factors Division, RPD–34, FRA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Mail Stop 20, Washington, DC 20590; or Ms. Kimberly Toone, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Information Technology, RAD–20, FRA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590. Commenters requesting that FRA acknowledge receipt of their respective comments must include a self-addressed stamped postcard stating, ‘‘Comments on OMB Control Number 2130–New,’’ and should also include the title of the collection of information. Alternatively, comments may be faxed to (202) 493– 6172 or (202) 493–6630, or emailed to Rachel.Grice@dot.gov, Michael.Jones@ dot.gov, or Kim.Toone@dot.gov. 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. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Ms. Rachel Grice at (202) 493–8005, or Mr. Michael Jones at 202–493–6106 or Ms. Kimberly Toone, at (202) 493–6132. These telephone numbers are not tollfree. Federal Railroad Administration SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: [FR Doc. 2016–26435 Filed 11–1–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–22–P [Docket Number FRA 2016–0002–N–22] sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:18 Nov 01, 2016 Jkt 241001 The PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501–3520, and its implementing regulations, 5 CFR part 1320, Rulemaking Procedures, require Federal agencies to provide 60 days’ notice to the public for comment on information collection activities before seeking OMB approval. See 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), 1320.10(e)(1), and 1320.12(a). Specifically, FRA invites interested respondents to comment on the following summary of proposed information collection activities regarding: (1) Whether the information PO 00000 Frm 00081 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 76411 collection activities are necessary for FRA to properly execute its functions, including whether the activities will have practical utility; (2) 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; (3) ways FRA can enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information being collected; and (4) ways FRA can 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); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1). FRA believes soliciting public comment will promote its efforts to reduce the administrative and paperwork burdens associated with the collection of information Federal regulations mandate, including: (1) Reducing reporting burdens; (2) organizing information collection requirements in a ‘‘user friendly’’ format to improve the use of such information; and (3) accurately assessing the resources expended to retrieve and produce information requested. See 44 U.S.C. 3501. Below is a brief summary of the proposed ICR that FRA will submit for OMB approval as required under the PRA: Title: Cab Technology Integration Lab (CTIL) Head-up Display Survey. OMB Control Number: 2130–New. Abstract: FRA is proposing a study which will focus on railroad engineer performance. Distraction is a common problem in locomotive cabs and preliminary research suggests that the dispatch radio may have significant effects on crew workload and performance. Anecdotal evidence from four train engineers indicates that the radio is the most distracting technology in the cab. There are generally two categories of dispatcher-engineer communications. Some require immediate action and should be provided in the usual manner (over the radio). However, others do not require immediate action and could be provided as a written message. FRA seeks to develop an understanding of how the dispatch radio communications could potentially lead to human-performance degradation in the railroad engineer, and if a HeadUp Display (HUD) would be an alternative and superior technology to communicating information usually conveyed over the dispatch radio. E:\FR\FM\02NON1.SGM 02NON1 76412 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 212 / Wednesday, November 2, 2016 / Notices HUDs have been incorporated and researched extensively in aviation and motor vehicle applications because of their relative advantage over head-down displays (HDDs). Research in the Cab Technology Integration Lab (CTIL), FRA’s locomotive simulator at the Volpe Center in Cambridge, MA, has shown that in-cab displays, such as moving maps, can lead to prolonged headsdown time (Young, et al., 2015). Additionally, research done in the field in naturalistic studies using passenger vehicles has also shown that looking inside a vehicle for interface control features increases the risk of an accident (Liang, Lee, & Yekhsatyan, 2012). Thus, a HUD has real advantages over an HDD. An investigation of alternative technologies that increase forward-track viewing time is worth pursuing. To test the hypothesis that display communications on a HUD can reduce workload and distractions while increasing the time the engineer keeps his or her eyes on the forward track, an experiment will be run in the CTIL with four different conditions: HUD presence (present or absent) will be crossed with radio communications (present or absent). Forty train engineers will participate in the simulator study and survey data collection. The HUD will be developed and installed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A subjective measure of workload, such as the NASA TLX, will be utilized in this study and provided to the train engineers after the simulator experiment. In addition, usability of the system will be rated with a usability scale by the train engineers. Analysis of the simulator data, workload data, and usability survey data will allow FRA to assess whether the HUD has a relative advantage over the HDD in rail, and if it could mitigate performance declines related to the radio communications. Affected Public: Railroad Workers. Respondent Universe: 40 Railroad Engineers. Frequency of Submission: On occasion. REPORTING BURDEN Form No. Respondent universe Total annual responses Average time per response (hours) Total annual burden hours Form FRA F 6180.168—Simulator Survey ...................................... 40 Engineers ......... 40 surveys ............. 6.5 260 Total Responses: 40. Estimated Total Annual Burden: 260 hours. Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection. Status: Regular Review. Under 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 CFR 1320.5(b) and 1320.8(b)(3)(vi), FRA informs all interested parties that FRA 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. Issued in Washington, DC, on October 26, 2016. Patrick Warren, Acting Executive Director. [FR Doc. 2016–26414 Filed 11–1–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P Maritime Administration U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Board of Visitors Meeting Maritime Administration. Meeting notice. AGENCY: sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES The U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration (MARAD) announces that the following U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Academy) Board of Visitors (BOV) meeting will take place: 1. Date: November 14, 2016. 2. Time: TBD (est 10:00–10:30) a.m. SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:18 Nov 01, 2016 Authority: 46 U.S.C. 51312; 5 U.S.C. app. 552b; 41 CFR parts 102–3.140 through 102– 3.165. The BOV’s Designated Federal Officer and Point of Contact Brian Blower; 202 366– 2765; Brian.Blower@dot.gov. [Docket No. NHTSA–2016–0067; Notice 2] FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public is permitted to file a written statement with the Academy BOV. Written statements should be sent to the Designated Federal Officer at: Brian Blower; 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., W28–314, Washington, DC 20590 or via email at Brian.Blower@Dot.gov. (Please contact the Designated Federal Officer for information on submitting comments via fax.) Written statements must be received no later than three working days prior to the next meeting in order to provide time for member consideration. By rule, no member of the public attending open meetings will be allowed to present questions from the floor or speak to any issue under consideration by the BOV. By Order of the Maritime Administrator. Dated: October 27, 2016. T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr., Secretary, Maritime Administration. [FR Doc. 2016–26391 Filed 11–1–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–81–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Michelin North America, Inc., Grant of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ACTION: 3. Location: U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, 300 Steamboat Road, Kings Point, NY; Schuyler Otis Bland Library, Crabtree Room. 4. Purpose of the Meeting: The purpose of this meeting is to brief BOV members on the State of the Academy and the Sea Year Stand Down. 5. Public Access to the Meeting: This meeting is open to the public. Seating is on a first-come basis. Members of the public wishing to attend the meeting will need to show photo identification in order to gain access to the meeting location. Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00082 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Grant of petition. AGENCY: Michelin North America, Inc. (MNA), has determined that certain MNA tires do not fully comply with paragraph S5.5.1(b) of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 139, New pneumatic radial tires for light vehicles. MNA filed a report dated May 5, 2016, pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports. MNA then petitioned NHTSA under 49 CFR part 556 requesting a decision that the subject noncompliance is SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\02NON1.SGM 02NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 212 (Wednesday, November 2, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76411-76412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26414]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA 2016-0002-N-22]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), U.S. Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its 
implementing regulations, FRA seeks the Office of Management and 
Budget's (OMB) approval of the proposed information collection 
activities abstracted below. However, before submitting this proposed 
information collection request (ICR) to OMB for clearance, FRA is 
soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities 
identified below.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than January 3, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on any or all of the information 
activities described in this notice by mail to either Ms. Rachel Grice, 
Engineering Psychologist or Michael Jones, Engineering Psychologist, 
Office of Railroad Policy and Development, Human Factors Division, RPD-
34, FRA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Mail Stop 20, Washington, DC 
20590; or Ms. Kimberly Toone, Information Collection Clearance Officer, 
Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, FRA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590. Commenters requesting that FRA 
acknowledge receipt of their respective comments must include a self-
addressed stamped postcard stating, ``Comments on OMB Control Number 
2130-New,'' and should also include the title of the collection of 
information. Alternatively, comments may be faxed to (202) 493-6172 or 
(202) 493-6630, or emailed to Rachel.Grice@dot.gov, 
Michael.Jones@dot.gov, or Kim.Toone@dot.gov. 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. Rachel Grice at (202) 493-8005, or 
Mr. Michael Jones at 202-493-6106 or Ms. Kimberly Toone, at (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, Rulemaking Procedures, 
require Federal agencies to provide 60 days' notice to the public for 
comment on information collection activities before seeking OMB 
approval. See 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), 
1320.10(e)(1), and 1320.12(a). Specifically, FRA invites interested 
respondents to comment on the following summary of proposed information 
collection activities regarding: (1) Whether the information collection 
activities are necessary for FRA to properly execute its functions, 
including whether the activities will have practical utility; (2) 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; (3) ways FRA can enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information being collected; and (4) ways 
FRA can 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); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1).
    FRA believes soliciting public comment will promote its efforts to 
reduce the administrative and paperwork burdens associated with the 
collection of information Federal regulations mandate, including: (1) 
Reducing reporting burdens; (2) organizing information collection 
requirements in a ``user friendly'' format to improve the use of such 
information; and (3) accurately assessing the resources expended to 
retrieve and produce information requested. See 44 U.S.C. 3501.
    Below is a brief summary of the proposed ICR that FRA will submit 
for OMB approval as required under the PRA:
    Title: Cab Technology Integration Lab (CTIL) Head-up Display 
Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-New.
    Abstract: FRA is proposing a study which will focus on railroad 
engineer performance. Distraction is a common problem in locomotive 
cabs and preliminary research suggests that the dispatch radio may have 
significant effects on crew workload and performance. Anecdotal 
evidence from four train engineers indicates that the radio is the most 
distracting technology in the cab. There are generally two categories 
of dispatcher-engineer communications. Some require immediate action 
and should be provided in the usual manner (over the radio). However, 
others do not require immediate action and could be provided as a 
written message.
    FRA seeks to develop an understanding of how the dispatch radio 
communications could potentially lead to human-performance degradation 
in the railroad engineer, and if a Head-Up Display (HUD) would be an 
alternative and superior technology to communicating information 
usually conveyed over the dispatch radio.

[[Page 76412]]

    HUDs have been incorporated and researched extensively in aviation 
and motor vehicle applications because of their relative advantage over 
head-down displays (HDDs). Research in the Cab Technology Integration 
Lab (CTIL), FRA's locomotive simulator at the Volpe Center in 
Cambridge, MA, has shown that in-cab displays, such as moving maps, can 
lead to prolonged heads-down time (Young, et al., 2015). Additionally, 
research done in the field in naturalistic studies using passenger 
vehicles has also shown that looking inside a vehicle for interface 
control features increases the risk of an accident (Liang, Lee, & 
Yekhsatyan, 2012). Thus, a HUD has real advantages over an HDD. An 
investigation of alternative technologies that increase forward-track 
viewing time is worth pursuing.
    To test the hypothesis that display communications on a HUD can 
reduce workload and distractions while increasing the time the engineer 
keeps his or her eyes on the forward track, an experiment will be run 
in the CTIL with four different conditions: HUD presence (present or 
absent) will be crossed with radio communications (present or absent). 
Forty train engineers will participate in the simulator study and 
survey data collection. The HUD will be developed and installed by the 
Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
    A subjective measure of workload, such as the NASA TLX, will be 
utilized in this study and provided to the train engineers after the 
simulator experiment. In addition, usability of the system will be 
rated with a usability scale by the train engineers. Analysis of the 
simulator data, workload data, and usability survey data will allow FRA 
to assess whether the HUD has a relative advantage over the HDD in 
rail, and if it could mitigate performance declines related to the 
radio communications.
    Affected Public: Railroad Workers.
    Respondent Universe: 40 Railroad Engineers.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.

                                                Reporting Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Average  time
             Form No.               Respondent  universe      Total  annual       per response    Total  annual
                                                                responses           (hours)       burden  hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form FRA F 6180.168--Simulator      40 Engineers........  40 surveys..........             6.5              260
 Survey.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Responses: 40.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 260 hours.
    Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection.
    Status: Regular Review.
    Under 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 CFR 1320.5(b) and 1320.8(b)(3)(vi), 
FRA informs all interested parties that FRA 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.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 26, 2016.
Patrick Warren,
Acting Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 2016-26414 Filed 11-1-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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