Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request, 27833-27837 [2019-12574]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 115 / Friday, June 14, 2019 / Notices
federal laws or regulations that
specifically address the length of time a
train may occupy a highway-rail grade
crossing. The user would be notified
that the information submitted will not
be forwarded to a railroad, State, or
local agency, and is only being used for
data collection purposes to determine
Form(s): FRA F 6180.XXX.
Respondent Universe: General public
and national law enforcement
personnel.
Frequency of Submission: On
occasion; one-time.
Reporting Burden:
Form
Total estimated
annual responses
Average time per response
General Public via the unrestricted form on the FRA
website.
General Public via the FRA Crossing Locator Phone
Application.
Law Enforcement Personnel via the limited access form
on the FRA website.
335 responses ............................
15 minutes .........................
84 hours.
50 responses ..............................
15 minutes .........................
13 hours.
100 responses ............................
15 minutes .........................
25 hours.
Total ..........................................................................
485 responses ............................
15 minutes .........................
122 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Responses:
485.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 122
hours.
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 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.
Brett A. Jortland,
Acting Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2019–12572 Filed 6–13–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA–2019–0004–N–6]
Proposed Agency Information
Collection Activities; Comment
Request
Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA), U.S. Department
of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
request for comment.
AGENCY:
Under the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its
implementing regulations, FRA seeks
approval of the Information Collection
Requests (ICRs) abstracted below. Before
submitting these ICRs to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
approval, FRA is soliciting public
comment on specific aspects of the
activities identified below.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before August
13, 2019.
SUMMARY:
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the locations, times, and impacts of
blocked crossings. The questions asked
on each form will be identical for all
three methods of collection.
Type of Request: Approval of a new
collection of information.
Affected Public: Public individuals
and law enforcement personnel.
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Jkt 247001
Submit written comments
on the ICRs activities by mail to either:
Mr. Robert Brogan, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, Office of
Railroad Safety, Regulatory Analysis
Division, Federal Railroad
Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590; or
Ms. Kim Toone, Information Collection
Clearance Officer, Office of Information
Technology, Federal Railroad
Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Commenters requesting FRA to
acknowledge receipt of their respective
comments must include a self-addressed
stamped postcard stating, ‘‘Comments
on OMB Control Number 2130–XXXX,’’
(the relevant OMB control number for
each ICR is listed below) and should
also include the title of the ICR.
Alternatively, comments may be faxed
to 202–493–6216 or 202–493–6497, or
emailed to Mr. Brogan at robert.brogan@
dot.gov, or Ms. Toone at 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.
ADDRESSES:
Mr.
Robert Brogan, Information Collection
Clearance Officer, Office of Railroad
Safety, Regulatory Analysis Division,
Federal Railroad Administration, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC
20590 (telephone: 202–493–6292) or Ms.
Kim Toone, Information Collection
Clearance Officer, Office of Information
Technology, Federal Railroad
Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590
(telephone: 202–493–6132).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
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Total annual burden
hours
The PRA,
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 to
allow comment on information
collection activities before seeking OMB
approval of the activities. See 44 U.S.C.
3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.8 through
1320.12. Specifically, FRA invites
interested parties to comment on the
following ICRs 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 for
FRA to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information being
collected; and (4) ways for FRA to
minimize the burden of information
collection activities on the public,
including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology. See 44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1).
FRA believes that soliciting public
comment may reduce the administrative
and paperwork burdens associated with
the collection of information that
Federal regulations mandate. In
summary, FRA reasons that comments
received will advance three objectives:
(1) Reduce reporting burdens; (2)
organize information collection
requirements in a ‘‘user-friendly’’ format
to improve the use of such information;
and (3) accurately assess the resources
expended to retrieve and produce
information requested. See 44 U.S.C.
3501.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 115 / Friday, June 14, 2019 / Notices
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The summaries below describe the
ICRs that FRA will submit for OMB
clearance as the PRA requires:
Title: U.S. DOT Crossing Inventory.
OMB Control Number: 2130–0017.
Abstract: On January 6, 2015, FRA
published in the Federal Register a final
rule that requires railroads that operate
one or more trains through highway-rail
or pathway crossings to submit
information to the U.S. DOT National
Highway-Rail Crossing Inventory about
the crossings through which they
operate.1 See 80 FR 746. These
amendments, mandated by section 204
of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of
2008, require railroads to submit
information about previously
unreported and new highway-rail and
pathway crossings to the U.S. DOT
National Highway-Rail Crossing
Inventory and to periodically update
existing crossing data.
Type of Request: Extension with
change (revised estimates) of a current
information collection.
Affected Public: Businesses
(railroads), States, and the District of
Columbia (DC).
Form(s): FRA F 6180.71.
Respondent Universe: 692 railroads,
50 States and DC.
Frequency of Submission: On
occasion/monthly.
Reporting Burden:
Total
annual burden
hours
Total annual
burden hour
dollar cost
equivalent 2
CFR section
Respondent
universe
Total annual
responses
Average time
per response
234.403(a), (b), (c), (e)(3)—Submission
of data to the U.S. DOT Highway-Rail
Crossing Inventory: Completion of inventory form.
—Mass update lists of designated data
submitted by railroads/states.
—Excel lists of submitted data ................
51 States/DC & 692
railroads.
1,495 forms .............
30 minutes ..............
748 hours
$55,352
51 States/DC & 692
railroads.
51 States/DC & 692
railroads.
51 States/DC & 692
railroads.
1,081 lists ...............
30 minutes ..............
541
40,034
750 lists ..................
15 minutes ..............
188
13,912
134,719 records ......
3 minutes ................
6,736
498,464
51 States/DC & 692
railroads.
51 States/DC & 692
railroads.
5 requests ...............
15 minutes ..............
1 hour
74
15 notices ...............
30 minutes ..............
8
592
692 railroads ...........
250 notices .............
30 minutes ..............
125
9,625
692 railroads ...........
75 notices ...............
30 minutes ..............
38
2,926
692 railroads ...........
5,300 provided assigned inventory
numbers.
5 minutes ................
442
34,034
692 railroads ...........
10,600 assigned
numbers.
5 minutes ................
883
67,991
692 railroads ...........
5,300 forms .............
20 minutes ..............
1,767
136,059
692 railroads ...........
450 notices/notifications.
20 minutes ..............
150
11,550
692 railroads ...........
35 certification
statements.
2 minutes ................
1 hour
77
692 railroads ...........
105 mailed certification copies.
2 minutes ................
4
308
692 railroads ...........
50 assigned inventory numbers.
5 minutes ................
4
308
—Changes/corrections to Crossing Inventory data submitted via GX 32 computer program.
—Written requests by states/railroads for
FRA Crossing Inventory Guide.
(d)—Reporting Crossing Inventory data
by state agencies on behalf of railroads: Written notices to FRA.
(e)(1)—Consolidated reporting by parent
corporation on behalf of its subsidiary
railroads: Written notice to FRA.
(e)(2)—Immediate notification to FRA by
parent corporation of any changes in
the list of subsidiary railroads for which
it reports.
234.405(a)(1)—Initial submission of previously unreported highway-rail and
pathway crossings through which they
operate by primary operating railroads:
Providing assigned crossing inventory
number to each railroad that operates
one or more trains through crossing.
—Primary operating railroad providing
assigned inventory number to other (2)
railroads operating through crossing.
(a)(3)—Completed inventory forms for
each previously unreported crossing.
(c)—Duty of all operating railroads: Notification to FRA of previously unreported
crossing through which it operates.
(d)—Incomplete submission by state
agency: Written certification by primary
operating railroad that state has not
provided requested crossing information.
—Copies of written certification statements to other operating railroads and
responsible state agency.
234.407(a)—Submission of initial data to
the Crossing Inventory for new Crossings: Providing assigned inventory
numbers for new highway-rail and
pathway crossings through which they
operate by primary operating railroads
to each railroad that operates one or
more trains through the crossing.
1 This final rule was subsequently amended on
June 10, 2016, in response to a petition for
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reconsideration submitted by the Association of
American Railroads. See 81 FR 37521.
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Total annual
burden hour
dollar cost
equivalent 2
Respondent
universe
Total annual
responses
Average time
per response
(a)(3)—Completed inventory forms for
each new highway-rail & pathway
crossing provided each operating railroad operating trains through crossing.
(b) Each operating railroad must submit
accurate inventory forms or electronic
equivalent to the FRA crossing inventory for new highway-rail & pathway
crossings operating on separate tracks.
234.409(a)—Submission of periodic updates to the Crossing Inventory by primary operating railroad.
234.411(a)—Crossing sale: Submission
of Crossing Inventory form by any operating railroad that sells all or part of
highway-rail and pathway crossing.
—Notification/report by railroad to primary operating railroad of sale of all or
part of a highway-rail or pathway on or
after June 10, 2016.
(b)—Crossing closure: Submission of
Crossing Inventory form by primary operating railroad that closes highway-rail
and pathway crossing.
(c)—Primary operating RR submission of
inventory form for any surface/warning
device changes at crossing.
234.413(a & b)—Recordkeeping—RR
Duplicate copy of each inventory form
submitted in hard copy to the Crossing
Inventory.
—Copy of electronic confirmation received from FRA after electronic submission of crossing data to Crossing
Inventory.
—List of locations where a copy of any
record required by this Subpart may be
accessed and copied.
692 railroads ...........
50 forms ..................
5 minutes ................
4
308
692 railroads ...........
50 inventory forms ..
1.5 ...........................
75
5,775
692 railroads ...........
80,775 crossing invent. updates.
2.5minutes ..............
3,366
259,182
692 railroads ...........
400 updated crossing inventory
forms.
2 ..............................
800
61,600
692 railroads ...........
400 notices/reports
15 minutes ..............
100
7,700
692 railroads ...........
85 crossing inventory forms (closures).
5 minutes ................
7
539
692 railroads ...........
400 forms ................
30 minutes ..............
200
15,400
692 railroads ...........
5,901 duplicate copies.
1 minute ..................
98
7,546
692 railroads ...........
80,775 copies .........
1 minute ..................
1,346
103,642
692 railroads ...........
692 lists ..................
5 minutes ................
58
4,466
Total Estimated Annual Responses:
329,758.
Total Estimated Annual Burden:
17,690 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour
Dollar Cost Equivalent: $1,337,464.
Title: Special Notice for Repairs.
OMB Control Number: 2130–0504.
Abstract: Under 49 CFR part 216, FRA
and State inspectors may issue a Special
Notice for Repairs to notify a railroad in
writing of an unsafe condition involving
a locomotive, car, or track. The railroad
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Total
annual burden
hours
CFR section
must notify FRA in writing when the
equipment is returned to service or the
track is restored to a condition
permitting operations at speeds
authorized for a higher class, specifying
the repairs completed. FRA and State
inspectors use this information to
remove from service freight cars,
passenger cars, and locomotives until
they can be restored to a serviceable
condition. They also use this
information to reduce the maximum
authorized speed on a section of track
until repairs can be made.
Type of Request: Extension with
change (revised estimates) of a current
information collection.
Affected Public: Businesses
(railroads).
Form(s): FRA F 6180.71.
Respondent Universe: 741 railroads.
Frequency of Submission: On
occasion.
Reporting Burden:
CFR section
Respondent
universe
Total annual
responses
Average time per
response
216.13(b)—Special Notice for Repairs:
Locomotive—RR reply to special notice for repair informing FRA Regional
Administrator that affected locomotive
is returned to service.
741 railroads ...........
5 form replies ..........
15 minutes ..............
2 Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data,
FRA is using an average hourly wage rate of 74 per
hour for State employees to determine the dollar
equivalent cost of estimated burden. Based on the
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:24 Jun 13, 2019
Jkt 247001
2017 American Association publication, Railroad
Facts, FRA is using an average hourly wage rate of
77 per hour for professional/administrative to
determine the same dollar equivalent costs. All
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Total annual
burden hours
1 hour
Total annual
burden hour
dollar cost
equivalent
$77
hourly wage rates included 75 percent overhead
costs.
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Respondent
universe
Total annual
responses
Average time per
response
216.15(b)—Special Notice for Repairs:
Track—RR reply to special notice for
repair informing FRA Regional Administrator that affected track is restored
to condition permitting operations at
speeds authorized at higher speeds.
216.21(b)—Notice of track conditions:
Letter from railroad to FRA regional
track engineer that affected track has
been repaired and is ready for re-inspection.
216.25—Issuance of review and emergency order: Petition for review of
order or letter stating track has been
repaired.
741 railroads ...........
50 form replies ........
15 minutes ..............
13
1,001
741 railroads ...........
1 letter .....................
60 minutes ..............
1 hour
77
741 railroads ...........
1 letter .....................
60 minutes ..............
1 hour
77
Total Estimated Annual Responses:
57.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 16
hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour
Dollar Cost Equivalent: $1,232.
Title: Bridge Safety Standards.
OMB Control Number: 2130–0586.
Abstract: The Fixing America’s
Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act)
(Pub. L. 114–94, Dec. 4, 2015), Section
11405, ‘‘Bridge Inspection Reports,’’
provides a means for a State or a
political subdivision of a State to obtain
a public version of a bridge inspection
report generated by a railroad for a
bridge located within their respective
jurisdiction. While the FAST Act
specifies that requests for such reports
are to be filed with the Secretary of
Transportation, the responsibility for
fulfilling these requests is delegated to
FRA. See 49 CFR 1.89.
FRA’s currently approved information
collection accounts for the burden that
will be incurred by States and political
subdivisions of States requesting a
public version of a bridge inspection
report generated by a railroad for a
bridge located within their respective
jurisdiction. FRA developed a Form
titled ‘‘Bridge Inspection Report Public
Version Request Form’’ to facilitate such
requests by States and their political
subdivisions. FRA accounts for the
burden that will be incurred by
railroads to provide the public version
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CFR section
FAST ACT SECTION 11405 REQUIREMENTS:.
—Form FRA F 6180.167 ..................
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Jkt 247001
of a bridge inspection report upon
agency request to FRA.
As background, FRA’s final rule on
bridge safety standards, 49 CFR part
237, normalized and established federal
requirements for railroad bridges. See 75
FR 41281 (July 15, 2010). The final rule
established minimum requirements to
assure the structural integrity of railroad
bridges and to protect the safe operation
of trains over those bridges. The final
rule required railroads/track owners to
implement bridge management
programs to prevent the deterioration of
railroad bridges and to reduce the risk
of human casualties, environmental
damage, and disruption to the Nation’s
transportation system that would result
from a catastrophic bridge failure.
Bridge management programs were
required to include annual inspection of
bridges as well as special inspections,
which must be conducted if natural or
accidental events cause conditions that
warrant such inspections. Lastly, the
final rule required railroads/track
owners to audit bridge management
programs and bridge inspections and to
keep records mandated under part 237.
The information collected is used by
FRA to ensure that railroads/track
owners meet Federal standards for
bridge safety and comply with all the
requirements of this regulation. In
particular, the collection of information
is used by FRA to confirm that
railroads/track owners adopt and
implement bridge management
programs to properly inspect, maintain,
modify, and repair all bridges that carry
trains for which they are responsible.
Railroads/track owners must conduct
annual inspections of railroad bridges.
Further, railroads/track owners must
incorporate provisions for internal audit
into their bridge management program
and must conduct internal audits of
bridge inspection reports. The internal
audit information is used by railroads/
track owners to verify that the
inspection provisions of the bridge
management program are being
followed and to continually evaluate the
effectiveness of their bridge
management program and bridge
inspection activities. FRA uses this
information to ensure that railroads/
track owners implement a safe and
effective bridge management program
and bridge inspection regime.
Type of Request: Extension with
change (revised estimates) of a current
information collection.
Affected Public: Businesses (railroads)
and States, DC, and political
subdivisions).
Form(s): FRA F 6180.167.
Respondent Universe: 741 railroads/
50 States and DC/200 political
subdivisions.
Frequency of Submission: On
occasion/monthly.
Reporting Burden:
Respondent
universe
Total annual
responses
Average time per
response
50 states and DC
200 state political
subdivisions.
75 forms ..................
5 minutes ................
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Total annual
burden hours
Total annual
burden hour
dollar cost
equivalent
CFR section
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Total annual
burden hours
6
Total annual
burden hour
dollar cost
equivalent 3
$402
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 115 / Friday, June 14, 2019 / Notices
CFR section
Respondent
universe
Total annual
responses
Average time per
response
—Railroad submission to FRA of
bridge inspection report—public
version.
237.3—Notifications to FRA of assignment of bridge responsibility and
signed statement by assignee concerning bridge responsibility.
237.9—Waivers—petitions .......................
237.57—Designation of qualified individuals.
237.73—Issuance of instructions to railroad personnel by track owner.
237.109—Nationwide annual bridge inspections—reports/records:
—Report of deficient condition on a
bridge.
237.155—Documents & records—Establishment of RR monitoring & info. technology security systems for electronic
recordkeeping.
—Employees trained in system ........
741 railroads ...........
75 reports ...............
60 minutes ..............
741 railroads ...........
741 railroads ...........
741 railroads ...........
$5,025
15 notifications + 15 90 minutes + 30
signed statements.
minutes.
30
$2,310
4 ..............................
15 minutes ..............
8
50
$616
$3,850
2 ..............................
200
$15,400
15 minutes ..............
3,863
$258,821
741 railroads ...........
2 petitions ...............
200 recorded designations.
100 issued written
instructions.
15,450 insp. reports/
records.
50 reports ...............
30 minutes ..............
25
$1,675
741 railroads ...........
5 systems ...............
80 ............................
400
$30,800
741 Railroads .........
100 employees .......
8 ..............................
800
$61,600
741 railroads ...........
741 railroads ...........
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501–3520.
Brett A. Jortland,
Acting Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2019–12574 Filed 6–13–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA–2006–25040]
Petition for Waiver of Compliance
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Under part 211 of Title 49 Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR), this
document provides the public notice
that by documents dated June 14, 2018,
and April 17, 2019, the Capital
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
(CMTY) petitioned the Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA) to modify
3 Based on the 2017 AAR publication Railroad
Facts, FRA calculates the average hourly wage rate
for professional/administrative staff at $77 per hour
and the average hourly wage rate of bridge workers
at $67 per hours to determine the dollar equivalent
cost numbers. All hourly wage rates include 75
percent overhead costs.
18:24 Jun 13, 2019
Jkt 247001
Total annual
burden hour
dollar cost
equivalent 3
75
Total Estimated Annual Responses:
16,087.
Total Estimated Annual Burden:
5,457 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour
Dollar Cost Equivalent: $380,499.
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 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.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
Total annual
burden hours
conditions related to a waiver of
compliance from certain provisions of
the Federal railroad safety regulations.
Specifically, CMTY requests to
eliminate temporal separation
requirements and the 60 miles-per-hour
(MPH) speed restrictions imposed, most
recently, in a decision letter dated April
20, 2015. FRA assigned the petition
Docket Number FRA–2006–25040.
The CMTY commuter rail system,
‘‘Red Line,’’ connects downtown
Austin, Texas, with Austin’s northern
suburbs along 32 miles with 9 stations.
Service began in 2010 with a fleet of six
diesel multiple unit (DMU) rail vehicles
designated ‘‘GTW Generation 1’’ (GTW
G1) built by Stadler Rail. Since 2010,
these rail vehicles have operated safely
under the conditions of waivers.
In its petition, CMTY states that
several technical and mechanical
changes have been made to the GTW G1
vehicles. Furthermore, on January 22,
2019, changes to FRA’s Passenger
Equipment Safety Standards, 49 CFR
part 238, became effective. Together, the
vehicle modification and updated
regulation combine to make CMTY
GTW G1 vehicles fully compliant with
FRA crashworthiness standards, and
more compliant with several items
previously waived. As a result, CMTY
asks FRA to remove the two waiver
conditions requiring temporal
separation and the 60 MPH speed
restriction.
A copy of the petition, as well as any
written communications concerning the
petition, is available for review online at
www.regulations.gov and in person at
the U.S. Department of Transportation’s
(DOT) Docket Operations Facility, 1200
PO 00000
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New Jersey Avenue SE, W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590. The Docket
Operations Facility is open from 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal Holidays.
Interested parties are invited to
participate in these proceedings by
submitting written views, data, or
comments. FRA does not anticipate
scheduling a public hearing in
connection with these proceedings since
the facts do not appear to warrant a
hearing. If any interested parties desire
an opportunity for oral comment and a
public hearing, they should notify FRA,
in writing, before the end of the
comment period and specify the basis
for their request.
All communications concerning these
proceedings should identify the
appropriate docket number and may be
submitted by any of the following
methods:
• Website: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: 202–493–2251.
• Mail: Docket Operations Facility,
U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Room W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal Holidays.
Communications received by July 29,
2019 will be considered by FRA before
final action is taken. Comments received
after that date will be considered as far
as practicable.
Anyone can search the electronic
form of any written communications
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 115 (Friday, June 14, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27833-27837]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-12574]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2019-0004-N-6]
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment
Request
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its
implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the Information
Collection Requests (ICRs) abstracted below. Before submitting these
ICRs to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is
soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities
identified below.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
August 13, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the ICRs activities by mail to
either: Mr. Robert Brogan, Information Collection Clearance Officer,
Office of Railroad Safety, Regulatory Analysis Division, Federal
Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC
20590; or Ms. Kim Toone, Information Collection Clearance Officer,
Office of Information Technology, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. Commenters requesting FRA
to acknowledge receipt of their respective comments must include a
self-addressed stamped postcard stating, ``Comments on OMB Control
Number 2130-XXXX,'' (the relevant OMB control number for each ICR is
listed below) and should also include the title of the ICR.
Alternatively, comments may be faxed to 202-493-6216 or 202-493-6497,
or emailed to Mr. Brogan at [email protected], or 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: Mr. Robert Brogan, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Railroad Safety, Regulatory
Analysis Division, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: 202-493-6292) or Ms. Kim
Toone, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Information
Technology, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: 202-493-6132).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PRA, 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 to allow comment on information
collection activities before seeking OMB approval of the activities.
See 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.8 through 1320.12. Specifically,
FRA invites interested parties to comment on the following ICRs
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 for FRA to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information being collected; and (4) ways
for FRA to minimize the burden of information collection activities on
the public, including the use of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology. See 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5
CFR 1320.8(d)(1).
FRA believes that soliciting public comment may reduce the
administrative and paperwork burdens associated with the collection of
information that Federal regulations mandate. In summary, FRA reasons
that comments received will advance three objectives: (1) Reduce
reporting burdens; (2) organize information collection requirements in
a ``user-friendly'' format to improve the use of such information; and
(3) accurately assess the resources expended to retrieve and produce
information requested. See 44 U.S.C. 3501.
[[Page 27834]]
The summaries below describe the ICRs that FRA will submit for OMB
clearance as the PRA requires:
Title: U.S. DOT Crossing Inventory.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0017.
Abstract: On January 6, 2015, FRA published in the Federal Register
a final rule that requires railroads that operate one or more trains
through highway-rail or pathway crossings to submit information to the
U.S. DOT National Highway-Rail Crossing Inventory about the crossings
through which they operate.\1\ See 80 FR 746. These amendments,
mandated by section 204 of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008,
require railroads to submit information about previously unreported and
new highway-rail and pathway crossings to the U.S. DOT National
Highway-Rail Crossing Inventory and to periodically update existing
crossing data.
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\1\ This final rule was subsequently amended on June 10, 2016,
in response to a petition for reconsideration submitted by the
Association of American Railroads. See 81 FR 37521.
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Type of Request: Extension with change (revised estimates) of a
current information collection.
Affected Public: Businesses (railroads), States, and the District
of Columbia (DC).
Form(s): FRA F 6180.71.
Respondent Universe: 692 railroads, 50 States and DC.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion/monthly.
Reporting Burden:
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Total annual
Respondent Total annual Average time Total annual burden hour
CFR section universe responses per response burden hours dollar cost
equivalent \2\
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234.403(a), (b), (c), (e)(3)-- 51 States/DC & 1,495 forms.... 30 minutes..... 748 hours $55,352
Submission of data to the 692 railroads.
U.S. DOT Highway-Rail
Crossing Inventory:
Completion of inventory form.
--Mass update lists of 51 States/DC & 1,081 lists.... 30 minutes..... 541 40,034
designated data submitted by 692 railroads.
railroads/states.
--Excel lists of submitted 51 States/DC & 750 lists...... 15 minutes..... 188 13,912
data. 692 railroads.
--Changes/corrections to 51 States/DC & 134,719 records 3 minutes...... 6,736 498,464
Crossing Inventory data 692 railroads.
submitted via GX 32 computer
program.
--Written requests by states/ 51 States/DC & 5 requests..... 15 minutes..... 1 hour 74
railroads for FRA Crossing 692 railroads.
Inventory Guide.
(d)--Reporting Crossing 51 States/DC & 15 notices..... 30 minutes..... 8 592
Inventory data by state 692 railroads.
agencies on behalf of
railroads: Written notices
to FRA.
(e)(1)--Consolidated 692 railroads.. 250 notices.... 30 minutes..... 125 9,625
reporting by parent
corporation on behalf of its
subsidiary railroads:
Written notice to FRA.
(e)(2)--Immediate 692 railroads.. 75 notices..... 30 minutes..... 38 2,926
notification to FRA by
parent corporation of any
changes in the list of
subsidiary railroads for
which it reports.
234.405(a)(1)--Initial 692 railroads.. 5,300 provided 5 minutes...... 442 34,034
submission of previously assigned
unreported highway-rail and inventory
pathway crossings through numbers.
which they operate by
primary operating railroads:
Providing assigned crossing
inventory number to each
railroad that operates one
or more trains through
crossing.
--Primary operating railroad 692 railroads.. 10,600 assigned 5 minutes...... 883 67,991
providing assigned inventory numbers.
number to other (2)
railroads operating through
crossing.
(a)(3)--Completed inventory 692 railroads.. 5,300 forms.... 20 minutes..... 1,767 136,059
forms for each previously
unreported crossing.
(c)--Duty of all operating 692 railroads.. 450 notices/ 20 minutes..... 150 11,550
railroads: Notification to notifications.
FRA of previously unreported
crossing through which it
operates.
(d)--Incomplete submission by 692 railroads.. 35 2 minutes...... 1 hour 77
state agency: Written certification
certification by primary statements.
operating railroad that
state has not provided
requested crossing
information.
--Copies of written 692 railroads.. 105 mailed 2 minutes...... 4 308
certification statements to certification
other operating railroads copies.
and responsible state agency.
234.407(a)--Submission of 692 railroads.. 50 assigned 5 minutes...... 4 308
initial data to the Crossing inventory
Inventory for new Crossings: numbers.
Providing assigned inventory
numbers for new highway-rail
and pathway crossings
through which they operate
by primary operating
railroads to each railroad
that operates one or more
trains through the crossing.
[[Page 27835]]
(a)(3)--Completed inventory 692 railroads.. 50 forms....... 5 minutes...... 4 308
forms for each new highway-
rail & pathway crossing
provided each operating
railroad operating trains
through crossing.
(b) Each operating railroad 692 railroads.. 50 inventory 1.5............ 75 5,775
must submit accurate forms.
inventory forms or
electronic equivalent to the
FRA crossing inventory for
new highway-rail & pathway
crossings operating on
separate tracks.
234.409(a)--Submission of 692 railroads.. 80,775 crossing 2.5minutes..... 3,366 259,182
periodic updates to the invent.
Crossing Inventory by updates.
primary operating railroad.
234.411(a)--Crossing sale: 692 railroads.. 400 updated 2.............. 800 61,600
Submission of Crossing crossing
Inventory form by any inventory
operating railroad that forms.
sells all or part of highway-
rail and pathway crossing.
--Notification/report by 692 railroads.. 400 notices/ 15 minutes..... 100 7,700
railroad to primary reports.
operating railroad of sale
of all or part of a highway-
rail or pathway on or after
June 10, 2016.
(b)--Crossing closure: 692 railroads.. 85 crossing 5 minutes...... 7 539
Submission of Crossing inventory
Inventory form by primary forms
operating railroad that (closures).
closes highway-rail and
pathway crossing.
(c)--Primary operating RR 692 railroads.. 400 forms...... 30 minutes..... 200 15,400
submission of inventory form
for any surface/warning
device changes at crossing.
234.413(a & b)-- 692 railroads.. 5,901 duplicate 1 minute....... 98 7,546
Recordkeeping--RR Duplicate copies.
copy of each inventory form
submitted in hard copy to
the Crossing Inventory.
--Copy of electronic 692 railroads.. 80,775 copies.. 1 minute....... 1,346 103,642
confirmation received from
FRA after electronic
submission of crossing data
to Crossing Inventory.
--List of locations where a 692 railroads.. 692 lists...... 5 minutes...... 58 4,466
copy of any record required
by this Subpart may be
accessed and copied.
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Total Estimated Annual Responses: 329,758.
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\2\ Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, FRA is using
an average hourly wage rate of 74 per hour for State employees to
determine the dollar equivalent cost of estimated burden. Based on
the 2017 American Association publication, Railroad Facts, FRA is
using an average hourly wage rate of 77 per hour for professional/
administrative to determine the same dollar equivalent costs. All
hourly wage rates included 75 percent overhead costs.
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Total Estimated Annual Burden: 17,690 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent:
$1,337,464.
Title: Special Notice for Repairs.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0504.
Abstract: Under 49 CFR part 216, FRA and State inspectors may issue
a Special Notice for Repairs to notify a railroad in writing of an
unsafe condition involving a locomotive, car, or track. The railroad
must notify FRA in writing when the equipment is returned to service or
the track is restored to a condition permitting operations at speeds
authorized for a higher class, specifying the repairs completed. FRA
and State inspectors use this information to remove from service
freight cars, passenger cars, and locomotives until they can be
restored to a serviceable condition. They also use this information to
reduce the maximum authorized speed on a section of track until repairs
can be made.
Type of Request: Extension with change (revised estimates) of a
current information collection.
Affected Public: Businesses (railroads).
Form(s): FRA F 6180.71.
Respondent Universe: 741 railroads.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
Reporting Burden:
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Total annual
Respondent Total annual Average time Total annual burden hour
CFR section universe responses per response burden hours dollar cost
equivalent
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216.13(b)--Special Notice for 741 railroads.. 5 form replies. 15 minutes..... 1 hour $77
Repairs: Locomotive--RR
reply to special notice for
repair informing FRA
Regional Administrator that
affected locomotive is
returned to service.
[[Page 27836]]
216.15(b)--Special Notice for 741 railroads.. 50 form replies 15 minutes..... 13 1,001
Repairs: Track--RR reply to
special notice for repair
informing FRA Regional
Administrator that affected
track is restored to
condition permitting
operations at speeds
authorized at higher speeds.
216.21(b)--Notice of track 741 railroads.. 1 letter....... 60 minutes..... 1 hour 77
conditions: Letter from
railroad to FRA regional
track engineer that affected
track has been repaired and
is ready for re-inspection.
216.25--Issuance of review 741 railroads.. 1 letter....... 60 minutes..... 1 hour 77
and emergency order:
Petition for review of order
or letter stating track has
been repaired.
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Total Estimated Annual Responses: 57.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 16 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $1,232.
Title: Bridge Safety Standards.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0586.
Abstract: The Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST
Act) (Pub. L. 114-94, Dec. 4, 2015), Section 11405, ``Bridge Inspection
Reports,'' provides a means for a State or a political subdivision of a
State to obtain a public version of a bridge inspection report
generated by a railroad for a bridge located within their respective
jurisdiction. While the FAST Act specifies that requests for such
reports are to be filed with the Secretary of Transportation, the
responsibility for fulfilling these requests is delegated to FRA. See
49 CFR 1.89.
FRA's currently approved information collection accounts for the
burden that will be incurred by States and political subdivisions of
States requesting a public version of a bridge inspection report
generated by a railroad for a bridge located within their respective
jurisdiction. FRA developed a Form titled ``Bridge Inspection Report
Public Version Request Form'' to facilitate such requests by States and
their political subdivisions. FRA accounts for the burden that will be
incurred by railroads to provide the public version of a bridge
inspection report upon agency request to FRA.
As background, FRA's final rule on bridge safety standards, 49 CFR
part 237, normalized and established federal requirements for railroad
bridges. See 75 FR 41281 (July 15, 2010). The final rule established
minimum requirements to assure the structural integrity of railroad
bridges and to protect the safe operation of trains over those bridges.
The final rule required railroads/track owners to implement bridge
management programs to prevent the deterioration of railroad bridges
and to reduce the risk of human casualties, environmental damage, and
disruption to the Nation's transportation system that would result from
a catastrophic bridge failure. Bridge management programs were required
to include annual inspection of bridges as well as special inspections,
which must be conducted if natural or accidental events cause
conditions that warrant such inspections. Lastly, the final rule
required railroads/track owners to audit bridge management programs and
bridge inspections and to keep records mandated under part 237.
The information collected is used by FRA to ensure that railroads/
track owners meet Federal standards for bridge safety and comply with
all the requirements of this regulation. In particular, the collection
of information is used by FRA to confirm that railroads/track owners
adopt and implement bridge management programs to properly inspect,
maintain, modify, and repair all bridges that carry trains for which
they are responsible. Railroads/track owners must conduct annual
inspections of railroad bridges. Further, railroads/track owners must
incorporate provisions for internal audit into their bridge management
program and must conduct internal audits of bridge inspection reports.
The internal audit information is used by railroads/track owners to
verify that the inspection provisions of the bridge management program
are being followed and to continually evaluate the effectiveness of
their bridge management program and bridge inspection activities. FRA
uses this information to ensure that railroads/track owners implement a
safe and effective bridge management program and bridge inspection
regime.
Type of Request: Extension with change (revised estimates) of a
current information collection.
Affected Public: Businesses (railroads) and States, DC, and
political subdivisions).
Form(s): FRA F 6180.167.
Respondent Universe: 741 railroads/50 States and DC/200 political
subdivisions.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion/monthly.
Reporting Burden:
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Total annual
Respondent Total annual Average time Total annual burden hour
CFR section universe responses per response burden hours dollar cost
equivalent \3\
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FAST ACT SECTION 11405
REQUIREMENTS:.
--Form FRA F 6180.167.... 50 states and 75 forms....... 5 minutes...... 6 $402
DC 200 state
political
subdivisions.
[[Page 27837]]
--Railroad submission to 741 railroads.. 75 reports..... 60 minutes..... 75 $5,025
FRA of bridge inspection
report--public version.
237.3--Notifications to FRA 741 railroads.. 15 90 minutes + 30 30 $2,310
of assignment of bridge notifications minutes.
responsibility and signed + 15 signed
statement by assignee statements.
concerning bridge
responsibility.
237.9--Waivers--petitions.... 741 railroads.. 2 petitions.... 4.............. 8 $616
237.57--Designation of 741 railroads.. 200 recorded 15 minutes..... 50 $3,850
qualified individuals. designations.
237.73--Issuance of 741 railroads.. 100 issued 2.............. 200 $15,400
instructions to railroad written
personnel by track owner. instructions.
237.109--Nationwide annual 741 railroads.. 15,450 insp. 15 minutes..... 3,863 $258,821
bridge inspections--reports/ reports/
records: records.
--Report of deficient 741 railroads.. 50 reports..... 30 minutes..... 25 $1,675
condition on a bridge.
237.155--Documents & records-- 741 railroads.. 5 systems...... 80............. 400 $30,800
Establishment of RR
monitoring & info.
technology security systems
for electronic recordkeeping.
--Employees trained in 741 Railroads.. 100 employees.. 8.............. 800 $61,600
system.
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Total Estimated Annual Responses: 16,087.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 5,457 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent:
$380,499.
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\3\ Based on the 2017 AAR publication Railroad Facts, FRA
calculates the average hourly wage rate for professional/
administrative staff at $77 per hour and the average hourly wage
rate of bridge workers at $67 per hours to determine the dollar
equivalent cost numbers. All hourly wage rates include 75 percent
overhead costs.
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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 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.
Brett A. Jortland,
Acting Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2019-12574 Filed 6-13-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
