Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request, 31138-31140 [2019-13792]

Download as PDF 31138 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 125 / Friday, June 28, 2019 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration [Docket No. FAA–2019–0287] Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of Information Collection: Certificated Training Centers—Simulator Rule Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on April 18, 2019. The collection involves Certificated Training Centers. Operators pay Certificated Training Centers to provide training to their employees, typically pilots, on different types of equipment if training is not done in house. The information to be collected is necessary because it allows aviation safety inspectors (operations) to review and to provide surveillance to training centers to ensure compliance with airman training, testing, and certification requirements specified in other parts of the regulations. If the information were not collected, inspectors would not be able to determine if airmen who are clients are being trained, checked or tested to meet the safety standards established in other parts of the regulations. To date, FAA inspectors have used the information collected to determine and assess regulatory compliance during routine program surveillance. DATES: Written comments should be submitted by July 29, 2019. ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on the proposed information collection to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget. Comments should be addressed to the attention of the Desk Officer, Department of Transportation/FAA, and sent via electronic mail to oira_ submission@omb.eop.gov, or faxed to (202) 395–6974, or mailed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Docket Library, Room 10102, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503. khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:41 Jun 27, 2019 Jkt 247001 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandra Ray by email at: Sandra.ray@ faa.gov; phone: 412–329–3088. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of this information collection, including (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for FAA’s performance; (b) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (c) ways for FAA to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (d) ways that the burden could be minimized without reducing the quality of the collected information. The agency will summarize and/or include your comments in the request for OMB’s clearance of this information collection. OMB Control Number: 2120–0570. Title: Certificated Training Centers— Simulator Rule. Form Numbers: There are no forms associated with this collection. Type of Review: Renewal of an Information Collection. Background: The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on April 18, 2019 (84 FR 16316). Part 142 Flight Schools are subject to several collection requirements. 14 CFR part 142 is one of several Federal Regulation parts that implement the Public Law. Section 142.11 provides that application for a training center certificate and training specifications shall be made in a form and manner prescribed by the Administrator, shall provide specific information about each management, instructor position, and evaluator position, and contain certain other administrative information. Section 142.37 provides that application for approval of training programs must be in a form and manner acceptable to the Administrator, and must provide specific information about curriculum and courses of the training program. Chapter 447, Section 44701 of Title 49, United States Code, provides, in pertinent part, that the Administrator may find, after investigation, that a person found to possess proper qualifications for a position as an airman may be issued such certificate. That certificate shall contain such terms, conditions, and limitations as to duration thereof, as well as periodic or special examinations, and other matters as the Administrator may determine to be necessary to assure safety in air commerce. Section 142.73 requires that training centers maintain records for a period of one year to show trainee qualifications PO 00000 Frm 00122 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 for training, testing, or checking, training attempts, training checking, and testing results, and for one year following termination of employment the qualification of instructors and evaluators providing those services. The respondents may be the Part 142 schools, Part 121 or 135 air carriers who utilize these schools or new applicants seeking Part 142 certification. The information may be collected in electronic forms. No specific forms are required. Information reporting may be done in accordance with the individual FAA office. Respondents: 82,239 (Includes Part 142 schools, Part 121 and 135 carriers and new certifications). Frequency: On occasion. Estimated Average Burden per Response: 96 hours. Estimated Total Annual Burden: 83,767 hours. Issued in Washington, DC, on June 25, 2019. Sandra L. Ray, Aviation Safety Inspector, FAA, Policy Integration Branch, AFS–270. [FR Doc. 2019–13892 Filed 6–27–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [Docket No. FRA–2019–0004–N–8] Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment. AGENCY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Requests (ICRs) abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs describe the information collections and their expected burden. On February 22, 2019, FRA published a notice providing a 60day period for public comment on the ICRs. DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before July 29, 2019. ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the ICRs 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 SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\28JNN1.SGM 28JNN1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 125 / Friday, June 28, 2019 / Notices may also be sent via email to OMB at the following address: oira_ submissions@omb.eop.gov. 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: 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. See 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.8 through 1320.12. On February 22, 2019, FRA published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on the ICRs for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 84 FR 5805. 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’ notice for public comment. 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 1320.10(b); 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. Comments are invited on the following ICRs regarding: (1) Whether the information collection activities are necessary for FRA to properly execute its functions, including whether the information 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 to minimize the burden of information collection activities on the public, including the use of automated collection techniques khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:41 Jun 27, 2019 Jkt 247001 or other forms of information technology. The summaries below describe the ICR that FRA will submit for OMB clearance as the PRA requires: Title: Federal Railroad Administration Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Disparity Study. OMB Control Number: 2130–NEW. Abstract: Congress mandated a disparity study evaluating participation by small and disadvantaged businesses in railroad contracts. This study will ensure that the requirements of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program for federally funded projects administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) or the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), under 49 CFR part 26, are executed properly. The purpose of this disparity study is to evaluate the market for the availability, utilization, and capability of small and disadvantaged businesses in publicly-funded railroad contracts. The data provided by the study will be used to inform FRA and DOT on the state of small and disadvantaged business contracting in the railroad industry and will be a component of FRA’s Title VI compliance program. Currently, FRA does not have statutory authority to administer a DBE program like those in place at FHWA, FTA, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). DBE regulations applicable to FHWA, FTA, and FAA require State and local transportation agencies that receive DOT financial assistance to establish goals for the participation of DBEs. Each DOTassisted State and local transportation agency is required to establish annual DBE goals, review the scope of anticipated, large prime contracts, and establish contract-specific DBE subcontracting goals. Without statutory DBE authority, FRA can only encourage recipients of its Federal financial assistance to carry out their projects in accordance with DBE guidelines, in support of DBEs, Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, and Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses. Despite the lack of a formal DBE program, FRA fully supports the objectives of DBE programs and all FRA’s grantees are required to avoid discrimination in contracting. In late 2015, Congress passed the ‘‘Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act’’ (FAST Act), Public Law 114–94. The FAST Act codified the requirement for FRA, as the Secretary of Transportation’s (Secretary) delegate, to conduct ‘‘a nationwide disparity and availability study on the availability and use of small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and PO 00000 Frm 00123 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 31139 economically disadvantaged individuals and veteran-owned small businesses in publicly funded intercity rail passenger transportation projects.’’ See FAST Act, sec. 11310, Small Business Participation Study. The legislation requires that: ‘‘Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report containing the results of the study . . . to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.’’ Id. This study will include three surveys and a series of webinars with focus groups. In Survey #1, FRA will contact all FRA grant recipients to identify prime and sub-contractors, consultants, and vendors that received grant funds and the amount of those funds. This survey is necessary to determine the percentage of FRA grant funding and contracts received by DBEs. Survey #2 will focus on DBE and nonDBE firms in the railroad industry. The survey will solicit information regarding experiences with discrimination, as well as experiences in bidding with the grantees and their prime contractors and consultants. This approach will ensure that the survey responses are accurate. Because response rates to voluntary surveys tend to be low, FRA will develop an outreach campaign, use professionally designed surveys, incorporate cover letters signed by senior FRA officials, include multiple reminders, and enable a dedicated telephone line and email address for requesting replacement surveys and addressing other inquiries. The study team will also collect information regarding discrimination and experiences with publicly funded railroad contracts through webinar focus groups comprised of DBE and non-DBE business owners, as well as procurement personnel at FRA and its grantees. These focus groups likewise will explore barriers to the full and fair participation of DBEs in FRA’s market area and that of its grantees. The focus groups also will explore whether USDOT grant programs and policies adequately address these challenges. FRA expects these focus groups will reveal valuable information about the realities affecting DBE firms and will inform the agency how to develop its policy responses to those challenges. In Survey #3, the study team will verify the DBE status of eligible firms. The comparison of DBEs’ participation relative to their prevalence by industry and geography is crucial to developing sound, statistical evidence of potential discrimination. The study will cross- E:\FR\FM\28JNN1.SGM 28JNN1 31140 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 125 / Friday, June 28, 2019 / Notices reference additional listings and directories of DBE firms to improve the accuracy of the classification of firms. FRA will take the additional step of validating putative assignments using telephone surveys of a statistically random sample of businesses from its database. Type of Request: Approval of a new collection of information. Affected Public: Businesses. Form(s): FRA F 6180.171; FRA F 6180.172; FRA F 6180.173; FRA F 6180.174. Respondent Universe: 35,000 Grantees, Sub-Grantees, Prime Contractors, Sub-Contractors, DBEs, and Non-Disadvantaged Business Firms. Frequency of Submission: On occasion. Total Estimated Annual Responses: 7,750. Total Estimated Annual Burden: 3,151 hours. Total Estimated Dollar Cost: $181,655. 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. 2019–13792 Filed 6–27–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Office of the Comptroller of the Currency [Docket ID OCC–2019–0011] Mutual Savings Association Advisory Committee Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury. ACTION: Notice of Federal Advisory Committee meeting. AGENCY: The OCC announces a meeting of the Mutual Savings Association Advisory Committee (MSAAC). khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: A public meeting of the MSAAC will be held on Tuesday, July 23, 2019, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). ADDRESSES: The OCC will hold the July 23, 2019 meeting of the MSAAC at the OCC’s offices at 400 7th Street SW, Washington, DC 20219. DATES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:41 Jun 27, 2019 Jkt 247001 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael R. Brickman, Deputy Comptroller for Thrift Supervision, (202) 649–5420, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Washington, DC 20219. By this notice, the OCC is announcing that the MSAAC will convene a meeting on Tuesday, July 23, 2019, at the OCC’s offices at 400 7th Street SW, Washington, DC 20219. The meeting is open to the public and will begin at 8:30 a.m. EDT. The purpose of the meeting is for the MSAAC to advise the OCC on regulatory or other changes the OCC may make to ensure the health and viability of mutual savings associations. The agenda includes a discussion of current topics of interest to the industry. Members of the public may submit written statements to the MSAAC. The OCC must receive written statements no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, July 16, 2019. Members of the public may submit written statements to MSAAC@occ.treas.gov or by mailing them to Michael R. Brickman, Designated Federal Officer, Mutual Savings Association Advisory Committee, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 400 7th Street SW, Washington, DC 20219. Members of the public who plan to attend the meeting should contact the OCC by 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, to inform the OCC of their desire to attend the meeting and to provide information that will be required to facilitate entry into the meeting. Members of the public may contact the OCC via email at MSAAC@ OCC.treas.gov or by telephone at (202) 649–5420. Members of the public who are hearing impaired should call (202) 649–5597 (TTY) by 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, to arrange auxiliary aids such as sign language interpretation for this meeting. Attendees should provide their full name, email address, and organization, if any. For security reasons, attendees will be subject to security screening procedures and must present a valid government-issued identification to enter the building. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Dated: June 21, 2019. Joseph M. Otting, Comptroller of the Currency. [FR Doc. 2019–13777 Filed 6–27–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4810–33–P PO 00000 Frm 00124 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Bureau of the Fiscal Service Proposed Collection of Information: FHA New Account Request, Transition Request, and Transfer Request Notice and request for comments. ACTION: The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Currently the Bureau of the Fiscal Service within the Department of the Treasury is soliciting comments concerning the collections of information required to comply with the terms and conditions of FHA New Account Request, Transition Request, and Transfer Request. DATES: Written comments should be received on or before August 27, 2019 to be assured of consideration. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments and requests for additional information to Bureau of the Fiscal Service, Bruce A. Sharp, Room #4006–A, P.O. Box 1328, Parkersburg, WV 26106–1328, or bruce.sharp@fiscal.treasury.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: FHA New Account Request, Transition Request, and Transfer Request. OMB Number: 1530–0054. Form Numbers and Titles: FS Form 5354—FHA Transaction Request, FS Form 5366—FHA New Account Request, FS Form 5367—FHA Debenture Transfer Request. Abstract: The information is used to (1) establish a book-entry account; (2) change information on a book-entry account; and (3) transfer ownership of a book-entry account on the HUD system, maintained by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. Current Actions: Extension of a currently approved collection. Type of Review: Regular. Affected Public: Individuals or Households. Estimated Number of Respondents: 300. Estimated Time per Respondent: 10 minutes. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 50. Request for Comments: Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval. All SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\28JNN1.SGM 28JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 125 (Friday, June 28, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31138-31140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-13792]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2019-0004-N-8]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

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

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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

SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice 
announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Requests 
(ICRs) abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review and comment. The ICRs describe the information collections 
and their expected burden. On February 22, 2019, FRA published a notice 
providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICRs.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
July 29, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the ICRs 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

[[Page 31139]]

may also be sent via email to OMB at the following address: 
[email protected].

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 
issue two notices seeking public comment on information collection 
activities before OMB may approve paperwork packages. See 44 U.S.C. 
3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.8 through 1320.12. On February 22, 2019, FRA 
published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on 
the ICRs for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 84 FR 5805. 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' notice for public comment. 
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 1320.10(b); 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.
    Comments are invited on the following ICRs regarding: (1) Whether 
the information collection activities are necessary for FRA to properly 
execute its functions, including whether the information 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 to minimize the burden of information 
collection activities on the public, including the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    The summaries below describe the ICR that FRA will submit for OMB 
clearance as the PRA requires:
    Title: Federal Railroad Administration Disadvantaged Business 
Enterprise (DBE) Disparity Study.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-NEW.
    Abstract: Congress mandated a disparity study evaluating 
participation by small and disadvantaged businesses in railroad 
contracts. This study will ensure that the requirements of the 
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program for federally funded 
projects administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) or 
the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), under 49 CFR part 26, are 
executed properly. The purpose of this disparity study is to evaluate 
the market for the availability, utilization, and capability of small 
and disadvantaged businesses in publicly-funded railroad contracts. The 
data provided by the study will be used to inform FRA and DOT on the 
state of small and disadvantaged business contracting in the railroad 
industry and will be a component of FRA's Title VI compliance program.
    Currently, FRA does not have statutory authority to administer a 
DBE program like those in place at FHWA, FTA, and the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA). DBE regulations applicable to FHWA, FTA, and FAA 
require State and local transportation agencies that receive DOT 
financial assistance to establish goals for the participation of DBEs. 
Each DOT-assisted State and local transportation agency is required to 
establish annual DBE goals, review the scope of anticipated, large 
prime contracts, and establish contract-specific DBE subcontracting 
goals. Without statutory DBE authority, FRA can only encourage 
recipients of its Federal financial assistance to carry out their 
projects in accordance with DBE guidelines, in support of DBEs, 
Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, and Service Disabled Veteran-Owned 
Small Businesses. Despite the lack of a formal DBE program, FRA fully 
supports the objectives of DBE programs and all FRA's grantees are 
required to avoid discrimination in contracting.
    In late 2015, Congress passed the ``Fixing America's Surface 
Transportation Act'' (FAST Act), Public Law 114-94. The FAST Act 
codified the requirement for FRA, as the Secretary of Transportation's 
(Secretary) delegate, to conduct ``a nationwide disparity and 
availability study on the availability and use of small business 
concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically 
disadvantaged individuals and veteran-owned small businesses in 
publicly funded intercity rail passenger transportation projects.'' See 
FAST Act, sec. 11310, Small Business Participation Study. The 
legislation requires that: ``Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report containing 
the results of the study . . . to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.'' Id.
    This study will include three surveys and a series of webinars with 
focus groups. In Survey #1, FRA will contact all FRA grant recipients 
to identify prime and sub-contractors, consultants, and vendors that 
received grant funds and the amount of those funds. This survey is 
necessary to determine the percentage of FRA grant funding and 
contracts received by DBEs.
    Survey #2 will focus on DBE and non-DBE firms in the railroad 
industry. The survey will solicit information regarding experiences 
with discrimination, as well as experiences in bidding with the 
grantees and their prime contractors and consultants. This approach 
will ensure that the survey responses are accurate.
    Because response rates to voluntary surveys tend to be low, FRA 
will develop an outreach campaign, use professionally designed surveys, 
incorporate cover letters signed by senior FRA officials, include 
multiple reminders, and enable a dedicated telephone line and email 
address for requesting replacement surveys and addressing other 
inquiries.
    The study team will also collect information regarding 
discrimination and experiences with publicly funded railroad contracts 
through webinar focus groups comprised of DBE and non-DBE business 
owners, as well as procurement personnel at FRA and its grantees. These 
focus groups likewise will explore barriers to the full and fair 
participation of DBEs in FRA's market area and that of its grantees. 
The focus groups also will explore whether USDOT grant programs and 
policies adequately address these challenges. FRA expects these focus 
groups will reveal valuable information about the realities affecting 
DBE firms and will inform the agency how to develop its policy 
responses to those challenges.
    In Survey #3, the study team will verify the DBE status of eligible 
firms. The comparison of DBEs' participation relative to their 
prevalence by industry and geography is crucial to developing sound, 
statistical evidence of potential discrimination. The study will cross-

[[Page 31140]]

reference additional listings and directories of DBE firms to improve 
the accuracy of the classification of firms. FRA will take the 
additional step of validating putative assignments using telephone 
surveys of a statistically random sample of businesses from its 
database.
    Type of Request: Approval of a new collection of information.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form(s): FRA F 6180.171; FRA F 6180.172; FRA F 6180.173; FRA F 
6180.174.
    Respondent Universe: 35,000 Grantees, Sub-Grantees, Prime 
Contractors, Sub-Contractors, DBEs, and Non-Disadvantaged Business 
Firms.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 7,750.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 3,151 hours.
    Total Estimated Dollar Cost: $181,655.
    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. 2019-13792 Filed 6-27-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


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