Agency Information Collection Activity; Notice To Continue To Collect: Confidential Close Call Transit Data for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), 73350-73352 [2020-25275]
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73350
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 222 / Tuesday, November 17, 2020 / Notices
Year 1
Respondent
Number
2016–2020 Awardee
2016–2020 Recipient
2016–2020 Project
Closed ...................
Year 2
Hrs
Freq
Freq
Number
Hrs
Freq
Total
4
5
1
4
10
70
4
5
1
4
0
60
4
5
1
4
0
0
0
20
0
0
40
0
0
Application Stage
To be considered to receive a
FASTLANE or INFRA grant, a project
sponsor must submit an application to
DOT containing a project narrative, as
detailed in the Notice of Funding
Opportunity. The project narrative
should include the information
necessary for the Department to
determine that the project satisfies
eligibility requirements.
Applications must be submitted
through www.Grants.gov. Instructions
for submitting applications can be found
at https://www.transportation.gov/
buildamerica/infragrants. The
application must include the Standard
Form 424 (Application for Federal
Assistance), Standard Form 424C
(Budget Information for Construction
Programs), cover page, and the Project
Narrative.
19:46 Nov 16, 2020
Hrs
40
60
The Department’s estimated burden
for this information collection is as
follows:
New Applications:
Expected Number of Respondents:
Approximately 200 per year.
Frequency: Once.
Estimated Average Burden per
Response: 100 hours for each new
Application;
For Funding Agreements:
Expected Number of Respondents:
Approximately 30 in Year 1 and 2, 20
in Year 3.
Frequency: Once.
Estimated Average Burden per
Response: 4 hours for each new Funding
Agreement.
For Project Monitoring:
Expected Number of Respondents:
Estimated 60 in Year 1, 70 in Year 2, 80
in Year 3.
Frequency: Quarterly.
Estimated Average Burden per
Response: 5 hours for each request for
Quarterly Progress and Monitoring
Report;
Estimated Total 3-year Burden on
Respondents: 64,560 hours. (New
Applicants [60,000 hrs], New Awardees/
Recipients [560 hrs] + Prior Awardees/
Recipients [4000 hrs]).
The following is detailed information
and instructions regarding the specific
reporting requirements for each report
identified above:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
Number
Year 3
Jkt 253001
The application should include a
table of contents, maps, and graphics, as
appropriate, to make the information
easier to review. The Department
recommends that the application be
prepared with standard formatting
preferences (i.e., a single-spaced
document, using a standard 12-point
font such as Times New Roman, with 1inch margins). The project narrative
may not exceed 25 pages in length,
excluding cover pages and table of
contents. The only substantive portions
that may exceed the 25-page limit are
documents supporting assertions or
conclusions made in the 25-page project
narrative. If possible, website links to
supporting documentation should be
provided rather than copies of these
supporting materials. If supporting
documents are submitted, applicants
should clearly identify within the
project narrative the relevant portion of
the project narrative that each
supporting document supports. At the
applicant’s discretion, relevant
materials provided previously to a
modal administration in support of a
different USDOT financial assistance
program may be referenced and
described as unchanged.
OST estimates that it takes
approximately 100 person-hours to
compile an application package for a
FASTLANE/INFRA application. Since
OST expects to receive 200 applications
per funding round, the total hours
required are estimated to be 20,000
hours (100 hours × 200 applications =
20,000 hours) on a one-time basis, per
funding round.
Funding Agreement Stage
DOT enters a funding agreement with
each recipient. In the agreement, the
recipient describes the project that DOT
agreed to fund, which is typically the
project that was described in the
FASTLANE/INFRA application or a
reduced-scope version of that project.
The agreement also includes the project
schedule and budget.
OST estimates that it takes
approximately 4 person-hours to
respond to provide the information
necessary for funding agreements. Based
on previous rounds of FASTLANE/
INFRA awards, OST estimates that there
will likely be 20 agreements negotiated
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
200
3800
per additional funding round. The total
hours required are estimated to be 40 (4
hours × 40 agreements = 40 hours) on
a one-time basis, per funding round.
Project Monitoring Stage
OST requires each recipient to submit
quarterly reports during the project to
ensure the proper and timely
expenditure of Federal funds under the
grant.
The requirements comply with 2 CFR
part 200 and are restated in the funding
agreement. During the project
monitoring stage, the grantee will
complete Quarterly Progress Reports to
allow DOT to monitor the project budget
and schedule.
OST estimates that it takes
approximately 5 person-hours to
develop and submit a quarterly progress
report. OST expects approximately 20
projects to be awarded per funding
round, while grants awarded in prior
years will reach completion during the
year and would no longer need to
submit these reports. OST expects
recipients and awardees from 2016–
2020 will require 3800 hours to submit
project monitoring reports while new
recipients and awardees will require
560 hours from 2021–2023.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended;
and 49 CFR 1:48.
Issued in Washington, DC, on November
12, 2020.
John Augustine,
Director of the Office of Infrastructure
Finance and Innovation, Office of the Under
Secretary for Transportation Policy.
[FR Doc. 2020–25321 Filed 11–16–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
[Docket Number RITA–2008–0002]
Agency Information Collection
Activity; Notice To Continue To
Collect: Confidential Close Call Transit
Data for the Washington Metropolitan
Area Transit Authority (WMATA)
Bureau of Transportation
Statistics (BTS), Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Research and Technology
AGENCY:
E:\FR\FM\17NON1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 222 / Tuesday, November 17, 2020 / Notices
(OST–R), U.S. Department of
Transportation.
ACTION: Notice to continue to collect
confidential close call transit data.
In accordance with the
requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
this notice announces the intention of
the Bureau of Transportation Statistics
(BTS) to request the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) to
reinstate previously approved OMB
Number 2139–0010 for the following
information collection: Confidential
Close Call Transit Data for the
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit
Authority (WMATA or the Authority),
which includes but is not limited to the
collection of data from Rail, Bus,
Information Technology, and Command
Center personnel. This data collection
effort supports a multi-year program
focused on improving the Authority, in
its entirety by collecting and analyzing
data and information on close calls and
other unsafe occurrences within
WMATA. The program is co-sponsored
by WMATA and labor leadership
including: The President/Business
Agent of the Amalgamated Transit
Union (ATU) Local 689, the
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
(IBT) Local 922 and Office &
Professional Employees International
Union (OPEIU) Local 2. The Close Call
program is designed to identify safety
issues and propose preventive actions
based on voluntary reports of a close
call submitted confidentially to BTS, an
Agency within the U.S. Department of
Transportation. This information
collection is necessary for
systematically analyzing data to identify
root causes of potentially unsafe events.
DATES: Written comments should be
submitted by January 15, 2021.
ADDRESSES: To ensure that your
comments are not entered more than
once into the docket, submit comments
by only one of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov and follow
the instructions for sending your
comments electronically. Docket
Number: DOT–OST–2017–0043.
• Mail: Docket Services, U.S.
Department of Transportation, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building,
Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590–0001.
• Hand Delivery: Deliver to mail
address above between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m. EST, Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
• Fax: (202) 493–2251.
Identify all transmissions with
‘‘Docket Number RITA–2008–0002’’ at
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:46 Nov 16, 2020
Jkt 253001
the beginning of each page of the
document.
Instructions: All comments must
include the agency name and docket
number for this notice. Paper comments
should be submitted in duplicate. The
Docket Management Facility is open for
examination and copying, at the above
address from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST,
Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. If you wish to receive
confirmation of receipt of your written
comments, please include a selfaddressed, stamped postcard with the
following statement: ‘‘Comments on
Docket Number RITA–2008–0002.’’ The
Docket Clerk will date stamp the
postcard prior to returning it to you via
the U.S. mail. Please note that all
comments received, including any
personal information, will be posted
and will be publicly viewable, without
change, at www.regulations.gov. You
may review DOT’s complete Privacy Act
Statement in the Federal Register
published on April 11, 2000 (Volume
65, Number 70; pages 19477–78) or you
may review the Privacy Act Statement at
www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Demetra V. Collia, Bureau of
Transportation Statistics, Office of the
Assistant Secretary for Research and
Technology, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Office of Safety Data
and Analysis, RTS–31, E36–302, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC
20590–0001; Phone No. (202) 366–1610;
Fax No. (202) 366–3383; email:
demetra.collia@dot.gov. Office hours are
from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., EST, Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Data Confidentiality Provisions:
Under this data collection, the
confidentiality of the information
submitted to BTS is protected under the
BTS confidentiality statute (49 U.S.C.
6307) and the Confidential Information
Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act
(CIPSEA) of 2018 (Pub. L: 115–435
Foundations for Evidence-Based
Policymaking Act of 2018, Title III). In
accordance with these confidentiality
statutes, only statistical (aggregated) and
non-identifying data will be made
publicly available by BTS through its
reports. BTS will not release to WMATA
or any other public or private entity any
information that might reveal the
identity of individuals who have
submitted a report.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. The Data Collection
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(44 U.S.C. chapter 35; as amended) and
5 CFR part 1320 require each Federal
agency to obtain OMB approval to
PO 00000
Frm 00094
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
73351
initiate an information collection
activity. BTS is seeking OMB approval
to continue the following BTS
information collection activity:
Title: Confidential Close Call Transit
Data.
OMB Control Number: TBD.
Type of Review: Continue to Collect.
Respondents: WMATA employees.
Number of Potential Responses:150
(per annum).
Estimated Time per Response: 60
minutes.
Frequency: Intermittent for 3 years.
Reports are submitted when there is a
qualifying event.
Total Annual Burden:150 hours.
Abstract: Collecting safety data on the
nation’s transportation system is an
important component of BTS’s mission
and responsibility to the transportation
community and is authorized in BTS
statute (49 U.S.C. Sec. 6302). BTS and
WMATA share a common interest in
promoting safety based on accurate
information. To that end, WMATA and
the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU)
Local 689, the International
Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local
922 and Office & Professional
Employees International Union (OPEIU)
Local 2 have supported the Confidential
Close Call Program at WMATA as a
means of fostering an environment of
ongoing advancements in their safety
culture.
A close call is a situation or
circumstance that had the potential for
safety consequences, but did not result
in an adverse safety event. Knowledge
of a close call presents an opportunity
to address unsafe work conditions and
encourage a culture of safety in the
workplace. It is estimated that the time
to complete a close call report and
participate in a brief confidential
interview will be no than 60 minutes for
a maximum total burden of 150 hours
(150 reports*60 minutes/60 = 150
hours). Reports are submitted when
there is a qualifying event, i.e., when a
close call occurs within any office of the
Authority.
II. Background
WMATA deployed the Close Call
program in April 2013, and in May 2016
the program expanded to include bus
employees. The Confidential Close Call
Program is a Cooperative Agreement
between BTS and WMATA
management, the Amalgamated Transit
Union (ATU) Local 689, the
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
(IBT) Local 922 and Office &
Professional Employees International
Union (OPEIU) Local 2. This program
provides a confidential platform to
facilitate the voluntary reporting of
E:\FR\FM\17NON1.SGM
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73352
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 222 / Tuesday, November 17, 2020 / Notices
close call events without fear of
discipline. Collecting data on the
nation’s transportation system is an
important component of BTS’ mission
and responsibility to the transportation
community as stated in its authorizing
statute (49 U.S.C. Sec. 6302). BTS and
WMATA/ATU, IBT Local 922 and
OPEIU Local 2, share a common interest
in promoting rail transit and bus safety
using timely, accurate, and relevant
data. WMATA/ATU, IBT Local 922 and
OPEIU Local 2, is sponsoring the
Confidential Close Call Program for
Transit Rail and Bus System to improve
transit rail and bus safety by studying
the effectiveness of its own systems
through the data and information
collected from reported close call
events.
Any situation or circumstance that
has the potential for safety
consequences, but did not result in an
adverse safety event is defined as a close
call. Knowledge about a close call
presents an opportunity to address
unsafe work conditions and practices,
prevent accidents, contribute to policy
making decisions and improve overall
safety in the workplace.
BTS collects close call reports
submitted by WMATA employees,
conducts employee interviews, develops
and maintains an analytical database
containing reported data and other
pertinent information, provides
statistical analysis to WMATA, and
protects the confidentiality of these data
through its own statute (49 U.S.C. Sec.
6302) and CIPSEA. Only statistical and
non-sensitive information will be made
available through publications and
reports.
Voluntary reporting of close calls to a
confidential system provides a tool to
identify and correct weaknesses within
WMATA and prevents accidents. Close
Call reporting fosters a voluntary,
cooperative, non-punitive environment
to communicate safety concerns for the
greater good. Through the analysis of
the data that is reported, WMATA
receives information about factors that
contribute to unsafe events, which
becomes the catalyst to develop new
training programs and identify root
causes of adverse events. The database
also provides researchers with valuable
information regarding precursors to
safety risks and contributes to research
and development of intervention
programs aimed at averting accidents
and fatalities.
Employees involved in reporting a
close call incident are asked to fill out
a report and participate in a brief,
confidential interview. Employees
submit the report electronically to BTS.
Participants will be asked to provide
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:46 Nov 16, 2020
Jkt 253001
information such as: (1) Name and
contact information; (2) time and
location of the event; (3) a short
description of the event; (4) contributing
factors to the close call; and (5) any
other information that might be useful
in determining a root cause of such
event.
III. Request for Public Comment
BTS requests comments on any
aspects of this information collection
request, including: (1) The accuracy of
the estimated burden of 150 hours
detailed in Section I; (2) ways to
enhance the quality, usefulness, and
clarity of the collected information; and
(3) ways to minimize the collection
burden without reducing the quality of
the information collected, including
additional use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Demetra V. Collia,
Office of Safety Data and Analysis, Office
of the Assistant Secretary for Research and
Technology, U.S. Department of
Transportation.
[FR Doc. 2020–25275 Filed 11–16–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–HY–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service
Proposed Collection: Comment
Request for Forms 945, 945–A, 945–X
and TD 8672
Internal Revenue Service (IRS),
Treasury.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
The Internal Revenue Service,
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 information
collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The
IRS is soliciting comments concerning
Form 945 Annual Return of Withheld
Federal Income Tax, Form 945–A
Annual Record of Federal Tax Liability,
Form 945–X Adjusted Annual Return of
Withheld Federal Income Tax or Claim
for Refund and TD 8672 Reporting of
Non-payroll Withheld Tax Liabilities.
DATES: Written comments should be
received on or before January 19, 2021,
to be assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments
to Paul Adams, Internal Revenue
Service, Room 6526, 1111 Constitution
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20224.
Requests for additional information or
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00095
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
copies of the forms and instructions
should be directed to Sara Covington,
(737) 800 –6149, or Internal Revenue
Service, Room 6526, 1111 Constitution
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20224, or
through the internet at
Sara.L.Covington@irs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Annual Return of Withheld
Federal Income Tax.
OMB Number: 1545–1430.
Form Number: 945.
Abstract: Form 945 is used to report
income tax withholding on non payroll
payments including backup
withholding and withholding on
pensions, annuities, IRAs, military
retirement and gambling winnings.
Form Number: 945–A.
Abstract: Form 945–A is used by
employers who deposit non-payroll
income tax withheld (such as from
pensions and gambling) on a
semiweekly schedule, or whose tax
liability on any day is $100,000 or more,
use Form 945–A with Form 945 or CT–
1 to report their tax liability.
Form Number: 945–X.
Abstract: Form 945–X is used to
correct errors made on Form 945,
Annual Return of Withheld Federal
Income Tax.
TD: 8672.
Abstract: This regulation relates to the
reporting of non-payroll withheld
income taxes under section 6011 of the
Internal Revenue Code. The regulations
require a person to file Form 945,
Annual Return of Withheld Federal
Income Tax, only for a calendar year in
which the person is required to
withhold Federal income tax from nonpayroll payments.
Current Actions: There are no changes
being made to the forms or regulations
approved under this collection.
However, changes to the estimated
number of filers (220,851 to 59,318),
will result in a total burden decrease
from (1,509,590, to 411,278).
Type of Review: Extension of a current
OMB approval. Affected Public:
Business, or other for-profit
organizations, individuals, or
households, not-for-profit institutions,
farms, and, Federal, state, local, or tribal
governments.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
59,318.
Estimated Time per Respondent: 6
hrs., 56 min.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 411,278.
The following paragraph applies to all
of the collections of information covered
by this notice:
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor, and a person is not required to
E:\FR\FM\17NON1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 222 (Tuesday, November 17, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73350-73352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-25275]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
[Docket Number RITA-2008-0002]
Agency Information Collection Activity; Notice To Continue To
Collect: Confidential Close Call Transit Data for the Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)
AGENCY: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Office of the
Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
[[Page 73351]]
(OST-R), U.S. Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Notice to continue to collect confidential close call transit
data.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A)
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the
intention of the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) to request
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to reinstate previously
approved OMB Number 2139-0010 for the following information collection:
Confidential Close Call Transit Data for the Washington Metropolitan
Area Transit Authority (WMATA or the Authority), which includes but is
not limited to the collection of data from Rail, Bus, Information
Technology, and Command Center personnel. This data collection effort
supports a multi-year program focused on improving the Authority, in
its entirety by collecting and analyzing data and information on close
calls and other unsafe occurrences within WMATA. The program is co-
sponsored by WMATA and labor leadership including: The President/
Business Agent of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689, the
International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 922 and Office &
Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 2. The Close
Call program is designed to identify safety issues and propose
preventive actions based on voluntary reports of a close call submitted
confidentially to BTS, an Agency within the U.S. Department of
Transportation. This information collection is necessary for
systematically analyzing data to identify root causes of potentially
unsafe events.
DATES: Written comments should be submitted by January 15, 2021.
ADDRESSES: To ensure that your comments are not entered more than once
into the docket, submit comments by only one of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your
comments electronically. Docket Number: DOT-OST-2017-0043.
Mail: Docket Services, U.S. Department of Transportation,
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140,
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery: Deliver to mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Identify all transmissions with ``Docket Number RITA-2008-0002'' at
the beginning of each page of the document.
Instructions: All comments must include the agency name and docket
number for this notice. Paper comments should be submitted in
duplicate. The Docket Management Facility is open for examination and
copying, at the above address from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST, Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays. If you wish to receive confirmation of
receipt of your written comments, please include a self-addressed,
stamped postcard with the following statement: ``Comments on Docket
Number RITA-2008-0002.'' The Docket Clerk will date stamp the postcard
prior to returning it to you via the U.S. mail. Please note that all
comments received, including any personal information, will be posted
and will be publicly viewable, without change, at www.regulations.gov.
You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal
Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; pages
19477-78) or you may review the Privacy Act Statement at
www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Demetra V. Collia, Bureau of
Transportation Statistics, Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Research and Technology, U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of
Safety Data and Analysis, RTS-31, E36-302, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC 20590-0001; Phone No. (202) 366-1610; Fax No. (202) 366-
3383; email: [email protected]. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to
5 p.m., EST, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Data Confidentiality Provisions: Under this data collection, the
confidentiality of the information submitted to BTS is protected under
the BTS confidentiality statute (49 U.S.C. 6307) and the Confidential
Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act (CIPSEA) of 2018
(Pub. L: 115-435 Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of
2018, Title III). In accordance with these confidentiality statutes,
only statistical (aggregated) and non-identifying data will be made
publicly available by BTS through its reports. BTS will not release to
WMATA or any other public or private entity any information that might
reveal the identity of individuals who have submitted a report.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. The Data Collection
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35; as
amended) and 5 CFR part 1320 require each Federal agency to obtain OMB
approval to initiate an information collection activity. BTS is seeking
OMB approval to continue the following BTS information collection
activity:
Title: Confidential Close Call Transit Data.
OMB Control Number: TBD.
Type of Review: Continue to Collect.
Respondents: WMATA employees.
Number of Potential Responses:150 (per annum).
Estimated Time per Response: 60 minutes.
Frequency: Intermittent for 3 years. Reports are submitted when
there is a qualifying event.
Total Annual Burden:150 hours.
Abstract: Collecting safety data on the nation's transportation
system is an important component of BTS's mission and responsibility to
the transportation community and is authorized in BTS statute (49
U.S.C. Sec. 6302). BTS and WMATA share a common interest in promoting
safety based on accurate information. To that end, WMATA and the
Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689, the International
Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 922 and Office & Professional
Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 2 have supported the
Confidential Close Call Program at WMATA as a means of fostering an
environment of ongoing advancements in their safety culture.
A close call is a situation or circumstance that had the potential
for safety consequences, but did not result in an adverse safety event.
Knowledge of a close call presents an opportunity to address unsafe
work conditions and encourage a culture of safety in the workplace. It
is estimated that the time to complete a close call report and
participate in a brief confidential interview will be no than 60
minutes for a maximum total burden of 150 hours (150 reports*60
minutes/60 = 150 hours). Reports are submitted when there is a
qualifying event, i.e., when a close call occurs within any office of
the Authority.
II. Background
WMATA deployed the Close Call program in April 2013, and in May
2016 the program expanded to include bus employees. The Confidential
Close Call Program is a Cooperative Agreement between BTS and WMATA
management, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689, the
International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 922 and Office &
Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 2. This
program provides a confidential platform to facilitate the voluntary
reporting of
[[Page 73352]]
close call events without fear of discipline. Collecting data on the
nation's transportation system is an important component of BTS'
mission and responsibility to the transportation community as stated in
its authorizing statute (49 U.S.C. Sec. 6302). BTS and WMATA/ATU, IBT
Local 922 and OPEIU Local 2, share a common interest in promoting rail
transit and bus safety using timely, accurate, and relevant data.
WMATA/ATU, IBT Local 922 and OPEIU Local 2, is sponsoring the
Confidential Close Call Program for Transit Rail and Bus System to
improve transit rail and bus safety by studying the effectiveness of
its own systems through the data and information collected from
reported close call events.
Any situation or circumstance that has the potential for safety
consequences, but did not result in an adverse safety event is defined
as a close call. Knowledge about a close call presents an opportunity
to address unsafe work conditions and practices, prevent accidents,
contribute to policy making decisions and improve overall safety in the
workplace.
BTS collects close call reports submitted by WMATA employees,
conducts employee interviews, develops and maintains an analytical
database containing reported data and other pertinent information,
provides statistical analysis to WMATA, and protects the
confidentiality of these data through its own statute (49 U.S.C. Sec.
6302) and CIPSEA. Only statistical and non-sensitive information will
be made available through publications and reports.
Voluntary reporting of close calls to a confidential system
provides a tool to identify and correct weaknesses within WMATA and
prevents accidents. Close Call reporting fosters a voluntary,
cooperative, non-punitive environment to communicate safety concerns
for the greater good. Through the analysis of the data that is
reported, WMATA receives information about factors that contribute to
unsafe events, which becomes the catalyst to develop new training
programs and identify root causes of adverse events. The database also
provides researchers with valuable information regarding precursors to
safety risks and contributes to research and development of
intervention programs aimed at averting accidents and fatalities.
Employees involved in reporting a close call incident are asked to
fill out a report and participate in a brief, confidential interview.
Employees submit the report electronically to BTS. Participants will be
asked to provide information such as: (1) Name and contact information;
(2) time and location of the event; (3) a short description of the
event; (4) contributing factors to the close call; and (5) any other
information that might be useful in determining a root cause of such
event.
III. Request for Public Comment
BTS requests comments on any aspects of this information collection
request, including: (1) The accuracy of the estimated burden of 150
hours detailed in Section I; (2) ways to enhance the quality,
usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (3) ways to
minimize the collection burden without reducing the quality of the
information collected, including additional use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology.
Demetra V. Collia,
Office of Safety Data and Analysis, Office of the Assistant Secretary
for Research and Technology, U.S. Department of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 2020-25275 Filed 11-16-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-HY-P
