Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request, 68226-68231 [2022-24723]

Agencies

• Federal Railroad Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 218 (Monday, November 14, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68226-68231]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-24723]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2022-0002-N-17]


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) and its 
implementing regulations, FRA will seek approval of the Information 
Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below. Before submitting this ICR 
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is 
soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities 
identified in the ICR.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
January 13, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR 
should be submitted on regulations.gov to the docket, Docket No. FRA-
2022-0002-N-14. All comments received will be posted without change to 
the docket, including any personal information provided. Please refer 
to the assigned OMB control number in any correspondence submitted. FRA 
will summarize comments received in response to this notice in a 
subsequent notice and include them in its information collection 
submission to OMB for approval.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Ms. Hodan Wells, Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: [email protected] or 
telephone: (202) 868-9412, or Ms. Senya Waas, Attorney Adviser, at 
email: [email protected] or telephone: (202) 875-4158.

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 1320.8-1320.12. Specifically, FRA 
invites interested parties to comment on the following ICR 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 statutes and 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.
    The summary below describes the ICR that FRA will submit for OMB 
clearance as the PRA requires:
    Title: Positive Train Control (PTC) and Other Signal Systems.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0553.
    Abstract: FRA's regulations require that both railroads and PTC 
vendors and suppliers notify FRA of certain PTC system errors and 
malfunctions. 49 CFR 236.1023. For example, railroads must maintain a 
database of all safety-relevant hazards identified in their PTC Safety 
Plans (PTCSP) and those that had not previously been identified in 
their PTCSPs. 49 CFR 236.1023(e). If the frequency of a safety-relevant 
hazard exceeds the thresholds in a railroad's PTCSP, or such hazard has 
not been previously identified in a railroad's risk analysis, then the 
railroad must notify FRA of the failure, malfunction, or defective 
condition that decreased or eliminated the safety functionality of the 
railroad's PTC system. 49 CFR 236.1023(e)(1). In addition, FRA's 
regulations require PTC vendors and suppliers to notify FRA of any 
safety-relevant failure, defective condition, or previously 
unidentified hazard discovered by the vendor or supplier and the 
identify of each affected and notified railroad. 49 CFR 236.1023(h)(2). 
Currently, each railroad or PTC vendor and supplier that must submit 
notifications of such a failure, malfunction, or defective condition 
does so by emailing the information to an FRA inbox 
([email protected]). The information is sent in 
different formats by each railroad or PTC supplier and vendor because 
there is currently no standardized form.
    Therefore, FRA is hereby proposing to standardize the reporting 
process required by 49 CFR 236.1023(e)(1), (h), and (f) by creating the 
Errors and Malfunctions Notification Form (Form FRA F 6180.179), which 
is one part of the existing information collection request under OMB 
Control No. 2130-0553. This proposed Form FRA F 6180.179 will be in an 
Excel format and will make it easier for the entities to notify FRA of 
each applicable failure, malfunction, or defective condition, and for 
FRA to synthesize and act on the reported failure. The Errors and 
Malfunctions Notification Form would not change the requirements that 
each railroad or PTC supplier and vendor currently must follow to 
notify FRA of each reportable failure, malfunction, or defective 
condition. See, e.g., 49 CFR 236.1023(e), (h), and (f). The proposed 
Form FRA F 6180.179 would be submitted to 
[email protected] within the 15-day deadline under 49 
CFR 236.1023(f)(1).
    With the current reporting process, FRA estimated that each 
notification would take 8 hours to prepare. With the new standardized 
Form, FRA estimates that, on average, each notification will reduce to 
7.5 hours to prepare if the

[[Page 68227]]

railroad or PTC supplier or vendor uses the FRA-provided Excel Form. 
This estimate is based on the fact that the proposed new Form FRA F 
6180.179 offers drop-down menus that would allow railroads or PTC 
suppliers and vendors to select an answer from an established list, 
instead of creating each answer from scratch. The revised burden would 
also account for the review of the instructions in the FRA-provided 
Excel Form. Thus, FRA estimates that by creating this Form, the total 
annual burden hours will decrease by 14 hours.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The current inventory exhibits a total burden of 51,993 
hours and 4,567,826 responses, while the total burden in this notice 
is 51,979 hours and 4,567,826 responses. The decrease in burden is 
due to a program change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Type of Request: Revision to a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form(s): FRA F 6180.152 (existing form) and FRA F 6180.179 (new 
form).
    Respondent Universe: 742 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                           Total annual
           CFR section                   Respondent universe           Total annual responses        Average time per      Total annual     dollar cost
                                                                                                         response          burden hours     equivalent
                                                                   (A)..........................  (B)...................     (C) = A * B  (D) = C * wage
                                                                                                                                               rates \2\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
235.6(c)--Expedited application    42 railroads..................  10 expedited applications....  5 hours...............              50          $3,850
 for approval of certain changes
 described in this section.
    --Copy of expedited            42 railroads..................  10 copies....................  30 minutes............               5             385
     application to labor union.
    --Railroad letter rescinding   42 railroads..................  1 letter.....................  6 hours...............               6             462
     its request for expedited
     application of certain
     signal system changes.
    --Revised application for      42 railroads..................  1 application................  5 hours...............               5             385
     certain signal system
     changes.
    --Copy of railroad revised     42 railroads..................  1 copy.......................  30 minutes............             0.5              39
     application to labor union.
236.1--Railroad-maintained signal  700 railroads.................  25 plan changes..............  15 minutes............            6.25             481
 plans at all interlockings,
 automatic signal locations, and
 controlled points, and updates
 to ensure accuracy.
236.15--Designation of automatic   700 railroads.................  10 timetable instructions....  30 minutes............               5             385
 block, traffic control, train
 stop, train control, cab signal,
 and PTC territory in timetable
 instructions.
236.18--Software management        2 railroads...................  2 plans......................  160 hours.............             320          24,640
 control plan--New railroads.
236.23(e)--The names,              700 railroads.................  2 modifications..............  1 hour................               2             154
 indications, and aspects of
 roadway and cab signals shall be
 defined in the carrier's
 Operating Rule Book or Special
 Instructions. Modifications
 shall be filed with FRA within
 30 days after such modifications
 become effective.
236.587(d)--Certification and      742 railroads.................  4,562,500 train departures...  5 seconds.............        6,336.81         487,934
 departure test results.
236.905(a)--Railroad Safety        2 railroads...................  2 RSPPs......................  40 hours..............              80           6,160
 Program Plan (RSPP)--New
 railroads.
236.913(a)--Filing and approval    742 railroads.................  1 joint plan.................  2,000 hours...........           2,000         240,000
 of a joint Product Safety Plan
 (PSP).
(c)(1)--Informational filing/      742 railroads.................  0.5 filings/approval           50 hours..............              25           1,925
 petition for special approval.                                     petitions.
(c)(2)--Response to FRA's request  742 railroads.................  0.25 data calls/documents....  5 hours...............            1.25              96
 for further data after
 informational filing.
(d)(1)(ii)--Response to FRA's      742 railroads.................  0.25 data calls/documents....  1 hour................            0.25              19
 request for further information
 within 15 days after receipt of
 the Notice of Product
 Development (NOPD).
(d)(1)(iii)--Technical             742 railroads.................  0.25 technical consultations.  5 hours...............            1.25              96
 consultation by FRA with the
 railroad on the design and
 planned development of the
 product.
(d)(1)(v)--Railroad petition to    742 railroads.................  0.25 petitions...............  1 hour................            0.25              19
 FRA for final approval of NOPD.
(d)(2)(ii)--Response to FRA's      742 railroads.................  1 request....................  50 hours..............              50           3,850
 request for additional
 information associated with a
 petition for approval of PSP or
 PSP amendment.
(e)--Comments to FRA on railroad   742 railroads.................  0.5 comments/letters.........  10 hours..............               5             385
 informational filing or special
 approval petition.
(h)(3)(i)--Railroad amendment to   742 railroads.................  2 amendments.................  20 hours..............              40           3,080
 PSP.
(j)--Railroad field testing/       742 railroads.................  1 field test document........  100 hours.............             100           7,700
 information filing document.
236.917(a)--Railroad retention of  13 railroads with PSP.........  13 PSP safety results........  160 hours.............           2,080         160,160
 records: results of tests and
 inspections specified in the PSP.
(b)--Railroad report that          13 railroads..................  1 report.....................  40 hours..............              40           3,080
 frequency of safety-relevant
 hazards exceeds threshold set
 forth in PSP.
(b)(3)--Railroad final report to   13 railroads..................  1 report.....................  10 hours..............              10             770
 FRA on the results of the
 analysis and countermeasures
 taken to reduce the frequency of
 safety-relevant hazards.
236.919(a)--Railroad Operations    13 railroads..................  1 OMM update.................  40 hours..............              40           3,080
 and Maintenance Manual (OMM).
(b)--Plans for proper              13 railroads..................  1 plan update................  40 hours..............              40           3,080
 maintenance, repair, inspection,
 and testing of safety-critical
 products.
(c)--Documented hardware,          13 railroads..................  1 revision...................  40 hours..............              40           3,080
 software, and firmware revisions
 in OMM.
236.921 and 236.923(a)--Railroad   13 railroads..................  1 program....................  40 hours..............              40           3,080
 Training and Qualification
 Program.
236.923(b)--Training records       13 railroads..................  350 records..................  10 minutes............           58.33           4,491
 retained in a designated
 location and available to FRA
 upon request.

[[Page 68228]]

 
236.1001(b)--A railroad's          38 railroads..................  1 rule or instruction........  40 hours..............              40           4,800
 additional or more stringent
 rules than prescribed under 49
 CFR part 236, subpart I.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
236.1005(b)(4)(i)-(ii)--A                                    The burden is accounted for under 49 CFR 236.1009(a) and 236.1021.
 railroad's submission of
 estimated traffic projections
 for the next 5 years, to support
 a request, in a PTC
 Implementation Plan (PTCIP) or a
 request for amendment (RFA), not
 to implement a PTC system based
 on reductions in rail traffic.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(b)(4)(iii)--A railroad's request  7 Class I railroads...........  1 exception request..........  40 hours..............              40           3,080
 for a de minimis exception, in a
 PTCIP or an RFA, based on a
 minimal quantity of poisonous-by-
 inhalation materials traffic.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(b)(5)--A railroad's request to                              The burden is accounted for under 49 CFR 236.1009(a) and 236.1021.
 remove a line from its PTCIP
 based on the sale of the line to
 another railroad and any related
 request for FRA review from the
 acquiring railroad.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(g)(1)(i)--A railroad's request    38 railroads..................  45 rerouting extension         8 hours...............             360          27,720
 to temporarily reroute trains                                      requests.
 not equipped with a PTC system
 onto PTC-equipped tracks and
 vice versa during certain
 emergencies.
(g)(1)(ii)--A railroad's written   38 railroads..................  45 written or telephonic       2 hours...............              90           6,930
 or telephonic notice of the                                        notices.
 conditions necessitating
 emergency rerouting and other
 required information under
 236.1005(i).
(g)(2)--A railroad's temporary     38 railroads..................  720 requests.................  8 hours...............           5,760         443,520
 rerouting request due to planned
 maintenance not exceeding 30
 days.
(h)(1)--A response to any request  38 railroads..................  10 requests..................  2 hours...............              20           1,540
 for additional information from
 FRA, prior to commencing
 rerouting due to planned
 maintenance.
(h)(2)--A railroad's request to    38 railroads..................  160 requests.................  8 hours...............           1,280          98,560
 temporarily reroute trains due
 to planned maintenance exceeding
 30 days.
236.1006(b)(4)(iii)(B)--A          262 railroads.................  5 reports....................  16 hours..............              80           6,160
 progress report due by December
 31, 2020, and by December 31,
 2022, from any Class II or III
 railroad utilizing a temporary
 exception under this section.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(b)(5)(vii)--A railroad's request                             The burden is accounted for under 49 CFR 236.1015 and 236.1021.
 to utilize different yard
 movement procedures, as part of
 a freight yard movements
 exception.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
236.1007(b)(1)--For any high-                                 The burden is accounted for under 49 CFR 236.1015 and 236.1021.
 speed service over 90 miles per
 hour (mph), a railroad's PTC
 Safety Plan (PTCSP) must
 additionally establish that the
 PTC system was designed and will
 be operated to meet the fail-
 safe operation criteria in
 appendix C.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(c)--An HSR-125 document           38 railroads..................  1 HSR-125 document...........  3,200 hours...........           3,200         384,000
 accompanying a host railroad's
 PTCSP, for operations over 125
 mph.
(c)(1)--A railroad's request for   38 railroads..................  0.33 requests................  8,000 hours...........           2,640         203,280
 approval to use foreign service
 data, prior to submission of a
 PTCSP.
(d)--A railroad's request in a     38 railroads..................  1 request....................  1,000 hours...........           1,000         120,000
 PTCSP that FRA excuse compliance
 with one or more of this
 section's requirements.
236.1009(a)(2)--A PTCIP if a       264 railroads.................  1 PTCIP......................  535 hours.............             535          64,200
 railroad becomes a host railroad
 of a main line requiring the
 implementation of a PTC system,
 including the information under
 49 U.S.C. 20157(a)(2) and 49 CFR
 236.1011.
(a)(3)--Any new PTCIPs jointly     264 railroads.................  1 joint PTCIP................  267 hours.............             267          32,040
 filed by a host railroad and a
 tenant railroad.
(b)(1)--A host railroad's          264 railroads.................  1 document...................  8 hours...............               8             616
 submission, individually or
 jointly with a tenant railroad
 or PTC system supplier, of an
 unmodified Type Approval.
(b)(2)--A host railroad's          264 railroads.................  1 PTCDP......................  2,000 hours...........           2,000         154,000
 submission of a PTC Development
 Plan (PTCDP) with the
 information required under 49
 CFR 236.1013, requesting a Type
 Approval for a PTC system that
 either does not have a Type
 Approval or has a Type Approval
 that requires one or more
 variances.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(d)--A host railroad's submission                                   The burdens are accounted for under 49 CFR 236.1015.
 of a PTCSP.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(e)(3)--Any request for full or    38 railroads..................  10 confidentiality requests..  8 hours...............              80           6,160
 partial confidentiality of a
 PTCIP, Notice of Product Intent
 (NPI), PTCDP, or PTCSP.

[[Page 68229]]

 
(h)--Any responses or documents    38 railroads..................  36 interviews and documents..  4 hours...............             144          11,088
 submitted in connection with
 FRA's use of its authority to
 monitor, test, and inspect
 processes, procedures,
 facilities, documents, records,
 design and testing materials,
 artifacts, training materials
 and programs, and any other
 information used in the design,
 development, manufacture, test,
 implementation, and operation of
 the PTC system, including
 interviews with railroad
 personnel.
(j)(2)(iii)--Any additional        38 railroads..................  1 set of additional            400 hours.............             400          30,800
 information provided in response                                   information.
 to FRA's consultations or
 inquiries about a PTCDP or PTCSP.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
236.1011(a)-(b)--PTCIP content                          The burdens are accounted for under 49 CFR 236.1009(a) and (e) and 236.1021.
 requirements.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(e)--Any public comment on         38 railroads..................  2 public comments............  8 hours...............              16           1,232
 PTCIPs, NPIs, PTCDPs, and PTCSPs.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
236.1013--PTCDP and NPI content                      The burdens are accounted for under 49 CFR 236.1009(b), (c), and (e) and 236.1021.
 requirements.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
236.1015--Any new host railroad's  264 railroads.................  1 PTCSP......................  8,000 hours...........           8,000         616,000
 PTCSP meeting all content
 requirements under 49 CFR
 236.1015.
(g)--A PTCSP for a PTC system      38 railroads..................  0.33 PTCSPs..................  3,200 hours...........           1,056          81,312
 replacing an existing certified
 PTC system.
(h)--A quantitative risk           38 railroads..................  0.33 assessments.............  800 hours.............             264          20,328
 assessment, if FRA requires one
 to be submitted.
236.1017(a)--An independent third- 38 railroads..................  0.33 assessments.............  1,600 hours...........             528          63,360
 party assessment, if FRA
 requires one to be conducted and
 submitted.
(b)--A railroad's written request  38 railroads..................  0.33 written requests........  8 hours...............            2.64             203
 to confirm whether a specific
 entity qualifies as an
 independent third party.
    --Further information          38 railroads..................  0.33 sets of additional        20 hours..............             6.6             508
     provided to FRA upon request.                                  information.
(d)--A request not to provide      38 railroads..................  0.33 requests................  20 hours..............             6.6             508
 certain documents otherwise
 required under Appendix F for an
 independent, third-party
 assessment.
(e)--A request for FRA to accept   38 railroads..................  0.33 requests................  32 hours..............           10.56             813
 information certified by a
 foreign regulatory entity for
 purposes of 49 CFR 236.1017 and/
 or 236.1009(i).
236.1019(b)--A request for a       38 railroads..................  1 MTEA.......................  160 hours.............             160          12,320
 passenger terminal main line
 track exception (MTEA).
(c)(1)--A request for a limited    38 railroads..................  1 request and/or plan........  160 hours.............             160          12,320
 operations exception (based on
 restricted speed, temporal
 separation, or a risk mitigation
 plan).
(c)(2)--A request for a limited    10 railroads..................  1 request....................  160 hours.............             160          12,320
 operations exception for a non-
 Class I, freight railroad's
 track.
(c)(3)--A request for a limited    7 railroads...................  1 request....................  160 hours.............             160          12,320
 operations exception for a Class
 I railroad's track.
(d)--A railroad's collision        38 railroads..................  0.33 collision hazard          50 hours..............            16.5           1,271
 hazard analysis in support of an                                   analysis.
 MTEA, if FRA requires one to be
 conducted and submitted.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(e)--Any temporal separation                                     The burdens are accounted for under 49 CFR 236.1019(c)(1).
 procedures utilized under the 49
 CFR 236.1019(c)(1)(ii) exception.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
236.1021(a)-(d)--Any RFA to a      38 railroads..................  10 RFAs......................  160 hours.............           1,600         123,200
 railroad's PTCIP or PTCDP.
(e)--Any public comments, if an    5 interested parties..........  10 RFA public comments.......  16 hours..............             160          12,320
 RFA includes a request for
 approval of a discontinuance or
 material modification of a
 signal or train control system
 and a Federal Register notice is
 published.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(l)--Any jointly filed RFA to a                             The burdens are accounted for under 49 CFR 236.1021(a)-(d) and (m).
 PTCDP or PTCSP.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(m)--Any RFA to a railroad's       38 railroads..................  15 RFAs......................  80 hours..............           1,200          92,400
 PTCSP.
236.1023(a)--A railroad's PTC      38 railroads..................  2 updated lists..............  8 hours...............              16           1,232
 Product Vendor List, which must
 be continually updated.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(b)(1)--All contractual                                      The burdens are accounted for under 49 CFR 236.1015 and 236.1021.
 arrangements between a railroad
 and its hardware and software
 suppliers or vendors for certain
 immediate notifications.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(b)(2)-(3)--A vendor's or          10 vendors or suppliers.......  10 notifications.............  8 hours...............              80           6,160
 supplier's notification, upon
 receipt of a report of any
 safety-critical failure of its
 product, to any railroads using
 the product.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 68230]]

 
(c)(1)-(2)--A railroad's process                             The burdens are accounted for under 49 CFR 236.1015 and 236.1021.
 and procedures for taking action
 upon being notified of a safety-
 critical failure or a safety-
 critical upgrade, patch,
 revision, repair, replacement,
 or modification, and a
 railroad's configuration/
 revision control measures, set
 forth in its PTCSP.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(d)--A railroad's submission, to   38 railroads..................  2.5 notifications............  16 hours..............              40           3,080
 the applicable vendor or
 supplier, of the railroad's
 procedures for action upon
 notification of a safety-
 critical failure, upgrade,
 patch, or revision to the PTC
 system and actions to be taken
 until it is adjusted, repaired,
 or replaced.
(e)--A railroad's database of all  38 railroads..................  38 database updates..........  16 hours..............             608          46,816
 safety-relevant hazards, which
 must be maintained after the PTC
 system is placed in service.
(e)(1)--A railroad's notification  38 railroads..................  8 notifications..............  7.5 hours.............              60           4,620
 to the vendor or supplier and
 FRA if the frequency of a safety-
 relevant hazard exceeds the
 threshold set forth in the PTCDP
 and PTCSP, and about the
 failure, malfunction, or
 defective condition that
 decreased or eliminated the
 safety functionality--Form FRA F
 6180.179--Errors and
 Malfunctions Notification
 (Revised requirement).
(e)(2)--Continual updates about    38 railroads..................  1 update.....................  8 hours...............               8             616
 any and all subsequent failures.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(f)--Any notifications that must                           The burdens are accounted for under 49 CFR 236.1023(e), (g), and (h).
 be submitted to FRA under 49 CFR
 236.1023.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(g)--A railroad's and vendor's or  38 railroads..................  0.5 reports..................  40 hours..............              20           1,540
 supplier's report, upon FRA
 request, about an investigation
 of an accident or service
 difficulty due to a
 manufacturing or design defect
 and their corrective actions.
(h)--A PTC system vendor's or      10 vendors or suppliers.......  20 reports...................  7.5 hours.............             150          11,550
 supplier's reports of any safety-
 relevant failures, defective
 conditions, previously
 unidentified hazards,
 recommended mitigation actions,
 and any affected railroads--Form
 FRA F 6180.179--Errors and
 Malfunctions Notification
 (Revised requirement).
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(k)--A report of a failure of a                  The burdens are accounted for under 49 CFR 236.1023(e), (g), and (h) and 49 CFR part 233.
 PTC system resulting in a more
 favorable aspect than intended
 or other condition hazardous to
 the movement of a train,
 including the reports required
 under part 233.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
236.1029(b)(4)--A report of an en  150 host and tenant railroads.  1,000 reports................  30 minutes............             500          38,500
 route failure, other failure, or
 cut out to a designated railroad
 officer of the host railroad.
Form FRA F 6180.152--49 U.S.C.     38 railroads..................  146 reports..................  32 hours..............           4,672         359,744
 20157(m) and 49 CFR 236.1029(h)--
 Quarterly Report of PTC System
 Performance (*Revised
 requirement and updated form*).
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
236.1033--Communications and                                 The burdens are accounted for under 49 CFR 236.1009 and 236.1015.
 security requirements.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
236.1035(a)-(b)--A railroad's      38 railroads..................  10 requests..................  40 hours..............             400          30,800
 request for authorization to
 field test an uncertified PTC
 system and any responses to
 FRA's testing conditions.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
236.1037(a)(1)-(2)--Records                                  The burdens are accounted for under 49 CFR 236.1009 and 236.1015.
 retention.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a)(3)-(4)--Records retention....                           The burdens are accounted for under 49 CFR 236.1039 and 236.1043(b).
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(b)--Results of inspections and    38 railroads..................  800 records..................  1 hour................             800          61,600
 tests specified in a railroad's
 PTCSP and PTCDP.
(c)--A contractor's records        20 contractors................  1,600 records................  10 minutes............          266.67          20,534
 related to the testing,
 maintenance, or operation of a
 PTC system maintained at a
 designated office.
(d)(3)--A railroad's final report  38 railroads..................  8 final reports..............  160 hours.............           1,280          98,560
 of the results of the analysis
 and countermeasures taken to
 reduce the frequency of safety-
 related hazards below the
 threshold set forth in the PTCSP.
236.1039(a)-(c), (e)--A            38 railroads..................  2 OMM updates................  10 hours..............              20           1,540
 railroad's PTC OMM, which must
 be maintained and available to
 FRA upon request.
(d)--A railroad's identification   38 railroads..................  1 identified new component...  1 hour................               1              77
 of a PTC system's safety-
 critical components, including
 spare equipment.
236.1041(a)-(b) and 236.1043(a)--  38 railroads..................  2 programs...................  10 hours..............              20           1,540
 A railroad's PTC Training and
 Qualification Program (i.e., a
 written plan).
236.1043(b)--Training records      150 host and tenant railroads.  150 PTC training record        1 hour................             150          11,550
 retained in a designated                                           databases.
 location and available to FRA
 upon request.
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 68231]]

 
    Total........................  N/A...........................  4,567,826 responses..........  N/A...................          51,979       4,328,077
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 4,567,826.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the 2019 STB Full 
Year Wage A&B data series using the appropriate employee group 
hourly wage rate that includes a 75-percent overhead charge. For 
Executives, Officials, and Staff Assistants, this cost amounts to 
$120 per hour. For Professional/Administrative staff, this cost 
amounts to $77 per hour.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 51,979 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: 
$4,328,077.
    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 that does not display a currently valid OMB control 
number.
    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520; 49 U.S.C. 20157.

Brett A. Jortland,
Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2022-24723 Filed 11-10-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P