Agency Information Collection Activity; Notice To Continue To Collect: Confidential Close Call Transit Data for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), 2997-2999 [2023-00852]

Download as PDF 2997 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 11 / Wednesday, January 18, 2023 / Notices permit request and may be submitted in the following ways: • E-Gov Website: https:// www.Regulations.gov. This site allows the public to enter comments on any Federal Register notice issued by any agency. • Fax: 1–202–493–2251. • Mail: Docket Management System: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M–30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. • Hand Delivery: Docket Management System: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Instructions: You should identify the docket number for the special permit request you are commenting on at the beginning of your comments. If you submit your comments by mail, please submit two (2) copies. To receive confirmation that PHMSA has received your comments, please include a selfaddressed stamped postcard. Internet users may submit comments at https:// www.Regulations.gov. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Note: There is a privacy statement published on https://www.Regulations.gov. Comments, including any personal Special permit segment No. County, state 1 (KM 725) ..... Douglas, Colorado ..... 17:41 Jan 17, 2023 Jkt 259001 Confidential Business Information: Confidential Business Information (CBI) is commercial or financial information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to this notice contain commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to this notice, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Pursuant to 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 190.343, you may ask PHMSA to give confidential treatment to information you give to the agency by taking the following steps: (1) mark each page of the original document submission containing CBI as ‘‘Confidential’’; (2) send PHMSA, along with the original document, a second copy of the original document with the CBI deleted; and (3) explain why the information you are submitting is CBI. Unless you are notified otherwise, PHMSA will treat such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of this notice. Outside diameter (inches) Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Kay McIver, DOT, PHMSA– PHP–80, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590–0001. Any commentary PHMSA receives that is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this matter. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General: Ms. Kay McIver by telephone at 202–366–0113, or by email at kay.mciver@dot.gov. Technical: Mr. Steve Nanney by telephone at 713–272–2855, or by email at steve.nanney@dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PHMSA received a special permit request from CIG, a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan, Inc., on December 29, 2022, seeking a waiver from the requirements of 49 CFR 192.611(a) and (d): Change in class location: Confirmation or revision of maximum allowable operating pressure and 49 CFR 192.619(a): Maximum allowable operating pressure: Steel or plastic pipelines. This special permit is being requested in lieu of pipe replacement, pressure reduction, or new pressure tests for a Class 1 to 3 location change on one (1) gas transmission special permit segment totaling 1,022.62 feet (approximately 0.194 miles). This pipeline segment, which has changed from a Class 1 to Class 3 location, is as follows: Length (feet) Line name 20 The special permit request, proposed special permit with conditions, and draft environmental assessment (DEA) for the above listed CIG pipeline segment is available for review and public comments in Docket Number PHMSA–2023–0002. PHMSA invites interested persons to review and submit comments on the special permit request and DEA in the docket. Please submit comments on any potential safety, environmental, and other relevant considerations implicated by the special permit request. Comments may include relevant data. Before issuing a decision on the special permit request, PHMSA will evaluate all comments received on or before the comments closing date. Comments received after the closing date will be evaluated, if it is possible to do so without incurring additional expense or delay. PHMSA will consider VerDate Sep<11>2014 information provided, are posted without changes or edits to https:// www.Regulations.gov. 0009–A Pueblo-Watkins Mainline 1,022.62 Year installed Maximum allowable operating pressure (psig) 1966 820 each relevant comment it receives in making its decision to grant or deny this special permit request. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Issued in Washington, DC, on January 9, 2023, under authority delegated in 49 CFR 1.97. Alan K. Mayberry, Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety. [Docket Number RITA–2008–0002] [FR Doc. 2023–00839 Filed 1–17–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–60–P PO 00000 Bureau of Transportation Statistics 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 (OST–R), U.S. Department of Transportation. ACTION: Notice to continue to collect confidential close call transit data. AGENCY: 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 SUMMARY: Frm 00121 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\18JAN1.SGM 18JAN1 lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 2998 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 11 / Wednesday, January 18, 2023 / Notices (BTS) to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to use the approved OMB Number 2138–0044, and continue to collect the following information: 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 March 20, 2023. 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:41 Jan 17, 2023 Jkt 259001 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 (65 FR 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 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: 2138–0044. Type of Review: Continue to collect. Respondents: WMATA employees. Number of Potential Responses:150 (per annum). PO 00000 Frm 00122 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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. 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, 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 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. 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 E:\FR\FM\18JAN1.SGM 18JAN1 lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 11 / Wednesday, January 18, 2023 / Notices 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, develop and maintain 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. 6302) and CIPSEA. Only statistical and nonsensitive 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 for such events. III. Request for Public Comment BTS requests comments on any aspects of this information collection VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:41 Jan 17, 2023 Jkt 259001 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, Director, Office of Safety Data and Analysis, Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, U.S. Department of Transportation. [FR Doc. 2023–00852 Filed 1–17–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–HY–P DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Agency Information Collection Activities: Information Collection Renewal; Comment Request; Securities Offering Disclosure Rules Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Treasury. ACTION: Notice and request for comment. AGENCY: The OCC, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites comment on a continuing information collection as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OCC is soliciting comment concerning the renewal of an information collection titled ‘‘Securities Offering Disclosure Rules.’’ DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 20, 2023. ADDRESSES: Commenters are encouraged to submit comments by email, if possible. You may submit comments by any of the following methods: • Email: prainfo@occ.treas.gov. • Mail: Chief Counsel’s Office, Attention: Comment Processing, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Attention: 1557–0120, 400 7th Street SW, Suite 3E–218, Washington, DC 20219. • Hand Delivery/Courier: 400 7th Street SW, Suite 3E–218, Washington, DC 20219. • Fax: (571) 465–4326. Instructions: You must include ‘‘OCC’’ as the agency name and ‘‘1557– SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00123 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 2999 0120’’ in your comment. In general, the OCC will publish comments on www.reginfo.gov without change, including any business or personal information provided, such as name and address information, email addresses, or phone numbers. Comments received, including attachments and other supporting materials, are part of the public record and subject to public disclosure. Do not include any information in your comment or supporting materials that you consider confidential or inappropriate for public disclosure. Following the close of this notice’s 60-day comment period, the OCC will publish a second notice with a 30-day comment period. You may review comments and other related materials that pertain to this information collection beginning on the date of publication of the second notice for this collection by the method set forth in the next bullet. • Viewing Comments Electronically: Go to www.reginfo.gov. Hover over the ‘‘Information Collection Review’’ drop down menu and click on ‘‘Information Collection Review.’’ From the ‘‘Currently under Review’’ drop-down menu, select ‘‘Department of Treasury’’ and then click ‘‘submit.’’ This information collection can be located by searching by OMB control number ‘‘1557–0120’’ or ‘‘Securities Offering Disclosure Rules.’’ Upon finding the appropriate information collection, click on the related ‘‘ICR Reference Number.’’ On the next screen, select ‘‘View Supporting Statement and Other Documents’’ and then click on the link to any comment listed at the bottom of the screen. • For assistance in navigating www.reginfo.gov, please contact the Regulatory Information Service Center at (202) 482–7340. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shaquita Merritt, OCC Clearance Officer, (202) 649–5490, Chief Counsel’s Office, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 400 7th Street SW, Washington, DC 20219. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7–1–1 to access telecommunications relay services. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the OMB for each collection of information that they conduct or sponsor. ‘‘Collection of information’’ is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c) to include agency requests or requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep records, and/or provide information to a third party. E:\FR\FM\18JAN1.SGM 18JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 18, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2997-2999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-00852]


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

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 (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

[[Page 2998]]

(BTS) to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to use the 
approved OMB Number 2138-0044, and continue to collect the following 
information: 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 March 20, 2023.

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 (65 FR 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: 2138-0044.
    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. 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, 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 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. 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

[[Page 2999]]

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, develop and maintain 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. 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 for such 
events.

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,
Director, Office of Safety Data and Analysis, Bureau of Transportation 
Statistics (BTS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and 
Technology, U.S. Department of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 2023-00852 Filed 1-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-HY-P


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