Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request, 5084-5086 [2024-01498]
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<![CDATA[
5084
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 17 / Thursday, January 25, 2024 / Notices
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Policymaking 1 (2021 Presidential
Memorandum), as well as the National
Science and Technology Council
reports, Protecting the Integrity of
Government Science 2 (January 2022)
and A Framework for Federal Scientific
Integrity Policy and Practice 3 (January
2023).
Background
For nearly 90 years, we have
administered programs and provided
services that make a difference in
millions of people’s lives. In fiscal year
(FY) 2023, our programs provided a
combined total of about $1.4 trillion in
benefit payments to an average of over
70 million beneficiaries. The major
programs we administer—the Old-Age
Survivors and Disability Insurance
program and the Supplemental Security
Income program—provide an important
source of economic security for millions
of Americans. Our fundamental mission
is to deliver quality Social Security
services that ensure equity and
accessibility, improve the customer
experience, and address systemic
barriers to participation in our
programs.
The 2021 Presidential Memorandum
states the Administration’s goal is to
make evidence-based decisions guided
by the best available science and data,
recognizing that scientific and
technological information, data, and
evidence are central to the development
and iterative improvement of sound
policies and to the equitable delivery of
programs across every area of the
Federal Government. The 2021
Presidential Memorandum emphasizes
that political interference in the work of
Federal scientists and other scientists
who support the work of the Federal
Government (e.g., government
contractors, volunteers) and in the
communication of scientific facts
undermines the welfare of the Nation,
contributes to systemic inequities and
injustices, and violates the trust that the
public places in our government to best
serve its collective interests.
We conduct scientific activities that
include evaluations of pilot projects,
evaluations of demonstration projects,
quantitative studies, qualitative studies,
and mixed methods studies that inform
important priorities, such as delivering
services effectively, improving the way
we conduct business, updating policies
and regulations, and ensuring effective
1 See
86 FR 8845 (January 27, 2021).
2 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/
uploads/2022/01/01-22-Protecting_the_Integrity_of_
Government_Science.pdf.
3 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/
uploads/2023/01/01-2023-Framework-for-FederalScientific-Integrity-Policy-and-Practice.pdf.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:22 Jan 24, 2024
Jkt 262001
stewardship. For example, we
conducted evidence-building activities
relevant to our Equity Action Plan,4
which was created in accordance with
Executive Order (E.O.) 13985 on
Advancing Racial Equity and Support
for Underserved Communities Through
the Federal Government,5 as well as
E.O. 14058 on Transforming Federal
Customer Experience and Service
Delivery to Rebuild Trust in
Government.6 This aligns with our
Agency Strategic Plan, Fiscal Years
2022–2026,7 which includes a strategy
for deepening our understanding of our
customers and what drives their
evolving service preferences.
We also conduct extramural research,
demonstration projects, and outreach
under sections 1110, 1115, and 1144 of
the Social Security Act (Act). Sections
1110 and 1115 of the Act provide the
waiver authority we need to conduct
extramural research and demonstration
projects, while section 1144 of the Act
addresses outreach activities to inform
and assist Medicare beneficiaries with
low income who may be eligible for
Medicare cost sharing or subsidized
prescription drug coverage. A previous
authority, under section 234 of the Act,
allowed us to waive Disability Insurance
program rules to enhance labor force
participation; that authority sunset in
2022. We currently fund a range of
scientific projects designed to:
• Help us keep pace with
advancements in medicine and
technology;
• Modernize our vocational rules;
• Test work support models;
• Analyze program trends, gaps, and
inconsistencies; and
• Measure the public’s understanding
of our programs, as well as the impact
of program changes.
Request for Information (RFI)
Through this RFI, we are asking
interested persons, including
stakeholders across public and private
sectors who may be familiar with or
interested in the work of our agency, for
input on the DRAFT SSA Scientific
Integrity Policy.
4 https://www.ssa.gov/open/materials/SSA-E.O.13985-Equity-Action-Plan.pdf.
5 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/
presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-orderadvancing-racial-equity-and-support-forunderserved-communities-through-the-federalgovernment/.
6 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/
presidential-actions/2021/12/13/executive-orderon-transforming-federal-customer-experience-andservice-delivery-to-rebuild-trust-in-government/.
7 Social Security Administration, Agency
Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2022–2026, available at
https://www.ssa.gov/agency/asp/materials/pdfs/
SSA_Agency_Strategic_Plan_Fiscal_Years_20222026.pdf.
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Frm 00194
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
We invite suggestions that will help
strengthen and promote scientific
integrity throughout the agency. The
responses to this RFI that interested
persons submit to us will be considered
as we develop a final SSA Scientific
Integrity Policy. This RFI is for
information and planning purposes only
and should not be construed as a
solicitation or as an obligation on our
part. We will not respond to the
comments we receive in response to this
RFI. However, we will use the input to
develop our Scientific Integrity Policy.
The Commissioner of the Social
Security Administration, Martin
O’Malley, having reviewed and
approved this document, is delegating
the authority to electronically sign this
document to Faye I. Lipsky, who is the
primary Federal Register Liaison for
SSA, for purposes of publication in the
Federal Register.
Faye I. Lipsky,
Federal Register Liaison, Office of Legislation
and Congressional Affairs, Social Security
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024–01494 Filed 1–24–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA–2024–0002]
Proposed Agency Information
Collection Activities; Comment
Request
Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
request for comment.
AGENCY:
Under the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its
implementing regulations, FRA seeks
approval of the Information Collection
Request (ICR) summarized 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 March
25, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed ICR
should be submitted on regulations.gov
to the docket, Docket No. FRA–2024
0002. All comments received will be
posted without change to the docket,
including any personal information
provided. Please refer to the assigned
OMB control number (2130–0589) in
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 17 / Thursday, January 25, 2024 / Notices
any correspondence submitted. FRA
will summarize comments received in a
subsequent 30-day notice and include
them in its information collection
submission to OMB.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Arlette Mussington, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, at email:
arlette.mussington@dot.gov or
telephone: (571) 609–1285 or Ms.
Joanne Swafford, Information Collection
Clearance Officer, at email:
joanne.swafford@dot.gov or telephone:
(757) 897–9908.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PRA,
44 U.S.C. 3501–3520, and its
implementing regulations, 5 CFR part
1320, require Federal agencies to
provide 60 days’ notice to the public to
allow comment on information
collection activities before seeking OMB
approval of the activities. See 44 U.S.C.
3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.8 through
1320.12. Specifically, FRA invites
interested parties to comment on the
following 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).
Respondent
universe
CFR section
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234.11(b)—State highway-rail grade
crossing action plans—Development
and submission of new action plans—
Grouped into high, medium, and low
plans.
—(c)(1) Updated action plans (10
listed states in § 234.11(e))—
Grouped into high, medium, and
low plans.
—(c)(2) Implementation reports (10
listed states in § 234.11(e))—
Grouped into high, medium, and
low implementation reports.
1 Public
2 85
40 States + District
of Columbia.
10 States ................
10 States ................
Law 110–432, sec. 202 (Oct. 16, 2008).
FR 80648 (Dec. 14, 2020).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:22 Jan 24, 2024
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, 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: State Highway-Rail Grade
Crossing Action Plans.
OMB Control Number: 2130–0589.
Abstract: Section 202 of the Rail
Safety Improvement Act (RSIA) 1 of
2008 required the Secretary of
Transportation to identify the 10 States
that had the most highway-rail grade
crossing collisions, on average, over the
previous three years and to require
those States to develop State highwayrail grade crossing action plans within
a reasonable period of time, as
determined by the Secretary. Section
202 of the RSIA further provided that
these plans must identify specific
solutions for improving safety at
crossings, including highway-rail grade
crossing closures or grade separations,
and must focus on crossings that have
experienced multiple accidents or are at
high risk for such accidents.
In 2020, FRA issued a final rule titled,
State Highway-Rail Grade Crossing
Action Plans,2 to implement section
11401(b) of the Fixing America’s
Jkt 262001
Total annual
responses
Average time
per response
Total annual
burden hours
Total cost
equivalent in
U.S. dollar
(A)
(B)
(C = A * B)
(D = C * wage
rates) 4
13.60 burden plans
(1.3 high burden
+ 2.3 medium
burden + 4 low
burden + 6 minimal burden).
3.30 burden plans
(1 high burden +
1 medium burden
+ 1.3 low burden).
3.30 burden reports
(1 high burden +
1 medium burden
+ 1.3 low burden).
1,510.00 hours (700
hours + 550
hours + 200
hours + 60 hours).
3,376.67
$290,157.25
1,965.00 hours
(1,100 hours +
640 hours + 225
hours).
320.00 hours (160
hours + 120
hours + 40 hours).
2,040.00
175,297.20
333.33
28,643.05
3 Changes to the total cost equivalent in U.S.
dollars, a category not included in the OIRA
inventory, are due to updated statistics from the
PO 00000
Frm 00195
Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act)
which required 40 States and the
District of Columbia to develop and
implement highway-rail grade crossing
action plans. The final rule also
required ten States that developed
highway-rail grade crossing action
plans, as required by RSIA and FRA’s
implementing regulation, to update
their plans and submit reports to FRA
describing actions they have taken to
implement their plans.
FRA uses the collection of
information to ensure that States meet
the Congressional mandate and devise
and implement suitable plans to reduce/
eliminate highway-rail grade collisions.
FRA reviews these crossing action plans
and crossing action plan revisions to
ensure that these plans include the
following: (1) identify specific strategies
for improving safety at highway-rail
grade crossings, including highway-rail
grade crossing closures or grade
separations; (2) focus on crossings that
have experienced multiple accidents or
are at high risk for such accidents; and
(3) cover a five-year period.
In this 60-day notice, FRA makes no
adjustments to the previously approved
burden hours and responses in the
Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs (OIRA) inventory.3
Type of Request: Extension without
change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected Public: Businesses.
Form(s): N/A.
Respondent Universe: 50 States +
District of Columbia.
Frequency of Submission: On
occasion.
Reporting Burden:
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
2022 Surface Transportation Board (STB) Full Year
Wage A&B data series.
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 17 / Thursday, January 25, 2024 / Notices
Total annual
responses
Average time
per response
Total annual
burden hours
Total cost
equivalent in
U.S. dollar
(A)
(B)
(C = A * B)
(D = C * wage
rates) 4
50 States + District
of Columbia.
2.70 notifications ....
5.00 minutes ...........
40 States + District
of Columbia.
2.70 revised plans
(0.7 high burden
+ 0.7 medium
burden + 1.3 low
burden).
10 States ................
N/A .........................
Respondent
universe
CFR section
—(f)(2) Notification to FRA by State
or District of Columbia (DC) of another official to assume responsibilities described under
§ 234.11(e)(6).
—(g) FRA review and approval of
State highway-rail grade crossing
action plans: Disapproved plans
needing revision—Grouped into
high, medium, and low revised
plans.
—(g) FRA review and approval of
State highway-rail grade crossing
action plans: Disapproved plans
needing revision (10 listed States
in § 234.11(e))—Grouped into
high, medium, and low revised
plans.
Total 5 ........................................
Total Estimated Annual Responses:
27.
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
4 The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the
2022 (STB) Full Year Wage A&B data series using
employee group 200 (Professional &
Administrative) hourly wage rate of $49.10. The
total burden wage rate (straight time plus 75%)
used in the table is $85.93 ($49.10 × 1.75 = $85.93).
5 Totals may not add up due to rounding.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:22 Jan 24, 2024
Jkt 262001
0.22
18.90
189.00 hours (105
hours + 60 hours
+ 24 hours).
142.00
12,202.06
0.90 revised plans
(0.7 high burden
+ 0.7 medium
burden + 1.3 low
burden).
295.00 hours (165
hours + 96 hours
+ 34 hours).
98.33
8,449.50
27 responses ..........
N/A .........................
5,991
514,768.00
Total Estimated Annual Burden:
5,991 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour
Dollar Cost Equivalent: $514,768.
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
PO 00000
Frm 00196
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
not display a currently valid OMB
control number.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501–3520.
Christopher S. Van Nostrand,
Acting Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2024–01498 Filed 1–24–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 17 (Thursday, January 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5084-5086]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01498]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2024-0002]
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 seeks approval of the Information
Collection Request (ICR) summarized 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
March 25, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR
should be submitted on regulations.gov to the docket, Docket No. FRA-
2024 0002. All comments received will be posted without change to the
docket, including any personal information provided. Please refer to
the assigned OMB control number (2130-0589) in
[[Page 5085]]
any correspondence submitted. FRA will summarize comments received in a
subsequent 30-day notice and include them in its information collection
submission to OMB.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Arlette Mussington, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: [email protected] or
telephone: (571) 609-1285 or Ms. Joanne Swafford, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: [email protected] or
telephone: (757) 897-9908.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520, and its
implementing regulations, 5 CFR part 1320, require Federal agencies to
provide 60 days' notice to the public to allow comment on information
collection activities before seeking OMB approval of the activities.
See 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.8 through 1320.12. Specifically,
FRA invites interested parties to comment on the following 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,
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: State Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Action Plans.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0589.
Abstract: Section 202 of the Rail Safety Improvement Act (RSIA) \1\
of 2008 required the Secretary of Transportation to identify the 10
States that had the most highway-rail grade crossing collisions, on
average, over the previous three years and to require those States to
develop State highway-rail grade crossing action plans within a
reasonable period of time, as determined by the Secretary. Section 202
of the RSIA further provided that these plans must identify specific
solutions for improving safety at crossings, including highway-rail
grade crossing closures or grade separations, and must focus on
crossings that have experienced multiple accidents or are at high risk
for such accidents.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Public Law 110-432, sec. 202 (Oct. 16, 2008).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In 2020, FRA issued a final rule titled, State Highway-Rail Grade
Crossing Action Plans,\2\ to implement section 11401(b) of the Fixing
America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) which required 40
States and the District of Columbia to develop and implement highway-
rail grade crossing action plans. The final rule also required ten
States that developed highway-rail grade crossing action plans, as
required by RSIA and FRA's implementing regulation, to update their
plans and submit reports to FRA describing actions they have taken to
implement their plans.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ 85 FR 80648 (Dec. 14, 2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
FRA uses the collection of information to ensure that States meet
the Congressional mandate and devise and implement suitable plans to
reduce/eliminate highway-rail grade collisions. FRA reviews these
crossing action plans and crossing action plan revisions to ensure that
these plans include the following: (1) identify specific strategies for
improving safety at highway-rail grade crossings, including highway-
rail grade crossing closures or grade separations; (2) focus on
crossings that have experienced multiple accidents or are at high risk
for such accidents; and (3) cover a five-year period.
In this 60-day notice, FRA makes no adjustments to the previously
approved burden hours and responses in the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) inventory.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ Changes to the total cost equivalent in U.S. dollars, a
category not included in the OIRA inventory, are due to updated
statistics from the 2022 Surface Transportation Board (STB) Full
Year Wage A&B data series.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected Public: Businesses.
Form(s): N/A.
Respondent Universe: 50 States + District of Columbia.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
Reporting Burden:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total cost
CFR section Respondent Total annual Average time Total annual equivalent in
universe responses per response burden hours U.S. dollar
............... (A)............ (B)............ (C = A * B) (D = C * wage
rates) \4\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
234.11(b)--State highway- 40 States + 13.60 burden 1,510.00 hours 3,376.67 $290,157.25
rail grade crossing action District of plans (1.3 (700 hours +
plans--Development and Columbia. high burden + 550 hours +
submission of new action 2.3 medium 200 hours + 60
plans--Grouped into high, burden + 4 low hours).
medium, and low plans. burden + 6
minimal
burden).
--(c)(1) Updated action 10 States...... 3.30 burden 1,965.00 hours 2,040.00 175,297.20
plans (10 listed states plans (1 high (1,100 hours +
in Sec. 234.11(e))-- burden + 1 640 hours +
Grouped into high, medium burden 225 hours).
medium, and low plans. + 1.3 low
burden).
--(c)(2) Implementation 10 States...... 3.30 burden 320.00 hours 333.33 28,643.05
reports (10 listed reports (1 (160 hours +
states in Sec. high burden + 120 hours + 40
234.11(e))--Grouped 1 medium hours).
into high, medium, and burden + 1.3
low implementation low burden).
reports.
[[Page 5086]]
--(f)(2) Notification to 50 States + 2.70 5.00 minutes... 0.22 18.90
FRA by State or District of notifications.
District of Columbia Columbia.
(DC) of another
official to assume
responsibilities
described under Sec.
234.11(e)(6).
--(g) FRA review and 40 States + 2.70 revised 189.00 hours 142.00 12,202.06
approval of State District of plans (0.7 (105 hours +
highway-rail grade Columbia. high burden + 60 hours + 24
crossing action plans: 0.7 medium hours).
Disapproved plans burden + 1.3
needing revision-- low burden).
Grouped into high,
medium, and low revised
plans.
--(g) FRA review and 10 States...... 0.90 revised 295.00 hours 98.33 8,449.50
approval of State plans (0.7 (165 hours +
highway-rail grade high burden + 96 hours + 34
crossing action plans: 0.7 medium hours).
Disapproved plans burden + 1.3
needing revision (10 low burden).
listed States in Sec.
234.11(e))--Grouped
into high, medium, and
low revised plans.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total \5\........... N/A............ 27 responses... N/A............ 5,991 514,768.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Estimated Annual Responses: 27.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the 2022 (STB)
Full Year Wage A&B data series using employee group 200
(Professional & Administrative) hourly wage rate of $49.10. The
total burden wage rate (straight time plus 75%) used in the table is
$85.93 ($49.10 x 1.75 = $85.93).
\5\ Totals may not add up due to rounding.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 5,991 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent:
$514,768.
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.
Christopher S. Van Nostrand,
Acting Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2024-01498 Filed 1-24-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
