Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request, 93396-93397 [2024-27696]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 228 / Tuesday, November 26, 2024 / Notices
the goals and objectives of 49 U.S.C.
31136(e) and 31315(b).
VI. Preemption
During the period the exemption is in
effect, no State shall enforce any law or
regulation that conflicts with this
exemption with respect to a person
operating under the exemption.
VII. Conclusion
Based upon its evaluation of the 13
exemption applications, FMCSA renews
the exemptions of the aforementioned
drivers from the hearing requirement in
§ 391.41 (b)(11). In accordance with 49
U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b), each
exemption will be valid for 2 years
unless revoked earlier by FMCSA.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2024–27590 Filed 11–25–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA–2024–0112]
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 January
27, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed ICR
should be submitted on regulations.gov
to the docket, Docket No. FRA–2024–
0112. 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–NEW) in
any correspondence submitted. FRA
will summarize comments received in a
subsequent 30-day notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Arlette Mussington, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, at email:
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:03 Nov 25, 2024
Jkt 265001
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).
FRA believes that soliciting public
comment may reduce the administrative
and paperwork burdens associated with
the collection of information that
Federal 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: Class I Railroads Annual
Excepted Track Inventory.
OMB Control Number: 2130–NEW.
Abstract: FRA’s Track Safety
Standards (TSS; 49 CFR part 213)
prescribe minimum safety requirements
for railroad track that is part of the
general railroad system of
transportation. The TSS were first
established in October 1971, following
the enactment of the Federal Railroad
Safety Act of 1970 in which Congress
granted FRA comprehensive authority
over ‘‘all areas of railroad safety.’’ 49
PO 00000
Frm 00124
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
U.S.C. 20103. The TSS are an evolving
set of safety requirements, subject to
continuous revision, allowing the
regulations to keep pace with industry
innovations and agency research and
development.
FRA added the excepted track
provision (§ 213.4) to the TSS in 1982 in
response to an industry outcry for
regulatory relief on those rail lines
producing little or no income. With
some limitations, § 213.4 permits
railroads to designate track as
‘‘excepted’’ from compliance with
minimum safety requirements for
roadbed, track geometry, and track
structure. FRA believed that without
some relief for low density lines,
railroads would accelerate abandonment
of those lines rather than invest their
slim resources where returns would be
limited. In 1998, FRA amended § 213.4,
by adding new safety requirements, after
FRA and state inspectors found
instances where railroads had taken
advantage of the permissive language in
the 1982 provision to conduct
operations in a manner not envisioned
when FRA drafted the provision. At the
time of those revisions, it was estimated
there were between 8,000 and 9,000
miles of excepted track nationwide.
Over 25 years later, to better
understand the current condition of rail
infrastructure in the United States, FRA
is seeking to compare the current
amount of excepted track to historic
levels. FRA is also seeking to better
understand the extent and manner in
which the industry is utilizing the
excepted track provision. Additionally,
while FRA has not currently found
systemic misuse of excepted track or
evidence of significant safety concerns,
FRA has received complaints alleging
misuse of § 213.4, and the information
FRA proposes to collect as part of this
new ICR will be useful in ensuring that
the provision continues to be used in a
safe and effective manner.
Accordingly, FRA is initiating this
new ICR to gather excepted track data
from all Class I freight railroads.
Specifically, the proposed information
collection will request that the railroads
provide FRA with data regarding the
amount of excepted track currently in
operation (number of track miles and
tonnage). The requested data will be
collected using Excel-based form FRA F
6180.289 Class I Railroads Annual
Excepted Track Inventory Reporting. To
minimize the burden of this ICR, FRA
is requesting an annual inventory (for
three years) only of Class I freight
railroads’ excepted track. FRA believes
all Class I freight railroads already
maintain lists of excepted track
locations and tonnage, so the effort to
E:\FR\FM\26NON1.SGM
26NON1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 228 / Tuesday, November 26, 2024 / Notices
report the requested information should
be minimal. Once FRA has collected
this information, it will be used to help
confirm that the excepted track
provision continues to be used in a safe
and effective manner, and consistent
with the original intent of § 213.4.
Type of Request: Approval of a new
collection of information.
Affected Public: Railroads.
Form(s): FRA F 6180.289.
Respondent Universe: 6.
Frequency of Submission: Annually.
Reporting Burden: 2 hours per
railroad per year.
Total Estimated Annual Responses: 6.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 12
hours per year.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour
Dollar Cost Equivalent: $1,069.56.1
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,
Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2024–27696 Filed 11–25–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
[FTA Docket No. FTA 2024–0016]
Agency Information Collection Activity
Under OMB Review: Generic Clearance
for the Collection of Qualitative
Feedback on Agency Service Delivery
Federal Transit Administration,
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of request for comments.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces that the Information
Collection Requirements (ICRs)
abstracted below have been forwarded
to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for review and comment. The
ICR describe the nature of the
information collection and their
expected burdens.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on
or before December 26, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
SUMMARY:
1 The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the
2023 Surface Transportation Board Full Year Wage
A&B data series using employee group 200
(Professional Administrative Staff) hourly wage rate
of $50.93. The total burden wage rate (straight time
plus 75%) used is $89.13 ($50.93 × 1.75 = $89.13).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:03 Nov 25, 2024
Jkt 265001
within 30 days of publication of this
notice to https://www.reginfo.gov/
public/do/PRAMain. Find this
particular information collection by
selecting ‘‘Currently under Review—
Open for Public Comments’’ or by using
the search function.
Comments Are Invited On: Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the Department,
including whether the information will
have practical utility; the accuracy of
the Department’s estimate of the burden
of the proposed information collection;
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on respondents, including the use of
automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
A comment to OMB is best assured of
having its full effect if OMB receives it
within 30 days of publication of this
notice in the Federal Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tia
Swain, Office of Administration,
Management Planning Division, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, Mail Stop TAD–
10, Washington, DC 20590 (202) 366–
0354 or tia.swain@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA), Public Law 104–13, Section 2,
109 Stat. 163 (1995) (codified as revised
at 44 U.S.C. 3501–3520), and its
implementing regulations, 5 CFR part
1320, require Federal agencies to issue
two notices seeking public comment on
information collection activities before
OMB may approve paperwork packages.
44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.5,
1320.8(d)(1), 1320.12. On September 25,
2024, FTA published a 60-day notice
(89 FR 78429) in the Federal Register
soliciting comments on the ICR that the
agency was seeking OMB approval. FTA
received no comments after issuing this
60-day notice. Accordingly, DOT
announces that these information
collection activities have been reevaluated and certified under 5 CFR
1320.5(a) and forwarded to OMB for
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR
1320.12(c).
Before OMB decides whether to
approve these proposed collections of
information, it must provide 30 days for
public comment. 44 U.S.C. 3507(b); 5
CFR 1320.12(d). Federal law requires
OMB to approve or disapprove
paperwork packages between 30 and 60
days after the 30-day notice is
published. 44 U.S.C. 3507 (b)–(c); 5 CFR
1320.12(d); see also 60 FR 44978, 44983.
OMB believes that the 30-day notice
informs the regulated community to file
PO 00000
Frm 00125
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
93397
relevant comments and affords the
agency adequate time to digest public
comments before it renders a decision.
60 FR 44983. Therefore, respondents
should submit their respective
comments to OMB within 30 days of
publication to best ensure having their
full effect. 5 CFR 1320.12(c); see also 60
FR 44983.
The summaries below describe the
nature of the information collection
requirements (ICRs) and the expected
burden. The requirements are being
submitted for clearance by OMB as
required by the PRA.
Title: Generic Clearance for the
Collection of Qualitative Feedback on
Agency Service Delivery.
OMB Control Number: 2132–0572.
Background: The information
collection activity will garner
qualitative customer and stakeholder
feedback in an efficient, timely manner,
in accordance with the Administration’s
commitment to improving service
delivery. By qualitative feedback we
mean information that provides useful
insights on perceptions and opinions,
but are not statistical surveys that yield
quantitative results that can be
generalized to the population of study.
This feedback will provide insights into
customer or stakeholder perceptions,
experiences and expectations, provide
an early warning of issues with service,
or focus attention on areas where
communication, training or changes in
operations might improve delivery of
products or services. These collections
will allow for ongoing, collaborative and
actionable communications between the
Federal Transit Administration and its
customers and stakeholders. It will also
allow feedback to contribute directly to
the improvement of program
management.
The solicitation of feedback will target
areas such as: timeliness,
appropriateness, accuracy of
information, courtesy, efficiency of
service delivery, and resolution of
issues with service delivery. Responses
will be assessed to plan and inform
efforts to improve or maintain the
quality of service offered to the public.
If this information is not collected, vital
feedback from customers and
stakeholders on the Agency’s services
will be unavailable.
The Agency will only submit a
collection for approval under this
generic clearance if it meets the
following conditions:
• The collections are voluntary;
• The collections are low-burden for
respondents (based on considerations of
total burden hours, total number of
respondents, or burden-hours per
respondent) and are low-cost for both
E:\FR\FM\26NON1.SGM
26NON1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 93396-93397]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-27696]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2024-0112]
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
January 27, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR
should be submitted on regulations.gov to the docket, Docket No. FRA-
2024-0112. 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-NEW) in any correspondence
submitted. FRA will summarize comments received in a subsequent 30-day
notice.
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 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: Class I Railroads Annual Excepted Track Inventory.
OMB Control Number: 2130-NEW.
Abstract: FRA's Track Safety Standards (TSS; 49 CFR part 213)
prescribe minimum safety requirements for railroad track that is part
of the general railroad system of transportation. The TSS were first
established in October 1971, following the enactment of the Federal
Railroad Safety Act of 1970 in which Congress granted FRA comprehensive
authority over ``all areas of railroad safety.'' 49 U.S.C. 20103. The
TSS are an evolving set of safety requirements, subject to continuous
revision, allowing the regulations to keep pace with industry
innovations and agency research and development.
FRA added the excepted track provision (Sec. 213.4) to the TSS in
1982 in response to an industry outcry for regulatory relief on those
rail lines producing little or no income. With some limitations, Sec.
213.4 permits railroads to designate track as ``excepted'' from
compliance with minimum safety requirements for roadbed, track
geometry, and track structure. FRA believed that without some relief
for low density lines, railroads would accelerate abandonment of those
lines rather than invest their slim resources where returns would be
limited. In 1998, FRA amended Sec. 213.4, by adding new safety
requirements, after FRA and state inspectors found instances where
railroads had taken advantage of the permissive language in the 1982
provision to conduct operations in a manner not envisioned when FRA
drafted the provision. At the time of those revisions, it was estimated
there were between 8,000 and 9,000 miles of excepted track nationwide.
Over 25 years later, to better understand the current condition of
rail infrastructure in the United States, FRA is seeking to compare the
current amount of excepted track to historic levels. FRA is also
seeking to better understand the extent and manner in which the
industry is utilizing the excepted track provision. Additionally, while
FRA has not currently found systemic misuse of excepted track or
evidence of significant safety concerns, FRA has received complaints
alleging misuse of Sec. 213.4, and the information FRA proposes to
collect as part of this new ICR will be useful in ensuring that the
provision continues to be used in a safe and effective manner.
Accordingly, FRA is initiating this new ICR to gather excepted
track data from all Class I freight railroads. Specifically, the
proposed information collection will request that the railroads provide
FRA with data regarding the amount of excepted track currently in
operation (number of track miles and tonnage). The requested data will
be collected using Excel-based form FRA F 6180.289 Class I Railroads
Annual Excepted Track Inventory Reporting. To minimize the burden of
this ICR, FRA is requesting an annual inventory (for three years) only
of Class I freight railroads' excepted track. FRA believes all Class I
freight railroads already maintain lists of excepted track locations
and tonnage, so the effort to
[[Page 93397]]
report the requested information should be minimal. Once FRA has
collected this information, it will be used to help confirm that the
excepted track provision continues to be used in a safe and effective
manner, and consistent with the original intent of Sec. 213.4.
Type of Request: Approval of a new collection of information.
Affected Public: Railroads.
Form(s): FRA F 6180.289.
Respondent Universe: 6.
Frequency of Submission: Annually.
Reporting Burden: 2 hours per railroad per year.
Total Estimated Annual Responses: 6.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 12 hours per year.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent:
$1,069.56.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the 2023 Surface
Transportation Board Full Year Wage A&B data series using employee
group 200 (Professional Administrative Staff) hourly wage rate of
$50.93. The total burden wage rate (straight time plus 75%) used is
$89.13 ($50.93 x 1.75 = $89.13).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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,
Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2024-27696 Filed 11-25-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
