Notice2021-23104
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
October 22, 2021
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Abstract
Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, FRA seeks 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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 202 (Friday, October 22, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 202 (Friday, October 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58721-58723]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-23104]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2021-0006-N-14]
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment
Request
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its
implementing regulations, FRA seeks 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
December 21, 2021].
ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR
should be submitted on <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> to the docket, Docket No. FRA-
2021-0006. 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: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c2aaada6a3acecb5a7aeaeb182a6adb6eca5adb4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="620a0d06030c4c15070e0e1122060d164c050d14">[email protected]</span></a> or
telephone: (202) 493-0440.
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
[[Page 58722]]
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, 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: Railroad Signal System.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0006.
Abstract: The information collected under 49 CFR parts 233, 235,
and 236 is used by FRA to monitor railroad compliance with FRA's
inspection and testing requirements for signal systems, as well as to
review and approve railroad requests to discontinue or materially
modify existing signal systems. The information collected is also used
by FRA to monitor signal failures (e.g., failure of a signal appliance,
device, method, or system to function or indicate as required by 49 CFR
part 236 that results in a more favorable aspect than intended or other
condition hazardous to the movement of a train).
For instance:
<bullet> Sec. 233.5 requires each railroad to report to FRA within
24 hours after learning of an accident or incident arising from signal
failure.
<bullet> Sec. 233.7 requires each railroad to report signal
failures within 15 days in accordance with the instructions printed on
Form FRA F 6180.14.
<bullet> Sec. 235.5 requires railroads to apply for FRA approval
to discontinue or materially modify railroad signal systems.
<bullet> Sec. 235.8 allows railroads to seek relief from the
requirements in 49 CFR part 236.
<bullet> Sec. 235.20 describes the protest process, including
essential information that must be included in the protest, the address
for filing the protest, the time limit for filing the protest, and the
requirement that a protestant requesting a public hearing explain why
written statements cannot be used to explain his or her position.
<bullet> Sec. 236.110 requires that the results of signal system
tests required under Sec. Sec. 236.102-109; Sec. Sec. 236.376-387;
Sec. Sec. 236.576-577; and Sec. Sec. 236.586-589 be recorded on pre-
printed forms provided by the railroad or by electronic means, subject
to FRA approval.
<bullet> Finally, Sec. 236.590 requires railroads to clean and
inspect the automatic train stop, train control, or cab signal
pneumatic apparatus on locomotives and then record the results of the
inspection as required by Sec. 229.29(a).
Type of Request: Extension without change (with changes in
estimates) of a currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Businesses.
Form(s): FRA F 6180.14.
Respondent Universe: 754 railroads.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
Reporting Burden:
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Average time per Total annual Total cost
CFR section \1\ Respondent universe Total annual responses responses burden hours equivalent \2\
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233.5--Accidents resulting from signal 754 railroads............ 1 telephone call......... 30 minutes.............. 0.50 $38.72
failure--Telephone report to FRA.
233.7--Signal failure reports--Form FRA 754 railroads............ 10 reports............... 15 minutes.............. 2.50 193.60
F 6180.14 ``False Proceed Signal
Report``.
235.5--Changes requiring filing of 80 railroads............. 24 applications.......... 10 hours................ 240.00 18,585.60
application--Signal systems.
235.8--Relief from the requirements of 80 railroads............. 10 relief requests....... 10 hours................ 100.00 7,744.00
part 236 of this title.
235.20--Protests--Protestant shall file Railroads and public..... 10 protest letters....... 30 minutes.............. 5.00 387.20
with FRA against application for relief
from part 236 requirements.
236.110--Results of tests made in 80 railroads............. 300,000 (paper records) + 27 minutes (paper) + 8 219,888.00 13,122,915.84
compliance with Sec. Sec. 236.102- 636,660 (electronic minutes (electronic).
109; 236.376-387; 236.576; 236.577; records).
236.586-589; and 236.917(a)--Records.
236.590--Pneumatic apparatus-- 18 railroads............. 6,697 stenciling or tags. 22.50 minutes........... 2,511.38 180,543.11
Inspection, cleaning, and results of
inspection--Record.
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Total \3\........................... 754 railroads............ 943,412 responses........ N/A..................... 222,747 13,330,408
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\1\ The current inventory exhibits a total burden of 444,820 hours while the total burden of this notice is 222,747 hours. As part of its review of this
ICR renewal, FRA determined some of the previous estimates were preliminary, outdated, or duplicative.
\2\ The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the Surface Transportation Board's 2020 Full Year Wage A&B data series using the appropriate employee
group hourly wage rate that includes a 75-percent overhead charge.
\3\ Totals may not add due to rounding.
Total Estimated Annual Responses: 943,412.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 222,747 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent:
$13,330,408.
Under 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 CFR 1320.5(b) and 1320.8(b)(3)(vi),
FRA informs all interested parties that a respondent is not required to
respond to, conduct, or sponsor a collection of
[[Page 58723]]
information that does not display a currently valid OMB control number.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.
Brett A. Jortland,
Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2021-23104 Filed 10-21-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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