Notice2023-00293
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
January 10, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Abstract
Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, this notice announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Requests (ICRs) abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. These ICRs describe the information collections and their expected burdens. On July 5, 2022, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICRs.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 6 (Tuesday, January 10, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 10, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1446-1448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-00293]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2022-0002-N-18]
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment
Request
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), 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, this notice announces that FRA is forwarding
the Information Collection Requests (ICRs) abstracted below to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. These
ICRs describe the information collections and their expected burdens.
On July 5, 2022, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for
public comment on the ICRs.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
February 9, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICRs
should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to
<a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. Find the particular ICR by selecting
``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using
the search function.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Hodan Wells, Information
Collection Clearance Officer at email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#367e595257581861535a5a457652594218515940"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6f27000b0e0141380a03031c2f0b001b41080019">[email protected]</span></a> or
telephone: (202) 868-9412.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PRA, 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
[[Page 1447]]
OMB may approve paperwork packages. See 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR
1320.8 through 1320.12. On July 5, 2022, FRA published a 60-day notice
in the Federal Register soliciting comment on the ICRs for which it is
now seeking OMB approval. See 87 FR 39896. FRA received one comment
from the public that was outside the scope of this notice.
Before OMB decides whether to approve the proposed collections of
information, it must provide 30 days for public comment. 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(a); see also 60 FR 44978, 44983 (Aug. 29, 1995). OMB
believes the 30-day notice informs the regulated community to file
relevant comments and affords the agency adequate time to digest public
comments before it renders a decision. 60 FR 44983 (Aug. 29, 1995).
Therefore, respondents should submit their respective comments to OMB
within 30 days of publication to best ensure having their full effect.
Comments are invited on the following ICRs regarding: (1) whether
the information collection activities are necessary for FRA to properly
execute its functions, including whether the information 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 to minimize the burden of information
collection activities on the public, including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
The summaries below describe the ICRs that FRA will submit for OMB
clearance as the PRA requires:
Title: Filing of Dedicated Cars.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0502.
Abstract: Title 49 CFR part 215 contains freight car safety
standards, including conditions for freight cars in dedicated service.
``Dedicated service'' means the exclusive assignment of railroad cars
to the transportation of freight between specified points under the
conditions listed in 49 CFR 215.5(d), including stenciling, or
otherwise displaying, in clear legible letters on each side of the car
body, the words ``Dedicated Service.'' The railroad must notify FRA in
writing that the cars are to be operated in dedicated service.
Type of Request: Extension without change (with changes in
estimates) of a currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Businesses.
Form(s): N/A.
Respondent Universe: 754 railroads.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
Total Estimated Annual Responses: 4.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 4 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $310.
Title: Remotely Controlled Switch Operations.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0516.
Abstract: Title 49 CFR 218.30 and 218.77 require that remotely
controlled switches be properly lined to protect workers as they
inspect or service rolling equipment on track or occupy camp cars.
These sections require the operators of the remotely controlled
switches to remove the locking device controlling the switches only
once they have been informed by the person in charge of the workers
that it is safe to do so. Additionally, these operators are required to
maintain a record of each protection request for 15 days. Operators of
remotely controlled switches use the information as a record
documenting protection of workers or camp cars. This record also serves
as a valuable resource for railroad supervisors and FRA and State
inspectors monitoring regulatory compliance.
In this 60-day notice, FRA decreased the estimated paperwork burden
under Sec. 218.30 by 1,209 hours. The decreased burden reflects the
reduction in number of work events in the railroad industry.
Type of Request: Extension without change (with changes in
estimates) of a currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Businesses.
Form(s): N/A.
Respondent Universe: 53 railroads.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
Total Estimated Annual Responses: 1,837,925.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 22,974 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent:
$1,375,912.
Title: Bad Order, Home Shop Card, and Stenciling Reporting Mark.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0519.
Abstract: Under 49 CFR part 215, railroads are required to inspect
freight cars placed in service and take remedial action when defects
are identified. A railroad freight car with a part 215 defect may be
moved to another location for repair only after the railroad has
complied with the process under 49 CFR 215.9. Section 215.9 requires
railroads to affix a ``bad order'' tag describing each defect to each
side of the freight car. It is imperative that a defective freight car
be tagged ``bad order'' so it can be readily identified and moved to
another location for repair purposes only, and so that the maximum
speed and other restrictions necessary for safely conducting the
movement are known. At the repair location, the ``bad order'' tag
serves as a notification of the defective condition of the freight car.
Railroads must retain each tag for 90 days to verify that proper
repairs were made at the designated location. When inspecting a freight
car, FRA and State inspectors review all pertinent records to determine
railroads' compliance with the movement restrictions of 49 CFR 215.9.
Additionally, Sec. 215.301 requires railroads and private car
owners to stencil or otherwise display identification marks on freight
cars, including a car number and build date. FRA uses the
identification marks to help obtain certain information related to a
car's compliance with Federal safety laws. The marks are used
consistently across railroad records to identify the car and show: the
type of car, what it is carrying, its movement history, and current
maintenance schedule. Using the marks to identify the cars helps FRA
determine the application of Federal safety laws to that car and who is
responsible for compliance. FRA also uses this information to determine
if the freight car qualifies for dedicated service and is excluded from
the requirements of part 215. Railroads use the required information to
provide identification and control so that dedicated cars remain in the
prescribed service.
Type of Request: Extension without change (with changes in
estimates) of a currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Businesses.
Form(s): N/A.
Respondent Universe: 754 railroads.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
Total Estimated Annual Responses: 285,000.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 38,000 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent:
$2,290,260.
Title: Rear End Marking Devices.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0523.
Abstract: Title 49 CFR part 221 contains requirements for rear end
marking devices. Railroads must provide FRA with a detailed description
of the type of marking devices used for any locomotive operating singly
or for
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cars or locomotives operating at the end of a train (trailing end) to
ensure that they meet minimum standards for visibility and display.
Specifically, part 221 requires railroads to furnish a certification
that each device has been tested in accordance with current
``Guidelines for Testing of Rear End Marking Devices.'' Additionally,
part 221 requires railroads to furnish detailed test records, which
include the names of testing organizations, test descriptions, number
of samples tested, and the test results, to demonstrate compliance with
the performance standard.
Type of Request: Extension without change (with changes in
estimates) of a currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Businesses.
Form(s): N/A.
Respondent Universe: 754 railroads and 24 manufacturers.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
Total Estimated Annual Responses: 2.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 2 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $155.
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.
Brett A. Jortland,
Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2023-00293 Filed 1-9-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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