Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

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Published

July 5, 2023

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 88 Issue 127 (Wednesday, July 5, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 127 (Wednesday, July 5, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43001-43003]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-14106]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2023-0002-N-20]

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, 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
September 5, 2023.

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-
2023-0002. All comments received will be

[[Page 43002]]

posted without change to the docket, including any personal information
provided. Please refer to the assigned OMB control number (2130-0524)
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. Joanne Swafford, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a5cfcac4cbcbc08bd6d2c4c3c3cad7c1e5c1cad18bc2cad3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ea80858b84848fc4999d8b8c8c85988eaa8e859ec48d859c">[email&#160;protected]</span></a> or
telephone: (757) 897-9908 or Ms. Arlette Mussington, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#88e9fae4edfcfceda6e5fdfbfbe1e6effce7e6c8ece7fca6efe7fe"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="90f1e2fcf5e4e4f5befde5e3e3f9fef7e4fffed0f4ffe4bef7ffe6">[email&#160;protected]</span></a> or
telephone: (571) 609-1285.

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,
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 Communications.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0524.
Abstract: The railroad communications regulations in 49 CFR part
220 prescribe the minimum requirements governing wireless
communications used in rail operations as well as establish the
prohibitions, restrictions, and requirements that apply to the use of
personal and railroad-supplied cellular telephones and other electronic
devices. FRA amended its radio standards and procedures to: promote
compliance by making the regulations more flexible; require wireless
communications devices, including radios, for specified classifications
of railroad operations and roadway workers; and retitle this part to
reflect its coverage of other means of wireless communications, such as
cellular telephones and data radio terminals, to convey emergency and
need-to-know information. The amended regulations established safe,
uniform procedures covering the use of radio and other wireless
communications within the railroad industry.
In this 60-day notice, FRA made no adjustments to the previously
approved burden hours.
Type of Request: Extension without change (with changes in
estimates) of a currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Businesses.
Form(s): N/A.
Respondent Universe: 746 Railroads.
Frequency of Submission: On Occasion.

Reporting Burden
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Total cost
CFR section Respondent universe Total annual responses Average time per Total annual burden equivalent in
responses hours U.S. dollar
(A)................... (B)................... (C = A * B)........... (D = C *
wage \1\
rates)
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220.8--Waivers petitions........... 746 railroads.............. 2 petition letters.... 1 hour................ 2 hours............... $126.14
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220.13--Reporting emergencies...... The requirements for this section are the usual and customary practice as well as the railroad's legal obligation.
Consequently, there is no burden associated with these requirements.
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220.21--Railroad operating rules-- The burden for this requirement is included under OMB Control No. 2130-0035 Sec. 217.7 and 2130-0035 Sec.
radio communications-- 218.22.
recordkeeping.
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220.23--Publication of radio The requirements for this section are the usual and customary procedure. Consequently, there is no burden
information. associated with these requirements.
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220.31--Initiating a radio The requirements for this section are the usual and customary procedure. Consequently, there is no burden
transmission. associated with these requirements.
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220.33--Receiving a radio The requirements for this section are the usual and customary procedure. Consequently, there is no burden
transmission. affiliated with these requirements.
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220.35--Ending a radio transmission The requirements for this section are the usual and customary procedure. Consequently, there is no burden connected
with these requirements.
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220.38--Communication equipment The requirements for this section are the usual and customary procedure. Consequently, there is no burden linked to
failure. these requirements.
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220.47--Emergency radio The requirements for this section are the usual and customary procedure. Consequently, there is no burden
transmissions. associated with these requirements.
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220.61(b)(3)--Transmission of 746 railroads.............. 3,800,000 directives.. 90 seconds............ 95,000 hours.......... 5,991,650.00
mandatory directive.
(b)(5)--Marking of fulfilled or 746 railroads.............. 317,000 marks......... 10 seconds............ 881 hours............. 55,564.67
canceled mandatory directives.
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[[Page 43003]]

220.302--Operating rules The burden for this requirement is included under OMB Control No. 2130-0035 Sec. 217.7.
implementing the requirements of
this subpart.
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220.313(a)--Railroad written 2 new railroads............ 2 amended written 1 hour................ 2 hours............... 126.14
program of instruction and Instruction Programs.
examination on part 220
requirements.
220.313(c)--Employee training 746 railroads.............. 2,000 records......... 30 seconds............ 17 hours.............. 1,072.19
records.
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220.315--Operational Tests and The burden for this requirement is included under OMB No. 2130-0035 Sec. 217.11 and OMB No. 2130-0576 Sec.
Inspections. 238.503.
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Total.......................... 746 railroads.............. 4,119,004 responses... ...................... 95,902 hours.......... 6,048,539.14
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Total Estimated Annual Responses: 4,119,004.
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\1\ The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the 2022 Surface
Transportation Board Full Year Wage A&B data series using the
employee group 600 (Transportation, Train & Engine) hourly wage rate
of $36.04. The total burden wage rate (Straight time plus 75%) used
in the table is $63.07 ($36.04 x 1.75 = $63.07).
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Total Estimated Annual Burden: 95,902.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent:
$6,048,539.14.
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. 2023-14106 Filed 7-3-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P

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