Notice2023-20662
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
September 25, 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) 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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 184 (Monday, September 25, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 184 (Monday, September 25, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65765-65768]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20662]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2023-0002-N-15]
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment
Request
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
[[Page 65766]]
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) 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
November 24, 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 posted without change to the
docket, including any personal information provided. Please refer to
the assigned OMB control number (2130-0010) in any correspondence
submitted. FRA will summarize comments received in response to this
notice in a subsequent notice, made available to the public, and
include them in its information collection submission to OMB for
approval.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Arlette Mussington, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a6c7d4cac3d2d2c388cbd3d5d5cfc8c1d2c9c8e6c2c9d288c1c9d0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7b1a09171e0f0f1e55160e080812151c0f14153b1f140f551c140d">[email protected]</span></a> or
telephone: (571) 609-1285 or Ms. Joanne Swafford, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#660c09070808034815110700000914022602091248010910"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="dcb6b3bdb2b2b9f2afabbdbabab3aeb89cb8b3a8f2bbb3aa">[email protected]</span></a> 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: Track Safety Standards.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0010.
Abstract: The Track Safety Standards regulations under 49 CFR part
213 prescribe minimum safety requirements for railroad track that is
part of the general railroad system of transportation. FRA uses this
information collection to ensure and enhance rail safety by monitoring
complete compliance with all regulatory requirements. While the
requirements prescribed in this part generally apply to specific track
conditions existing in isolation, a combination of track conditions,
none of which individually amounts to a deviation from the requirements
in this part, may require remedial action to provide safe operations
over that track. Qualified persons inspect track and take action to
allow safe passage of trains and ensure compliance with the prescribed
standards.
In 2020, FRA published a final rule \1\ revising the minimum safety
requirements for railroad track. The changes allowed inspection of rail
using continuous rail testing; the use of flange-bearing frogs in
crossing diamonds; relaxed the guard check gage limits on heavy-point
frogs used in Class 5 track; removed an inspection-method exception for
high density commuter lines; and other miscellaneous revisions.
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\1\ 85 FR 63362.
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In addition, in 2011, FRA promulgated a rule \2\ mandating specific
requirements for effective concrete crossties, for rail fastening
systems connected to concrete crossties, and for automated inspections
of track constructed with concrete crossties. These requirements
supplement visual inspections by Class I and Class II railroads,
intercity passenger railroads, and commuter railroads.\3\
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\2\ 76 FR 18073.
\3\ To more effectively manage FRA's ICRs, the concrete crosstie
ICR, OMB Control No. 2130-0592, has been combined with that of track
safety standards, OMB Control No. 2130-0010 in this renewal cycle.
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In this 60-day notice, FRA made multiple adjustments to its
estimated paperwork burden, resulting in an increase of 278 hours, from
234,016 hours in the current inventory to 234,294 hours in the
requested inventory. This increase is the result of FRA combining the
annual burden hours with OMB Control Number 2130-0592, which covers
concrete crossties, as detailed below:
<bullet> Under Sec. 213.234(e), FRA added 31.25 hours.
<bullet> Under Sec. 213.234(g), FRA added 60.00 hours.
<bullet> Under Sec. 213.234(h)(3), FRA added 187.50 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: 784.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
Reporting Burden:
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Total cost
CFR section Respondent universe Total annual responses Average time per response Total annual equivalent in
burden hours U.S. dollar
........................... (A)........................ (B)........................ (C = A * B) (D = C *
wage rates) \4\
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213.4(f)--Excepted track-- 784 railroads.............. 15 notices................. 10 minutes................. 2.50 $214.83
Notification to FRA about
removal of excepted track.
213.5(c)--Responsibility for 784 railroads.............. 15 notices................. 1 hour..................... 15.00 1,288.95
compliance--Notification of
assignment to FRA.
[[Page 65767]]
213.7(a)(b)--Designations: 784 railroads.............. 2,500 names................ 10 minutes................. 416.67 35,804.45
Names on list with written
authorizations.
213.17(a)--Waivers............ 784 railroads.............. 10 petitions............... 2 hours.................... 20.00 1,718.60
213.57(e)--Curves; elevation 784 railroads.............. 4 requests................. 8 hours.................... 32.00 2,749.76
and speed limitations--
Request to FRA for vehicle
type approval.
--(f) Written notification to 784 railroads.............. 4 notifications............ 2 hours.................... 8.00 687.44
FRA prior to implementation
of higher curving speeds.
--(g) Written consent of track 784 railroads.............. 4 written consents......... 45 minutes................. 3.00 257.79
owners obtained by railroad
providing service over that
track.
213.110(a)--Gage restraint 784 railroads.............. 1 notification............. 45 minutes................. 0.75 64.45
measurement systems (GRMS)--
Implementing GRMS--notices &
reports.
--(g) GRMS vehicle output 784 railroads.............. 1 report................... 5 minutes.................. 0.08 6.87
reports.
--(h) GRMS vehicle exception 784 railroads.............. 1 report................... 5 minutes.................. 0.08 6.87
reports.
--(j) GRMS/PTLF--procedures 784 railroads.............. 1 documented procedure..... 1 hour..................... 1.00 85.93
for data integrity.
--(n) GRMS inspection records. 784 railroads.............. 2 records.................. 30 minutes................. 1.00 85.93
213.118(a)-(c)--Continuous 438 railroads.............. 10 plans................... 4 hours.................... 40.00 3,437.20
welded rail (CWR)--Revised
plans w/procedures for CWR.
--(d) Notification to FRA and 438 railroads.............. 750 notices................ 15 seconds................. 3.13 268.96
RR employees of CWR plan
effective date.
--(e) Written submissions 438 railroads.............. 5 written submissions...... 2 hours.................... 10.00 859.30
after plan disapproval.
--(e) Final FRA disapproval 438 railroads.............. 5 amended plans............ 1 hour..................... 5.00 429.65
and plan amendment.
213.234(e)--Automated 30 railroads............... 125 reports................ 15 minutes................. 31.25 2,097.19
inspection of track
constructed with concrete
crossties--Exception reports
listing all exception to Sec.
213.109(d)(4) Added
requirement and burden hours
from 2130-0592.
--(f) Automated inspection of 30 railroads............... 2,000 records.............. 30 minutes................. 1,000.00 85,930.00
track constructed with
concrete crossties--
Recordkeeping requirements.
--(g) Procedure for integrity 30 railroads............... 30 revised procedures...... 2 hours.................... 60.00 7,404.60
of data--Track owners to
institute procedures for
maintaining the integrity of
the data collected by the
measurement system. Added
requirement and burden hours
from 2130-0592.
--(h)(3) Training Track owners 30 railroads............... 2,250 records of trained 5 minutes.................. 187.50 12,583.13
to provide annual training in employees.
handling rail seat
deterioration exceptions to
all persons designated as
fully qualified under Sec.
213.7 and whose territories
are subject to the
requirements of Sec.
213.234--Recordkeeping. Added
requirement and burden hours
from 2130-0592.
213.237(b)(2)--Inspection of 65 railroads............... 4 requests................. 15 minutes................. 1.00 85.93
Rail--Detailed request to FRA
to change designation of a
rail inspection segment or
establish a new segment.
--(b)(3) Notification to FRA 65 railroads............... 1 notice to FRA + 15 15 minutes................. 4.00 343.72
and all affected employees of bulletins.
designation's effective date
after FRA's approval/
conditional approval.
--(d) Notice to FRA that 65 railroads............... 4 notices.................. 15 minutes................. 1.00 85.93
service failure rate target
in paragraph (a) of this
section is not achieved.
--(d)--Explanation to FRA as 65 railroads............... 4 letters of explanation/ 15 minutes................. 1.00 85.93
to why performance target was plans.
not achieved and provision to
FRA of remedial action plan.
213.238--Qualified operators-- 3 railroads + 5 testing 250 records................ 5 minutes.................. 20.83 1,789.92
Written or electronic of entities.
qualification.
213.240(b)--Continuous Rail 12 railroads............... 4 procedures............... 8 hours.................... 32.00 2,749.76
Testing--Procedures for
conducting continuous testing.
--(c) Type of rail test 12 railroads............... 25,000 documents/records... 2 seconds.................. 13.89 1,193.57
(continuous or stop-and-
verify)--Record.
--(c)--Type of rail test 12 railroads............... 100 documents.............. 1 minute................... 1.67 143.50
(continuous or stop-and-
verify)--Documented changes.
--(g) Annual reports to FRA... 12 railroads............... 12 reports................. 4 hours.................... 48.00 4,124.64
213.241--Inspection records... 784 railroads.............. 1,375,000 records.......... 10 minutes................. 229,166.67 19,692,291.95
213.303(b)--Responsibility for 2 railroads................ 5 notices.................. 30 minutes................. 2.50 214.83
compliance--Notification of
assignment to FRA.
213.305(c)(4)--Designation of 2 railroads................ 20 written documents....... 30 minutes................. 10.00 859.30
qualified individuals;
general qualifications--
Written authorization for
remedial actions.
--(e) Railroads produced 2 railroads................ 200 records................ 10 minutes................. 33.33 2,864.05
designation record upon FRA
request.
213.317(a)-(b)--Waivers....... 2 railroads................ 2 petitions................ 8 hours.................... 16.00 1,374.88
[[Page 65768]]
213.329(e)--Curves, elevation, 2 railroads................ 2.00 cover letters + 2.00 30.00 minutes + 16.00 hours 33.50 2,878.66
and speed limitations--FRA technical reports + 2.00 + 15.00 minutes.
approval of qualified vehicle diagrams.
types based on results of
testing.
--(f) Written notification to 2 railroads................ 2 notices.................. 2 hours.................... 4.00 343.72
FRA 30 days prior to
implementation of higher
curving speeds.
--(g) Written consent of other 2 railroads................ 2 written consents......... 45 minutes................. 1.50 128.90
affected track owners by
railroad.
213.333(d)--Automated vehicle- 7 railroads................ 7 reports.................. 1 hour..................... 7.00 601.51
based inspection systems--
Track Geometry Measurement
System (TGMS) output/
exception reports.
213.341(b)-(d)--Initial 2 railroads................ 800 records................ 2 minutes.................. 26.67 2,291.75
inspection of new rail &
welds--Inspection records.
213.343(a)-(e)--CWR--Procedure 2 railroads................ 2 plans.................... 4 hours.................... 8.00 687.44
s for installations and
adjustments of CWR.
--(h) Recordkeeping 2 railroads................ 8,000 records.............. 2 minutes.................. 266.67 22,914.95
requirements.
213.345(a)-(c)--Vehicle 2 railroads................ 2 program plans............ 120 hours.................. 240.00 20,623.20
qualification testing--
Vehicle qualification program
for all vehicle types
operating at track Class 6
speeds or above.
--(d) Previously qualified 2 railroads................ 2 program plans............ 8 hours.................... 16.00 1,374.88
vehicle types qualification
programs.
--(h) Written consent of other 4 railroads................ 4 written consents......... 30 minutes................. 2.00 246.82
affected track owners by
railroad.
213.369(d)--Inspection 2 railroads................ 15,000 record sets......... 10 minutes................. 2,500.00 214,825.00
Records--Record of inspection
of track.
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Total \5\................. 784 railroads.............. 1,432,181 responses........ N/A........................ 234,294 20,131,107
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Total Estimated Annual Responses: 1,432,181.
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\4\ The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the 2022 Surface
Transportation Board Full Year Wage A&B data series using the
employee groups 100 (Executives, Officials, and Office Staff
Assistants) $70.52, 200 (Professional and Administrative) $49.10,
and 400 (Maintenance of Equipment & Stores) $38.35. The total burden
wage rate (Straight time plus 75%) used in the table is $85.93
($49.10 x 1.75 = $85.93) except for the following: Sec. 213.234(g)
and Sec. 213.345(h) which uses an hourly wage rate of $123.41
(70.52 x 1.75 = $123.41) and Sec. 213.234(h)(3) which uses an
hourly wage rate of $67.11 ($38.35 x 1.75 = $67.11).
\5\ Totals may not add up due to rounding.
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Total Estimated Annual Burden: 234,294.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent:
$20,131,107.
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. 2023-20662 Filed 9-22-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 25, 2023.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.