Notice2023-21657
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 2, 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 189 (Monday, October 2, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 189 (Monday, October 2, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67865-67866]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21657]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2023-0002-N-28]
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) 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
December 1, 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 (2130-0594) 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#7110031d140505145f1c040202181f16051e1f31151e055f161e07"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3b5a49575e4f4f5e15564e484852555c4f54557b5f544f155c544d">[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#5933363837373c772a2e383f3f362b3d193d362d773e362f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="264c49474848430855514740404954426642495208414950">[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: Railroad Safety Appliance Standards.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0594.
Abstract: The information collection associated with 49 CFR part
231 is used by FRA to promote and enhance the safe placement and
securement of safety appliances on newly constructed rail vehicles. The
regulation provides a process for railroads or car owners to submit
requests for the approval of existing industry standards for safety
appliance arrangements on newly constructed railroad cars, locomotives,
tenders, or other rail vehicles in lieu of the specific arrangements in
part 231.
In this 60-day notice, FRA made no adjustments to the previously
approved burden hours and responses in the OMB, Office of Information
and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) inventory.\1\
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\1\ Changes to the total cost equivalent in U.S. dollars, a
category not included in the OIRA inventory, are due to updated
statistics from the 2022 Surface Transportation Board (STB) Full
Year Wage A&B data series.
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Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected Public: Businesses.
Form(s): N/A.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
[[Page 67866]]
Reporting Burden
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Average time Total cost
CFR section Respondent Total annual per response Total annual equivalent in
universe responses (hours) burden hours U.S. dollar
(A)............ (B) (C = A * B) (D = C* wage
rates) \2\
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231.33(b)--Procedure for AAR (industry 1 petition..... 16 16.00 $1,374.88
special approval of existing rep.).
industry safety appliance
standards--filing of
petitions.
--(b)(6) Affirmative AAR (industry 1 affirmation 1 1.00 85.93
statement by petitioner that rep.). statement.
a petition copy has been
served on rep. of employees
responsible for equipment's
operation/inspection/testing/
maintenance.
--(f)(3)(iii) Disposition of AAR (industry 1 petition or 2 2.00 171.86
petitions: petition returned rep.). additional
by FRA requesting additional document.
information.
231.35(a)--Procedure for AAR (industry 1 petition for 16 16.00 1,374.88
modification of an approved rep.). modification.
industry safety appliance
standard for new car
construction--filing of
petitions.
--(b)(3) Affirmative AAR (industry 1 affirmation 1 1.00 85.93
statement by petitioner that rep.). statement.
a petition copy has been
served on rep. of employees
responsible for equipment's
operation/inspection/testing/
maintenance.
--(e) FRA review of petition AAR (industry 1 additional 1 1.00 85.93
for modification; agency rep.). comment.
objection and AAR response.
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Total \3\................ 765 railroads... 6 responses.... N/A 37 3,179
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Total Estimated Annual Responses: 6.
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\2\ The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the 2022 STB Full
Year Wage A&B data series using the employee group 200 (Professional
& Administrative) hourly wage rate of $49.10. The total burden wage
rate (Straight time plus 75%) used in the table is $85.93 ($49.10 x
1.75 = $85.93).
\3\ Totals may not add up due to rounding.
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Total Estimated Annual Burden: 37 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $3,179.
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. 2023-21657 Filed 9-29-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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