Notice2024-28921
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
December 10, 2024
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 Request (ICR) summarized below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the information collection and its expected burden. On October 4, 2024, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICR. FRA received no comments in response to the notice.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 237 (Tuesday, December 10, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 10, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 99325-99327]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-28921]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2024-0007]
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 Request (ICR) summarized below to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR
describes the information collection and its expected burden. On
October 4, 2024, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for
public comment on the ICR. FRA received no comments in response to the
notice.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
January 9, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR
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 Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the
search function.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Arlette Mussington, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bfdecdd3dacbcbda91d2caccccd6d1d8cbd0d1ffdbd0cb91d8d0c9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="80e1f2ece5f4f4e5aeedf5f3f3e9eee7f4efeec0e4eff4aee7eff6">[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#e882878986868dc69b9f898e8e879a8ca88c879cc68f879e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6f05000e01010a411c180e0909001d0b2f0b001b41080019">[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
issue two notices seeking public comment on information collection
activities before OMB may approve paperwork packages. See 44 U.S.C.
3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.8 through 1320.12. On October 4, 2024, FRA
published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting public
comment on the ICR for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 89 FR
80983. FRA has received no comments related to the proposed collection
of information.
Before OMB decides whether to approve this proposed collection of
information, it must provide 30 days' notice 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(d); see also 60 FR 44978, 44983, Aug. 29,
1995. The 30-day notice informs the regulated community of its
opportunity to file relevant comments and affords the agency adequate
time to consider public comments before it renders a decision. 60 FR
44983, Aug. 29, 1995. Therefore, each respondent should submit their
comments to OMB within 30 days of publication to best ensure having
their full effect.
Comments are invited on the following ICR 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 summary below describes the ICR that FRA will submit for OMB
clearance as the PRA requires:
Title: Grants Management Requirements for Federal Railroad
Administration. Grant Awards and Cooperative Agreements.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0615.
Abstract: FRA solicits grant applications through a multitude of
grant programs for projects including, but not limited to,
preconstruction planning activities, safety improvements, congestion
relief, improvement of grade crossings, rail line relocation, as well
as projects that encourage development, expansion, and upgrades to
passenger and freight rail infrastructure and services. FRA funds
projects that meet FRA and government-wide evaluation standards and
align with the DOT Strategic Plan.
FRA requires systematic and uniform collection and submission of
information, as approved by OMB, to ensure accountability of Federal
assistance provided by FRA. Through this information collection, FRA
will measure Federal award recipients' performance and results,
including expenditures in support of agreed-upon activities and
allowable costs outlined in the standard FRA Notice of Grant Award sent
to the recipients.
This information collection includes OMB-required reports and
documentation, as well as additional forms and submissions to compile
data relevant to addressing FRA's important policy challenges,
promoting cost-effectiveness in FRA programs, and providing effective
oversight of programmatic and financial performance. FRA issues and
manages awards in compliance with 2 CFR part 200; Uniform
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements
for Federal Awards.
In this 30-day notice, after a thorough review, FRA has adjusted
the previously
[[Page 99326]]
reported number of burden hours and responses that were published in
the 60-day notice on October 4, 2024.\1\ As a result, the adjustments
have decreased the requested burden hours from 28,869 to 21,173, and
responses from 11,001 to 4,762. Details of the adjustments are outlined
in the following statements below:
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\1\ 89 FR 80983.
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<bullet> In previously reported submissions, FRA determined that
burden hours associated with Standard Forms SF 270; SF 424; SF 424A; SF
424B; SF 424C; SF 424D; SF 425; and SF LLL were included as part of the
total estimated burden hours, which added additional hours to the ICR.
However, FRA determined that it was more appropriate for the burden
hours for the SF forms to accounted for only once under the host OMB
control number. Accordingly, FRA has removed the previously reported
burden hours of the Standard Forms from this ICR renewal submission.
<bullet> Discontinuance of FRA F 6180.229 NIST Manufacturing
Extension partnership Supplier Scouting. As part of the implementation
of the Build America, Buy America (BABA), federal agencies are required
to coordinate with the National Institute of Standards and Technology--
Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST-MEP) to conduct supplier
scouting efforts when federal agencies anticipate the need to waiver
either BABA or Buy America requirements for federally funded projects.
The NIST-MEP has requested that federal agencies direct project
sponsors and the manufacturers of non-compliant components to engage
directly with them to conduct this supplier scouting effort. As such,
FRA no longer plans to collect information on the FRA F 6180.229 at
this time and thus, proposes to remove the burden hours associated with
the form, as this burden will be captured by the NIST-MEP.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Form(s): FRA F 6180.30; FRA F 6180.31 (revised); FRA F 6180.32; FRA
F 6180.33; FRA F 6180.34 (revised); FRA F 6180.217; FRA F 6180.251; FRA
F 6180.252; Plus, one new form FRA F 6180.288 (new).
Affected Public: Generally, includes States, local governments, and
railroads.
Frequency of Submission: Varied; on occasion/monthly.
Reporting Burden: For transparency FRA is republishing the burden
table to show the corrected burden table.
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Average time Total cost
Form name Form No. Grant activity/ Respondent per response Total annual equivalent in
process universe (in hours) burden hours U.S. dollar
(A) (B) (C = A * B) (D = C * wage
rates) \2\
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Applicant Financial Capability FRA F 6180.251......... Application........... 1,000 2 2,000 $123,700
Questionnaire.
FRA Assurances and Certifications FRA F 6180.30.......... Application........... 1,000 0.25 250 15,462.50
Regarding Lobbying; Debarment,
Suspension and Other Responsibility
Matters and Drug-Free Workplace
Requirements.
Pre-Award Authority Request--Project FRA F 6180.288......... Pre-Award............. 100 3 300 18,555.00
Sponsors that wish to incur pre-
award expenses can apply for pre-
award authority. (New Form).
Payment Summary Spreadsheet......... FRA F 6180.252......... Awards & Maintenance.. 860 0.50 430 26,595.50
Quarterly Progress Report \3\ (FRA F FRA F 6180.34.......... Awards & Maintenance.. 500 2 1,000 61,850.00
6180.34; new awards) Revised form.
Quarterly Progress Report \4\ (FRA F FRA F 6180.34.......... Awards & Maintenance.. 864 2 1,728 106,876.80
6180.34; existing recipients)
Revised form.
Grant Adjustment Request Form (GARF) FRA F 6180.31.......... Awards & Maintenance.. 212 1 212 13,112.20
Revised form.
Service Outcome Agreement (SOA) FRA F 6180.32.......... Awards & Maintenance.. 24 1 24 1,484.40
Annual Reporting.
Certification of Compliance or Non- Narrative Request...... Buy America Component. 15 4 60 3,711.00
Compliance with Buy America
Requirements for Steel, Iron,
Construction Materials, and
Manufactured Products being
produced by Awardee (narrative
request).
Certification of Compliance with Buy Narrative Request...... Buy America Component. 1 62 62 3,834.79
America for Rolling Stock
(narrative request).
Waivers--Requests/Applications for Narrative Request...... Buy America Component. 15 80 1,200 74,220.00
Waivers, excluding FRA Form 229
(narrative request).
Awardee Investigations (including Narrative Request...... Buy America Component. 3 333 999 61,788.15
FRA initiated investigations).
Awardee direct reply to FRA after Narrative Request...... Buy America Component. 2 1 2 123.70
request to conduct investigation of
bidder/offeror (narrative request).
Additional Documents to FRA from Narrative Request...... Buy America Component. 1 4 4 247.40
Awardee/Investigated Party
(narrative request).
Transmission of Awardee/Bidder/ Narrative Request...... Buy America Component. 1 4 4 247.40
Offeror Reply to Petitioner
(narrative request).
Awardee/Investigated Bidder/Offeror Narrative Request...... Buy America Component. 1 8 8 494.80
response to Petitioner Comment
(narrative request).
Written request to FRA for Narrative Request...... Buy America Component. 1 4 4 247.40
information bearing on substance of
investigation which has been
submitted by petitioner, interested
parties, or awardees (narrative
request).
Detailed Statement to FRA Regarding Narrative Request...... Buy America Component. 1 8 8 494.80
Confidentiality of Previously
Submitted Information to Agency
(narrative request).
[[Page 99327]]
Awardee Determination to make award Narrative Request...... Buy America Component. 1 40 40 2,474.00
before resolution of investigation
one of these sections specified
reasons (narrative request).
Notification to FRA by Awardee to Narrative Request...... Buy America Component. 1 1 1 61.85
make award during pendency of
investigation (narrative request).
Request to FRA for Reconsideration Narrative Request...... Buy America Component. 1 80 80 4,948.00
of Initial Decision by Party
Involved in Investigations
(narrative request).
Pre-Award Audit (narrative request). Narrative Request...... Buy America Component. 1 33 33 2,041.05
Final Contract between Awardee and Narrative Request...... Buy America Component. 1 16 16 989.60
Bidder/Offeror (narrative request).
Post Award Audit (narrative request) Narrative Request...... Buy America Component. 1 256 256 15,833.60
Rolling Stock Domestic Content Narrative Request...... Buy America Component. 1 120 120 7,422.00
Improvement Plans (narrative
request).
Categorical Exclusion (Worksheet)... FRA F 6180.217......... Awards & Maintenance.. 75 156 11,700 723,645.00
Final Performance Report............ FRA F 33............... Closeout.............. 79 8 632 39,089.20
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Total \5\....................... ....................... ...................... 4,762 .............. 21,173 1,309,550
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Total Estimated Annual Responses: 4,762.
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\2\ The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the May 2023
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), using the
median hourly wage rate for a Management Analyst 13-1111 of 47.80,
plus an overhead rate of 29.4% (Employer Costs for Employee
Compensation--June 2023) for a fully burdened wage rate of 47.80 +
14.05 = 61.85.
\3\ 125 new awardees submit each quarter--125 x 4 = 500
respondents.
\4\ 216 existing awardees submit each quarter--216 x 4 = 864
respondents.
\5\ Total may not add up due to rounding.
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Total Estimated Annual Burden: 21,173 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent:
$1,309,550.
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,
Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2024-28921 Filed 12-9-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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