Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
| Published date | 07 October 2019 |
| Citation | 84 FR 53556 |
| Record Number | 2019-21814 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | Federal Railroad Administration,Transportation Department |
Federal Register, Volume 84 Issue 194 (Monday, October 7, 2019)
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 194 (Monday, October 7, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53556-53558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-21814]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2019-0004-N-16]
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment
Request
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), U.S. 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
[[Page 53557]]
implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the Information
Collection Requests (ICRs) abstracted below. Before submitting these
ICRs to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is
soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities
identified below.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
December 6, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the ICRs activities by mail to
either: Ms. Hodan Wells, Information Collection Clearance Officer,
Office of Railroad Safety, Regulatory Analysis Division, Federal
Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC
20590; or Ms. Kim Toone, Information Collection Clearance Officer,
Office of Information Technology, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. Commenters requesting FRA
to acknowledge receipt of their respective comments must include a
self-addressed stamped postcard stating, ``Comments on OMB Control
Number 2130-XXXX,'' (the relevant OMB control number for each ICR is
listed below) and should also include the title of the ICR.
Alternatively, comments may be faxed to 202-493-6216 or 202-493-6497,
or emailed to Ms. Wells at [email protected], or Ms. Toone at
[email protected]. Please refer to the assigned OMB control number 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. Hodan Wells, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Railroad Safety, Regulatory
Analysis Division, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-0440) or Ms. Kim
Toone, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Information
Technology, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6132).
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 ICRs
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, 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 summaries below describe the ICRs that FRA will submit for OMB
clearance as the PRA requires:
Title: Remotely Controlled Switch Operations.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0516.
Abstract: Sections 49 CFR 218.30 and 218.77 require remotely
controlled switches be properly lined to protect workers who are
vulnerable to being struck by moving cars as they inspect or service
rolling equipment on track or occupy camp cars. Creating required
notifications promotes safety by minimizing the mental lapses of
workers who are simultaneously handling several tasks. These sections
require the operator of remotely controlled switches to maintain a
record of each blue signal protection request for 15 days. Operators of
remotely controlled switches use the information as a record
documenting blue signal 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.
Type of Request: Extension with change (revised estimates) of a
currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Businesses.
Form(s): N/A.
Respondent Universe: 53 railroads.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
Reporting Burden:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average time
CFR Section Respondent Total annual per responses Total annual Total cost
universe responses (minutes) burden hours equivalent \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
218.30(c)--Remotely 53 railroads.... 1,934,500 45 seconds 24,181 $1,378,317
controlled switches- notifications.
notification recordkeeping
requirement (Blue Signal
Protection of Workers).
218.77(c)--Remotely 1 railroad...... 150 45 seconds 2 $114
controlled switches- notifications.
notification recordkeeping
requirement (Protection of
Occupied Camp Cars).
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Total.................... 53 railroads.... 1,934,650 N/A 24,183 $1,378,431
responses.
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\1\ Throughout the tables in this document, the dollar equivalent cost is derived from the Surface
Transportation Board's Full Year Wage A&B data series using the appropriate employee group hourly wage rate
that includes 75-percent overhead charges.
Total Estimated Annual Responses: 1,934,650.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 24,183 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent:
$1,378,431.
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
[[Page 53558]]
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, section 215.301 requires railroads and private car
owners to stencil or otherwise display identification marks on freight
cars. FRA uses the identification marks to determine the railroads
affected, the number and type of cars involved, the commodities being
carried, and the territorial and speed limits within which the cars
will be operated. FRA reviews this information to determine if the
freight car is safe to operate and if the operation 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 with change (revised estimates) of a
currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Businesses (railroads).
Form(s): N/A.
Respondent Universe: 752 railroads.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
Reporting Burden:
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Average time
CFR Section Respondent Total annual per responses Total annual Total cost
universe responses (minutes) burden hours equivalent
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215.9(a)--Movement of 752 railroads... 150,000 tags... 5 12,500 $715,000
Defective Cars for Repair--
Tagging.
215.9(b)--Notifications of 752 railroads... 75,000 2 2,500 143,000
Removal of Defective Car notifications.
Tags.
215.11(c)--Designated 752 railroads... 45,000 records. 1 750 42,900
Inspectors--Records.
215.301--Stenciling--General. 752 railroads... 30,000 45 22,500 1,287,000
repainted/
stenciled.
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Total.................... 752 railroads... 300,000 N/A 38,2500 2,187,900
responses.
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Total Estimated Annual Responses: 300,000.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 38,250 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent:
$2,187,900.
Title: Bridge Worker Safety Rules.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0535.
Abstract: Subpart B of 49 CFR part 214 establishes minimum
workplace safety standards for railroad employees as they apply to
railroad bridges. Specifically, 49 CFR 214.105(c) establishes standards
and practices for safety net systems. Safety nets and net installations
must be drop-tested at the job site after initial installation and
before being used as a fall-protection system, after major repairs, and
at 6-month intervals if left at one site. If a drop-test is not
feasible and is not performed, then the railroad or railroad
contractor, or a designated certified person, must provide written
certification the net complies with the safety standards of 49 CFR
214.105. FRA and State inspectors use the information to enforce
Federal regulations. The information maintained at the job site
promotes safe bridge worker practices.
Type of Request: Extension with change (revised estimates) of a
currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Businesses (railroads).
Form(s): N/A.
Respondent Universe: 746 railroads.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
Reporting Burden:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average time
CFR Section Respondent Total annual per responses Total annual Total cost
universe responses (minutes) burden hours equivalent
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
214.105(c)(4)-- Fall 746 railroads... 3 written 5 .25 (15 $19
protection systems standards certification minutes)
and practices- Safety net records.
systems certification
records.
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Total Estimated Annual Responses: 3.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 15 minutes.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $19.
Under 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 CFR 1320.5(b) and 1320.8(b)(3)(vi),
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 unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.
Brett A. Jortland,
Acting Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2019-21814 Filed 10-4-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
