
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 4, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33466-33467]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-13159]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2013-0002-N-13]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice and Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces that the Information Collection Requirements (ICRs) 
abstracted below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs describes the nature of 
the information collections and their expected burdens. The Federal 
Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the 
following collections of information was published on March 27, 2013 
(78 FR 18672).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 5, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Planning 
and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 
New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 20590 (Telephone: 
(202) 493-6292), or Ms. Kimberly Toone, Office of Information 
Technology, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey 
Ave. SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (Telephone: (202) 493-
6132). (These telephone numbers are not toll-free.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
Public Law 104-13, Sec.  2, 109 Stat. 163 (1995) (codified as revised 
at 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. 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.5, 1320.8(d)(1), 
1320.12. On March 27, 2013, FRA published a 60-day notice in the 
Federal Register soliciting comment on ICRs that the agency was seeking 
OMB approval. See 78 FR 18672. FRA received no comments after issuing 
this notice. Accordingly, these information collection activities have 
been re-evaluated and certified under 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and forwarded to 
OMB for review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12(c).
    Before OMB decides whether to approve these proposed collections of 
information, it must provide 30 days for public comment. 44 U.S.C. 
3507(b); 5 CFR 1320.12(d). 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. OMB believes that the 30 day notice 
informs the regulated community to file relevant comments and affords 
the agency adequate time to digest public comments before it renders a 
decision. 60 FR 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. Therefore, respondents should 
submit their respective comments to OMB within 30 days of publication 
to best ensure having their full effect. 5 CFR 1320.12(c); see also 60 
FR 44983, Aug. 29, 1995.
    The summary below describes the nature of the information 
collection requirements (ICRs) and the expected burden. The revised 
requirements are being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by 
the PRA.
    Title: Filing of Dedicated Cars.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0502.
    Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected Public: Railroads.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Abstract: Title 49, Part 215 of the Code of Federal Regulations, 
prescribes certain conditions to be followed for the movement of 
freight cars that are not in compliance with this Part. Dedicated 
service means the exclusive assignment of railroad cars to the 
transportation of freight between specified points under the following 
conditions: (1) The cars are operated primarily on track that is inside 
an industrial or other non-railroad installation; and only occasionally 
over track of a railroad; (2) The cars are not operated at speeds of

[[Page 33467]]

more than 15 miles per hour; and over track of a railroad--(A) for more 
than 30 miles in one direction; or (B) on a round trip for more than 60 
miles; (3) The cars are not freely interchanged among railroads; (4) 
The words ``Dedicated Service'' are stenciled, or otherwise displayed, 
in clear legible letters on each side of the car body; and (5) The cars 
have been examined and found safe to operate in dedicated service. 
These cars must be identified in a written report to FRA before they 
are assigned to dedicated service, and these reports must be filed with 
FRA 30 days before the cars operate in dedicated service. FRA uses the 
information collected under Sec.  215.5(d) to determine the number of 
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 these reports to determine 
if the equipment is safe to operate and if the operation qualifies for 
dedicated service. The information collected indicates to FRA 
inspectors that the particular or ``dedicated'' car is in special 
service and that certain exceptions have been provided for regarding 
the application of this regulation spelled out in Sec.  215.3. Cars not 
in compliance with Sec.  215.5(d) will be cited for violations by FRA 
inspectors. The information collected is also used by railroads to 
provide identification and control so that dedicated cars remain in the 
prescribed service.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 4 hours.
    Title: Special Notice for Repairs.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0504.
    Type of Request: Extension with change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected Public: Railroads.
    Form(s): FRA F 6180.8; FRA F 6180.8a.
    Abstract: The Special Notice for Repairs is issued to notify the 
carrier in writing of an unsafe condition involving a locomotive, car, 
or track. The carrier must return the form after repairs have been 
made. The collection of information is used by State and Federal 
inspectors to remove freight car or locomotives until they can be 
restored to a serviceable condition. It is also used by State and 
Federal inspectors to reduce the maximum authorized speed on a section 
of track until repairs can be made.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 20 hours.
    Title: Remotely Controlled Switch Operations.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0516.
    Type of Request: Extension with change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected Public: Railroads.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Abstract: Title 49, Sec.  218.30 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR), ensures that remotely controlled switches are lined to protect 
workers who are vulnerable to being struck by moving cars as they 
inspect or service equipment on a particular track or, alternatively, 
occupy camp cars. FRA believes that production of notification requests 
promotes safety by minimizing mental lapses of workers who are 
simultaneously handling several tasks. Sections 218.30 and 218.67 
require the operator of remotely controlled switches to maintain a 
record of each notification requesting blue signal protection 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 inspectors monitoring regulatory compliance.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 60,010 hours.
    Title: Bad Order and Home Shop Card.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0519.
    Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected Public: Railroads.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Abstract: Under 49 CFR Part 215, each railroad is required to 
inspect freight cars placed in service and take the necessary remedial 
action when defects are identified. Part 215 defects are specific in 
nature and relate to items that have or could have caused accidents or 
incidents. Section 215.9 sets forth specific procedures that railroads 
must follow when it is necessary to move defective cars for repair 
purposes. For example, railroads must 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 that 
it may be readily identified and moved to another location for repair 
purposes only. At the repair point, the ``bad order'' tag serves as a 
repair record. Railroads must retain each tag for 90 days to verify 
that proper repairs were made at the designated location. FRA and State 
inspectors review all pertinent records to determine whether defective 
cars presenting an immediate hazard are being moved in transportation.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 15,750 hours.
    Addressee: Send comments regarding these information collections to 
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management 
and Budget, 725 Seventeenth Street NW., Washington, DC 20503, 
Attention: FRA Desk Officer.
    Comments are invited on the following: Whether the proposed 
collections of information are necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Department, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; the accuracy of the Department's estimates of 
the burden of the proposed information collections; ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
ways to minimize the burden of the collections of information on 
respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    A comment to OMB is best assured of having its full effect if OMB 
receives it within 30 days of publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register.

    Authority:  44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.

    Issued in Washington, DC on May 29, 2013.
Rebecca Pennington,
Chief Financial Officer, Federal Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 2013-13159 Filed 6-3-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


