
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 125 (Friday, June 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29976-29979]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13746]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2017-0002-N-17]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), U.S. Department of 
Transportation

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its 
implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of proposed information 
collection activities listed below. Before submitting these information 
collection requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for approval, FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of 
the activities identified in this notice.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than August 29, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the information collection 
activities by mail to either: Mr. Robert Brogan, Information Collection 
Clearance Officer, Office of Railroad Safety, Regulatory Analysis 
Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE., Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 20590; or Ms. Kim Toone, 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Information 
Technology, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE., Mail Stop 35, 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

[[Page 29977]]

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 Mr. Brogan at 
Robert.Brogan@dot.gov, or Ms. Toone at Kim.Toone@dot.gov. 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: Mr. Robert Brogan, Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Railroad Safety, Regulatory 
Analysis Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 
493-6292) or Ms. Kim Toone, Information Collection Clearance Officer, 
Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, Federal Railroad 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, 
DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6132). (These telephone numbers are not 
toll free.)

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(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), 1320.10(e)(1), 
1320.12(a). Specifically, FRA invites interested parties to comment on 
the following summary of proposed information collection activities 
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 by automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques and other forms of information technology (e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of responses). See 44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1).
    FRA believes soliciting public comment will promote its efforts to 
reduce the administrative and paperwork burdens associated with the 
collection of information Federal regulations mandate. In summary, FRA 
reasons comments received will advance three objectives: (1) Reduce 
reporting burdens; (2) ensure it organizes 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.
    Below is a brief summary of currently approved information 
collection activities FRA will submit for OMB clearance as the PRA 
requires:
    Title: Railroad Operating Rules.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0035.
    Abstract: The collection of information is due to regulations in 49 
CFR part 217 which require Class I and Class II railroads to file with 
FRA copies of their operating rules, timetables, and timetable special 
instructions, and subsequent amendments. The regulations require Class 
III railroads to retain copies of these documents at their systems 
headquarters. Also, 49 CFR 220.21(b) prescribes the collection of 
information by requiring railroads to retain one copy of their current 
operating rules with respect to radio communications and one copy of 
each subsequent amendment. Railroads must make these documents 
available to FRA upon request. Through these rules, FRA learns the 
condition of operating rules and practices of trains and instructions 
railroads provide their employees on operating practices.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 755 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Businesses.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Respondent         Total annual      Average time per      Total annual
           CFR section                 universe            responses           response          burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
217.7--Copy--FRA--Operating       2 new railroads...  2 submissions.....  1 hour............  2 hours.
 rules, timetables, Class I & II
 RRs.
--Amendments....................  55 railroads......  165 amendments....  20 minutes........  55 hours.
--Copy of operating rules/        5 new railroads...  5 submissions.....  55 minutes........  5 hours.
 timetables, etc. by Class III.
--Amendments by Class III         704 railroads.....  2,013 amendments..  15 minutes........  503 hours.
 Railroads.
217.9--Records of Qualification.  755 railroads.....  4,732 records.....  2 minutes.........  158 hours.
--Written Prog. of Operational    5 new railroads...  5 programs........  9.92 hours........  50 hours.
 Tests.
--Records of Operational Tests/   755 railroads.....  9,120,000 records.  5 minutes.........  760,000 hours.
 Inspections.
--Amendments....................  55 railroads......  165 amendments....  70 minutes........  193 hours.
--Quarterly Review of Accident/   37 railroads......  148 reviews.......  2 hours...........  296 hours.
 Incident Data/ Prior Op. Tests/
 Insp.
--Designated Officers & Conduct   37 railroads......  37 designations +   5 seconds + 2       148 hours.
 of 6 Mo. Rev.                                         74 reviews.         hours.
--Designated Officers & Conduct   Amtrak + 33         34 designations +   5 seconds + 2       136 hours.
 of Six Month Review by            railroads.          68 reviews.         hours.
 Passenger/ Commuter Railroads.
--Records of Periodic Reviews...  101 railroads.....  290 review records  1 minute..........  5 hours.
--Annual Summary on Operational   101 railroads.....  71 summary records  61 minutes........  72 hours.
 Tests/Insp.
--FRA Disapproval of RR Program   755 railroads.....  5 supporting        1 hour............  5 hours.
 of Operational Tests/Insp. &                          documents.
 Response by RR.
--Amended Prog. Docs............  755 railroads.....  5 amended           30 minutes........  3 hours.
                                                       documents.
271.11--Instruction of Program    755 railroads.....  130,000 instr.      8 hours...........  1,040,000 hours.
 Employees.                                            employees.
--New RR & Copy of Program of     5 new railroads...  5 Programs........  8 hours...........  40 hours.
 Op. Tests.

[[Page 29978]]

 
--Amendments to Op. Rules Instr.  755 railroads.....  110 amendments....  30 minutes........  55 hours.
 Program.
218.95--Instruction, Training,    755 railroads.....  98,000 records....  5 minutes.........  8,167 hours.
 Examination--Records.
--Response to FRA Disapproval of  755 railroads.....  5 written/oral      1 hour............  5 hours.
 Program.                                              submissions.
--Programs Needing Amendment....  755 railroads.....  5 amended programs  30 minutes........  3 hours.
218.97--Employee Copy of Written  755 railroads.....  4,732 copies......  6 minutes.........  473 hours.
 Procedures.
--Good Faith Challenges by RR     98,000 RR           15 challenges.....  10 minutes........  3 hours.
 Employees.                        Employees.
--RR Responses to Empl.           15 railroads......  15 responses......  5 minutes.........  1 hour.
 Challenge.
--Immediate Review of Employee    15 railroads......  5 immediate         30 minutes........  3 hours.
 Challenge.                                            reviews.
--RR Officer Explanation of       15 railroads......  5 explanations....  1 minute..........  .08 hour.
 Federal Law Protection Against
 Retaliation.
--Documented Protest by RR        10 railroads......  10 written          15 minutes........  3 hours.
 Employee.                                             protests.
--Copies of Protests............  10 railroads......  10 protest copies.  1 minute..........  .17 hour.
--Further Reviews...............  10 railroads......  3 further reviews.  15 minutes........  1 hour.
--Written Verification Decision   10 railroads......  10 verification     10 minutes........  2 hours.
 to Employee.                                          decisions.
--Copy of Written Procedures at   755 railroads.....  755 copies of       5 minutes.........  63 hours.
 RR Hdqtr.                                             procedures.
--Copy of Verification Decision   755 railroads.....  20 verification     5 minutes.........  2 hours.
 at RR Headquarters & Division                         decision copies.
 Headquarters.
218.99--Shoving or Pushing
 Movements.
--Operating Rule Modifications..  755 railroads.....  32 rule             1 hour............  32 hours.
                                                       modifications.
--Locomotive Engineer Job         130,000 RR          180,000 job         1 minute..........  3,000 hours.
 Briefing Before Movement.         Employees.          briefings.
--Point Protection                130,000 RR          87,600,000          1 minute + 1        2,920,000 hours.
 Determinations & Signals/         Employees.          determinations +    minute.
 Instructions to Control                               87,600,000
 Movements.                                            signals/
                                                       instructions.
--Remote Control Movements--      130,000 RR          876,000             1 minute..........  14,600 hours.
 Verbal Confirmation.              Employees.          confirmations.
--Remote Control Determinations   130,000 RR          876,000             1 minute..........  14,600 hours.
 That Zone Is Not Jointly          Employees.          confirmations.
 Occupied/Track Clear.
--Dispatcher Authorized Train     6,000 RR            30,000 auth.        1 minute..........  500 hours.
 Movements.                        Dispatchers.        movements.
218.101--Operating Rule Re:       755 railroads.....  32 amended op.      30 minutes........  16 hours.
 Leaving Rolling & On-Track MOW                        rules.
 Equipment in the Clear.
218.103--Hand-Operated Switches-- 755 railroads.....  32 modified         1 hour............  32 hours.
 RR Operating Rule That Complies                       operating rules.
 w/Sec.   218.103.
--Specification of Minimum Job    755 railroads.....  5 modified op.      30 minutes........  3 hours.
 Briefing Requirements.                                rules.
--Employee Operating or           755 railroads.....  1,125,000 job       1 minute..........  18,750 hours.
 Verifying Position of Hand-                           briefings.
 operated Switches: Job
 Briefings.
218.105--Additional Requirements  755 railroads.....  60,000 job          1 minute..........  1,000 hours.
 for Hand-Operated Main Track                          briefings.
 Switches--Job Briefing.
--Roadway Worker Report on        7704 railroads....  100,000 empl.       1 minute + 1        3,334 hours.
 Position of Switches to Roadway                       reports + 100,000   minute.
 Worker in Charge (RWIC) or                            conveyances.
 Designated Employee Conveying
 Information to RWIC.
--Dispatcher Acknowledgment of    755 railroads.....  60,000              30 seconds + 5      583 hours.
 Switch Position and Employee                          acknowledgment +    seconds.
 Confirmation to Train                                 60,000
 Dispatcher.                                           confirmations.
218.109--Hand-Operated Fixed      755 railroads.....  562,500 job         30 seconds........  4,688 hours.
 Derails: Job Briefings.                               briefings.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Responses: 188,591,125.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 4,797,590 hours.
    Type of Request: Extension with change of a currently approved ICR 
(extension with change reflects revised estimates for some rule 
requirements).
    Title: Track Safety Standards; Concrete Crossties.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0592.
    Abstract: On April 1, 2011, FRA amended the Federal Track Safety 
Standards to promote the safety of railroad operations over track 
constructed with concrete crossties. FRA mandated specific requirements 
for effective concrete crossties, for rail fastening systems connected 
to concrete crossties, and for automated inspections of track 
constructed with concrete crossties. FRA uses the information collected 
under 49 CFR 213.234 to ensure automated track inspections of track 
constructed with concrete crossties are carried out as specified in the 
rule to supplement visual inspections by Class I and Class II 
railroads, intercity passenger railroads, and commuter railroads or 
small

[[Page 29979]]

government jurisdictions that serve populations greater than 50,000.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 18 railroads
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Respondent         Total annual      Average time per      Total annual
           CFR Section                 universe            responses           response          burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
213.234--Automated Inspection of  18 Railroads......  75 reports........  8 hours...........  600 hours.
 Track Constructed with Concrete
 Crossties: Exception Reports
 Listing All Exception to Sec.
 213.109(d)(4).
--Copies of Exception Report      18 Railroads......  75 report copies..  12 minutes........  15 hours.
 Provided to Designated Person
 under Sec.   213.234(e)(1).
--Field Verification of           18 Railroads......  75 verification...  2 hours...........  150 hours.
 Exception Reports.
--Records of Inspection Data....  18 Railroads......  75 records........  30 minutes........  38 hours.
--Institution of Procedures by    18 Railroads......  18 procedures.....  4 hours...........  72 hours.
 Track Owner to Maintain
 Integrity of Track Data
 Collected by the Measurement
 System.
--Training by Track Owner:        18 Railroads......  2,000 trained       2 hours...........  4,000 hours.
 Annual Training in Handing Rail                       employees.
 Seat Deterioration Exceptions
 to All Persons Designated Fully
 Qualified under Sec.   213.7.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Responses: 2,318
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 4,875 hours
    Type of Request: Extension with change of a currently approved ICR 
(extension with change reflects revised estimates for some rule 
requirements)
    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.

Sarah L. Inderbitzin,
Acting Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2017-13746 Filed 6-29-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


