
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 155 (Monday, August 14, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37977-37978]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17115]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2017-0002-N-22]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

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

[[Page 37978]]


ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice 
announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Request 
(ICR) abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review and comment. The ICR describes the information collection and 
its expected burden. On May 22, 2017, FRA published a notice providing 
a 60-day period for public comment on the ICR.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 13, 2017.

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 Administration, Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, 
Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Mail Stop 
35, 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 
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), and 1320.10. On May 22, 2017, FRA 
published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on 
the ICR for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 82 FR 17498. FRA 
received no comments in response to that notice.
    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 1320.10. 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 1320.10; see also 60 
FR 44978, 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. OMB believes the 30-day notice gives 
the regulated community to the opportunity to file relevant comments 
and affords the agency adequate time to digest public comments before 
it renders a decision. Id. Therefore, respondents should submit their 
respective comments to OMB within 30 days of publication to best ensure 
having their full effect.
    The summary below describes the ICR and its expected burden. FRA is 
submitting this renewal request for clearance by OMB as the PRA 
requires.
    Title: Survey of Plant and Insular Tourist Railroads Subject to FRA 
Bridge Safety Standards (49 CFR part 237).
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0617.
    Abstract: FRA's Bridge Safety Standards (49 CFR part 237) apply to 
all owners of railroad track with a gage of 2 feet or more supported by 
a bridge. This includes track owners with bridges located within an 
installation which is not part of the general railroad system of 
transportation (general system), but over which a general system 
railroad operates (i.e., bridges within an insular tourist railroad, 
and bridges within an industrial installation (plant) that is not part 
of the general system, but over which a general system railroad 
operates). Currently, FRA relies on the railroad accident/incident 
reports (49 CFR part 225) to identify track owners subject to the 
requirements of part 237. However, plant and insular tourist railroads 
are exempt from 49 CFR part 225 (Railroad Accidents/Incidents: Reports, 
Classification, and Investigations). FRA wants to identify plant and 
insular tourist railroads that may be subject to part 237 requirements, 
but are exempt from part 225 reporting requirements. FRA will use this 
information to help evaluate risks related to railroad safety and to 
plan oversight activities.
    FRA is requesting any railroad serving a plant and moving railroad 
equipment over bridges within the plant, or the plant itself, to advise 
FRA by email if there are railroad bridges within the plant potentially 
subject to FRA Bridge Safety Standards. FRA is also requesting insular 
tourist railroads whose tracks are supported by one or more bridges to 
advise FRA of the existence of their bridges by email. Email 
notifications should be sent to FRAPlantTouristSurvey@dot.gov and 
should include the name of the plant, installation, or insular tourist 
railroad, and that entity's address (including city and State, contact 
name, telephone number, and email address). Notification may also be 
made by telephone to Yujiang Zhang at (202) 493-6460. This survey is 
ongoing with approval requested for 3 years.
    Type of Request: Extension without change of a previously approved 
information collection.
    Affected Public: Freight railroads, industrial installations 
(plants), insular tourist railroads.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 210.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 53 hours.
    Addressee: Send comments regarding these information collections to 
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management 
and Budget, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention: FRA 
Desk Officer. Comments may also be sent via email to OMB at the 
following address: oira_submissions@omb.eop.gov.
    FRA requests comment on all aspects of this ICR, but commenters 
should focus on the following: Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for DOT to properly perform its functions, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; the 
accuracy of DOT'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.

Sarah L. Inderbitzin,
Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2017-17115 Filed 8-11-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


