[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 146 (Tuesday, July 30, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37000-37003]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-16011]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2019-0004-N-11]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

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

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its 
implementing regulations, this notice announces that FRA is forwarding 
the Information Collection Requests (ICRs) abstracted below to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs 
describe the information collections and their expected burden. On May 
30, 2019, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public 
comment on the ICRs.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
August 29, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the ICRs 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Brogan, Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Railroad Safety, Regulatory 
Analysis Division, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE, Room W33-497, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-
6292); or Ms. Kim Toone, Information Collection Clearance Officer, 
Office of Information Technology, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W34-212, 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. See 44 U.S.C. 
3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.8 through 1320.12. On May 30, 2019, FRA 
published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on 
the ICRs for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 84 FR 25110. FRA

[[Page 37001]]

received no comments in response to this notice.
    Before OMB decides whether to approve these proposed collections 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. OMB believes 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.
    Comments are invited on the following ICRs 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 summaries below describe the ICRs that FRA will submit for OMB 
clearance as the PRA requires:

    Title: Designation of Qualified Persons.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0511.
    Abstract: The collection of information is used to prevent the 
unsafe movement of defective freight cars. Railroads are required to 
inspect freight cars for compliance and to determine restrictions on 
the movements of defective cars; qualified inspectors are necessary to 
perform this task.
    Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Respondent Universe: 692 Railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 1,200.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 40 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Dollar Cost Equivalent: $3,080.

    Title: Qualification and Certification of Locomotive Engineers.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0533.
    Abstract: Section 4 of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 1988 
(RSIA), Public Law 100-342, 102 Stat. 624 (June 22, 1988), later 
amended and re-codified by Public Law 103-272, 108 Stat. 874 (July 5, 
1994), required FRA to issue regulations to establish any necessary 
program for certifying or licensing locomotive engineers. The 
collection of information is used by FRA to ensure that railroads 
employ and properly train qualified individuals as locomotive engineers 
and designated supervisors of locomotive engineers. The collection of 
information is also used by FRA to verify that railroads have 
established required certification programs for locomotive engineers 
and that these programs fully conform to the standards specified in the 
regulation.
    Type of Request: Extension with change (revised estimates) of a 
currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Respondent Universe: 741 Railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion; annually; triennially.
    Reporting Burden: \1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ After an internal agency review, FRA updated the PRA 
estimates.
    \2\ 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 annual
          CFR section                  Respondent universe             Total annual responses         Average time per     Total annual     dollar cost
                                                                                                          response         burden hours   equivalent \2\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
240.9--Waivers................  741 railroads...................  2 waiver petitions..............  1 hour..............               2            $152
240.101/103--Cert. Prog:        741 railroads...................  25 amendments...................  5 minutes...........               2             152
 Amendments.
    --Cert. Prog.--New........  5 railroads.....................  5 programs......................  1 hour..............               5             380
    --Final Review............  5 railroads.....................  5 reviews.......................  1 hour..............               5             385
    --Material Modification to  741 railroads...................  10 modified programs............  10 minutes..........               2             152
     Program.
240.105(b)-(c) Written Reports/ 10 railroads....................  10 reports......................  30 minutes..........               5             575
 Determinations of DSLE
 Performance Skills.
240.109/App. C--Prior Safety    17,667 candidates...............  25 responses....................  5 minutes...........               2             116
 Conduct Data.
240.111/App C--Driver's         17,667 candidates...............  17,667 requests.................  10 minutes..........           2,945         223,820
 License Data.
    --NDR Match--notifications  741 railroads...................  177 notices + 177 requests......  5 min. + 5 min......              30           2,010
     and requests for data.
    --Written response from     741 railroads...................  20 cases/comments...............  10 minutes..........               3             174
     candidate on driver's
     license data.
240.111(g)--Notice to RR of     53,000 candidates...............  4 letters.......................  5 minutes...........              .3              19
 Absence of License.
240.111(h)--Duty to furnish     741 railroads...................  100 communications..............  5 minutes...........               8             464
 data on prior safety conduct
 as motor vehicle op.
240.113--Notice to RR           17,667 candidates...............  353 requests + 353 responses....  5 min. + 5 min......              59           4,130
 Furnishing Data on Prior
 Safety Conduct--Diff. RR.
240.119--Self-referral to EAP   53,000 locomotive engineers.....  150 self-referrals..............  5 minutes...........              13             754
 re: Active substance abuse
 disorder.
240.121--Criteria--Vision/      5 railroads.....................  5 copies........................  5 minutes...........              .4              32
 Hearing Acuity Data--New
 Railroads.
240.121--Criteria--Vision/      741 railroads...................  5 reports.......................  5 minutes...........              .4              32
 Hearing Acuity Data--Cond.
 Certification.
240.121--Criteria--Vision/      741 railroads...................  10 notifications................  15 minutes..........               3             174
 Hearing Acuity Data--Not
 Meeting Standards--Notice by
 Employee.
240.201/221--List of Qualified  741 railroads...................  741 updates.....................  5 minutes...........              62           4,712
 DSLEs.
240.201/221--List of Qualified  741 railroads...................  741 updated lists...............  5 minutes...........              62           4,712
 Loco. Engineers.
240.201/223/301--Loco.          53,000 candidates...............  17,667 certificates.............  5 minutes...........           1,472         111,872
 Engineers Certificate.
    --False entry on            N/A.............................  N/A.............................  N/A.................             N/A             N/A
     certificates.
240.207--Medical certificate    53,000 candidates...............  17,667 certificates.............  30 minutes..........           8,834       1,015,910
 showing hearing/vision         741 railroads...................  30 determinations...............  5 minutes...........               3             345
 standards are met: Written
 determinations waiving use of
 corrective device.
240.219--Denial of              17,667 candidates...............  30 letters + 30 responses.......  30 minutes..........              30           2,280
 Certification.

[[Page 37002]]

 
240.227--Canadian               N/A.............................  N/A.............................  N/A.................             N/A             N/A
 Certification Data.
240.229--Joint Operations--     321 railroads...................  184 employee calls..............  5 minutes...........              15             870
 Notice--not qualified.
240.309--RR Oversight Resp.:    15 railroads....................  6 annotations...................  15 minutes..........               2             116
 Detected poor safety conduct--
 annotation.
Recordkeeping: 240.205--Data    741 railroads...................  177 records.....................  5 minutes...........              15           1,725
 to EAP Counselor.
240.209/213--Written Tests      53,000 candidates...............  17,667 test records.............  1 minutes...........             294          22,334
 Records.
240.211/213--Performance Test   53,000 candidates...............  17,667 test records.............  1 minutes...........             294          22,334
 Records.
240.215--Retaining info.        741 railroads...................  17,667 records..................  5 minutes...........           1,472         111,872
 supporting determination.
240.303--Annual operational     53,000 candidates...............  53,000 test records.............  1 minutes...........             883          67,108
 monitor observation records.
240.303--Annual operating       53,000 candidates...............  53,000 test records.............  1 minutes...........             883          67,108
 rules compliance test records.
240.305--Engineer's notice of   53,000 engineers or candidates..  100 notifications...............  5 minutes...........               8             464
 non-qualification to RR.
    --Relaying certification    1,060 engineers.................  2 letters.......................  15 minutes..........          1 hour              58
     denial or revocation
     Status to other
     certifying railroad.
240.307--Notice to engineer of  741 railroads...................  1,100 letters...................  1 hour..............           1,100          73,700
 disqualification.
240.309--Railroad annual        51 railroads....................  51 reviews......................  3...................             153          11,628
 review.
                               -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................  741 railroads...................  217,059 responses...............  N/A.................          18,668       1,752,700
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 216,630.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 18,668.
    Total Estimated Annual Dollar Cost Equivalent: $1,752,700.

    Title: Roadway Worker Protection.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0539.
    Abstract: On June 10, 2016, FRA amended its Roadway Worker 
Protection (RWP) regulation (see 81 FR 37840) to resolve interpretative 
issues that had arisen since the original 1996 promulgation of that 
rule. In particular, this final rule adopted certain terms, resolved 
miscellaneous interpretive issues, codified certain FRA Technical 
Bulletins, adopted new requirements governing redundant signal 
protections and the movement of roadway maintenance machinery over 
signalized non-controlled track, and amended certain qualification 
requirements for roadway workers. This final rule also deleted three 
outdated incorporations by reference of industry standards in FRA's 
Bridge Worker Safety Standards, and cross referenced the Occupational 
Safety and Health Administration's regulations on the same point.
    Under the information collection associated with the RWP rule (49 
CFR part 214), FRA collects a variety of information. To ensure 
compliance with the rule's requirements, FRA collects data on affected 
railroads' on-track safety programs to determine that railroads have 
policies, procedures, and practices in place that protect roadway 
workers from dangers in their work environment. Railroads are required 
to provide on-track safety manuals to all roadway workers that they can 
readily consult to determine what on-track safety procedures are 
required for their work assignment. Under the regulation, railroads are 
required to provide initial and recurrent training to roadway workers 
on their on-track safety program. This includes training for roadway 
workers who work where on-track safety for adjacent controlled tracks 
is required, and the appropriate practices and procedures they must 
follow. FRA collects data from railroads on training through the 
records that they are required to keep. Additionally, FRA collects 
information on violations of workplace safety regulations on Form FRA F 
6180.119. FRA uses violation information to support actions that will 
reduce or eliminate hazards to railroad workers. Specifically, FRA uses 
the information that it collects under this regulation to monitor and 
enforce requirements relating to the safety of roadway workers and 
ensure that railroads fulfill their responsibilities to keep roadway 
workers secure and free from unnecessary and avoidable hazards.
    Type of Request: Extension with change (revised estimates) of a 
currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses/50,000 Roadway Workers/State Safety 
Inspectors.
    Form(s): FRA F 6180.119.
    Respondent Universe: 741 Railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden: \3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ After an internal agency review, FRA updated the PRA 
estimates.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                           Total annual
          CFR section                  Respondent universe             Total annual responses         Average time  per    Total annual     dollar cost
                                                                                                          response         burden hours     equivalent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form FRA F 6180.119--Part 214   350 Safety Inspectors...........  129 forms.......................  4 hours.............             516         $29,412
 Railroad Workplace Safety
 Violation Report.
214.307--Railroad On-Track      741 Railroads...................  276 programs + 325 copies.......  2 hours + 2 minutes.             563          42,788
 Safety Programs--RR Programs
 that comply with this Part +
 copies at System/Division
 Headquarters.
    --RR Notification to FRA    741 Railroads...................  276 notices.....................  20 minutes..........              92           6,992
     not less than one month
     before on-track safety
     program takes effect.
    --RR Amended on-track       741 Railroads...................  1 program.......................  4 hours.............               4             304
     safety programs after FRA
     disapproval.
    --RR Written response in    741 Railroads...................  1 written response..............  20 hours............              20           1,520
     support of disapproved
     program.

[[Page 37003]]

 
214.309--On-Track Safety        741 Railroads...................  741 provisions..................  60 minutes..........             741          56,316
 Manual--RR Provisions for
 alternative access to
 information in on-track
 safety manual.
    --RR Publication of         60 Railroads....................  100 bulletins/notices...........  60 minutes..........             100           7,600
     bulletins/notices
     reflecting changes in on-
     track safety manual.
214.311--RR Written procedure   19 Railroads....................  5 developed procedures..........  2 hours.............              10             760
 to achieve prompt and
 equitable resolution of good
 faith employee challenges.
214.317--On-Track Safety        19 Railroads....................  5 operating procedures..........  2 hours.............              10             760
 Procedures, generally, for
 snow removal, and weed spray
 equipment, tunnel niche or
 clearing by.
214.318--Procedures             741 Railroads...................  19 rules/procedures.............  2 hours.............              38           2,888
 established by railroads for
 workers to perform duties
 incidental to those of
 inspecting, testing,
 servicing, or repairing
 rolling equipment.
214.320--Roadway Maintenance    741 Railroads...................  5 requests......................  4 hours.............              20           1,520
 Machines Movement over
 signalized non-controlled
 track--RR request to FRA for
 equivalent level of
 protection to that provided
 by limiting all train and
 locomotive movements to
 restricted speed.
214.322--Exclusive Track        3 Class I Railroads.............  1,000 written authorities.......  10 minutes..........             167           9,519
 Occupancy, Electronic
 Display--Written Authorities/
 Printed Authority Copy If
 Electronic Display Fails or
 Malfunctions.
214.329--Train Approach         741 Railroads...................  26,250 written designations.....  30 seconds..........             219          16,644
 Warning--Written Designation
 of Watchmen/Lookouts.
214.336--Procedures for         100 Railroads...................  10,000 notices..................  5 seconds...........              14             798
 adjacent track movements over
 25 mph: Notifications/
 watchmen/lookout warnings.
    --Procedures for adjacent   100 Railroads...................  3,000 notices...................  5 seconds...........               4             228
     track movements 25 mph or
     less: Notifications/
     watchmen/lookout warnings.
214.339--Audible warning from   19 Railroads....................  19 written procedures...........  4 hours.............              76           5,776
 trains: Written procedures
 that prescribe effective
 requirements for audible
 warning by horn and/or bell
 for trains.
214.343/345/347/349/351/353/    50,000 roadway workers..........  50,000 records..................  2 minutes...........           1,667         126,692
 355--Annual training for all
 roadway workers (RWs)--
 Records of training.
214.503--Notifications for Non- 50,000 roadway workers..........  125 notices.....................  10 minutes..........              21           1,197
 Compliant Roadway Maintenance
 Machines or Unsafe Condition.
    --Resolution Procedures...  19 railroads....................  5 procedures....................  2 hours.............              10             760
214.505--Required               741 Railroads/200 contractors...  500 lists.......................  1 hour..............             500          38,000
 environmental control and
 protection systems for new on-
 track roadway maintenance
 machines with enclosed cabs.
    --Designations/additions    692 Class III Railroads/200       150 additions/designations......  5 minutes...........              13             988
     to list.                    contractors.
214.507--A-Built Light Weight   692 Class III Railroads/200       1,000 stickers/stencils.........  5 minutes...........              83           4,731
 on New Roadway Maintenance      contractors.
 Machines.
214.511--Required Audible       692 Class III Railroads/200       3,700 identified mechanisms.....  5 minutes...........             308          17,556
 Warning Devices for New On-     contractors.
 Track Roadway Maintenance
 Machines.
214.515--Overhead covers for    692 Class III Railroads/200       500 requests + 500 responses....  10 mins + 20 mins...             250          17,423
 existing on-track roadway       contractors.
 maintenance machines.
214.517--Retrofitting of        692 Class III Railroads/200       500 stencils/displays...........  5 minutes...........              42           2,394
 Existing On-Track Roadway       contractors.
 Maintenance Machines
 Manufactured On or After Jan.
 1, 1991.
214.523--Hi-Rail Vehicles.....  692 Class III Railroads/200       5,000 records...................  5 minutes...........             417          23,769
                                 contractors.
    --Non-complying conditions  692 Class III Railroads/200       500 tags + 500 reports..........  10 minutes + 15                  208          11,856
                                 contractors.                                                        minutes.
214.527--Inspection for         692 Class III Railroads/200       550 tags + 550 reports..........  5 minutes + 15                   183          10,431
 compliance; Repair schedules.   contractors.                                                        minutes.
214.533--Schedule of repairs;   692 Class III Railroads/200       250 records.....................  15 minutes..........              63           4,788
 Subject to availability of      contractors.
 parts.
                               -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................  741 railroads...................  106,482 responses...............  N/A.................           6,359         444,410
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 106,482.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 6,359 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Dollar Cost Equivalent: $444,410.
    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. 2019-16011 Filed 7-29-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


