[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 249 (Monday, December 30, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72128-72129]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-28128]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2019-0004-N-24]


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.

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

SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its 
implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the Information 
Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below. Before submitting this ICR 
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is 
soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities 
identified in the ICR.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
February 28, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the ICR 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

[[Page 72129]]

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 2130-0537,'' 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 hodan.wells@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: 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 ICR 
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 summary below describes the ICR that FRA will submit for OMB 
clearance as the PRA requires:
    Title: Railroad Police Officers.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0537.
    Abstract: FRA regulations in 49 CFR part 207 require railroads to 
notify States of all designated police officers who perform duties 
outside of their respective jurisdictions. This is necessary to verify 
proper police authority.
    Type of Request: Extension with change (revised estimates) of a 
currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    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 \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
207.4(a)--RR Notice to State   746 railroads...  35 written                   15               9            $684
 Officials--Written notice of                     notices.
 RR police officer's
 commission to each State in
 which the RR police officer
 shall protect the railroad's
 property, personnel,
 passengers, and cargo.
207.4(b)--RR copy of written   746 railroads...  35 records.....               2               1              76
 notices to State officials.
207.6--Transfers--Application  746 railroads...  40 records.....               2               1              76
 by RR police officers for
 new State certification/
 commission when transferring
 primary employment or
 residence from one State to
 another.
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total....................  746 railroads...  110 responses..             N/A              11             836
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The hourly wage rate is obtained 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: 110.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 11 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $836.
    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. 2019-28128 Filed 12-27-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


