[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 21, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20786-20787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-08181]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2020-0027-N-41]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

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

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its 
implementing regulations, 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 
December 18, 2020, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for 
public comment on the ICR.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
May 21, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR 
should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find the particular ICR by selecting 
``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using 
the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Hodan Wells, Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Railroad Safety, Regulatory 
Analysis Division, Federal Railroad Administration, telephone: (202) 
493-0440, email: Hodan.wells@dot.gov.

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 December 18, 2020, FRA 
published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on 
the ICR for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 85 FR 82577. FRA 
received no comments related to the proposed collection of information.
    Before OMB decides whether to approve the proposed collection of 
information, it must provide 30 days 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 ICR 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

[[Page 20787]]

or other forms of information technology.
    The summary below describes the ICR that FRA will submit for OMB 
clearance as the PRA requires:
    Title: Occupational Noise Exposure for Railroad Operating 
Employees.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0571.
    Abstract: Title 49 CFR part 227 contains requirements for 
occupational noise exposure. FRA uses the collection of information to 
ensure that railroads covered by this rule establish and implement 
noise monitoring, hearing conservation, and audiometric testing 
programs to protect their employees against the harmful effects of 
excessive noise in the workplace. Additionally, railroads must maintain 
testing and training records on noise and hearing conservation. 
Further, railroads must make exposure measurement records for specific 
locations available to regional or national labor representatives upon 
request.
    Type of Request: Extension without change (with changes in 
estimates) of a currently approved collection.\1\
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    \1\ In this 30-day notice, FRA corrects its previous 
characterization of this type of request as an ``extension with 
change (estimates) of a currently approved collection.''
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    Affected Public: Businesses (Railroads, railroads equipment 
manufacturers).
    Form(s): N/A.
    Respondent Universe: 512 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 159,927.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 3,980 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: 
$316,871.
    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 a respondent is not required to 
respond to, conduct, or sponsor a collection of information that does 
not display a currently valid OMB control number.

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

Brett A. Jortland,
Acting Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2021-08181 Filed 4-20-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


