[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 202 (Friday, October 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58721-58723]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-23104]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2021-0006-N-14]


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.

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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 
December 21, 2021].

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR 
should be submitted on regulations.gov to the docket, Docket No. FRA-
2021-0006. All comments received will be posted without change to the 
docket, including any personal information provided. 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, at email: [email protected] or 
telephone: (202) 493-0440.

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

[[Page 58722]]

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 Signal System.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0006.
    Abstract: The information collected under 49 CFR parts 233, 235, 
and 236 is used by FRA to monitor railroad compliance with FRA's 
inspection and testing requirements for signal systems, as well as to 
review and approve railroad requests to discontinue or materially 
modify existing signal systems. The information collected is also used 
by FRA to monitor signal failures (e.g., failure of a signal appliance, 
device, method, or system to function or indicate as required by 49 CFR 
part 236 that results in a more favorable aspect than intended or other 
condition hazardous to the movement of a train).
    For instance:
     Sec.  233.5 requires each railroad to report to FRA within 
24 hours after learning of an accident or incident arising from signal 
failure.
     Sec.  233.7 requires each railroad to report signal 
failures within 15 days in accordance with the instructions printed on 
Form FRA F 6180.14.
     Sec.  235.5 requires railroads to apply for FRA approval 
to discontinue or materially modify railroad signal systems.
     Sec.  235.8 allows railroads to seek relief from the 
requirements in 49 CFR part 236.
     Sec.  235.20 describes the protest process, including 
essential information that must be included in the protest, the address 
for filing the protest, the time limit for filing the protest, and the 
requirement that a protestant requesting a public hearing explain why 
written statements cannot be used to explain his or her position.
     Sec.  236.110 requires that the results of signal system 
tests required under Sec. Sec.  236.102-109; Sec. Sec.  236.376-387; 
Sec. Sec.  236.576-577; and Sec. Sec.  236.586-589 be recorded on pre-
printed forms provided by the railroad or by electronic means, subject 
to FRA approval.
     Finally, Sec.  236.590 requires railroads to clean and 
inspect the automatic train stop, train control, or cab signal 
pneumatic apparatus on locomotives and then record the results of the 
inspection as required by Sec.  229.29(a).
    Type of Request: Extension without change (with changes in 
estimates) of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form(s): FRA F 6180.14.
    Respondent Universe: 754 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden:

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                                                                                                    Average time per       Total annual     Total cost
             CFR section \1\                 Respondent universe       Total annual responses           responses          burden hours   equivalent \2\
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233.5--Accidents resulting from signal    754 railroads............  1 telephone call.........  30 minutes..............            0.50          $38.72
 failure--Telephone report to FRA.
233.7--Signal failure reports--Form FRA   754 railroads............  10 reports...............  15 minutes..............            2.50          193.60
 F 6180.14 ``False Proceed Signal
 Report``.
235.5--Changes requiring filing of        80 railroads.............  24 applications..........  10 hours................          240.00       18,585.60
 application--Signal systems.
235.8--Relief from the requirements of    80 railroads.............  10 relief requests.......  10 hours................          100.00        7,744.00
 part 236 of this title.
235.20--Protests--Protestant shall file   Railroads and public.....  10 protest letters.......  30 minutes..............            5.00          387.20
 with FRA against application for relief
 from part 236 requirements.
236.110--Results of tests made in         80 railroads.............  300,000 (paper records) +  27 minutes (paper) + 8        219,888.00   13,122,915.84
 compliance with Sec.  Sec.   236.102-                                636,660 (electronic        minutes (electronic).
 109; 236.376-387; 236.576; 236.577;                                  records).
 236.586-589; and 236.917(a)--Records.
236.590--Pneumatic apparatus--            18 railroads.............  6,697 stenciling or tags.  22.50 minutes...........        2,511.38      180,543.11
 Inspection, cleaning, and results of
 inspection--Record.
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total \3\...........................  754 railroads............  943,412 responses........  N/A.....................         222,747      13,330,408
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\1\ The current inventory exhibits a total burden of 444,820 hours while the total burden of this notice is 222,747 hours. As part of its review of this
  ICR renewal, FRA determined some of the previous estimates were preliminary, outdated, or duplicative.
\2\ The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the Surface Transportation Board's 2020 Full Year Wage A&B data series using the appropriate employee
  group hourly wage rate that includes a 75-percent overhead charge.
\3\ Totals may not add due to rounding.

    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 943,412.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 222,747 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: 
$13,330,408.
    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

[[Page 58723]]

information that does not display a currently valid OMB control number.
    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.

Brett A. Jortland,
Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2021-23104 Filed 10-21-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


