[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 18 (Thursday, January 27, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4326-4327]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-01603]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2021-0006-N-17]


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 
November 8, 2021, 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 
February 28, 2022.

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 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 
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 November 8, 2021, FRA 
published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on 
the ICR for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 86 FR 61830. 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(a); 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 or other forms of information technology.
    The summary below describes the ICR that FRA will submit for OMB 
clearance as the PRA requires:
    Title: Passenger Equipment Safety Standards.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0544.
    Abstract: The information collection under 49 CFR part 238 is used 
by FRA to promote passenger train safety by ensuring requirements are 
met for railroad equipment design and performance, fire safety, 
emergency systems, inspection, testing, and maintenance, and other 
provisions for the safe operation of railroad passenger equipment. For 
instance, the information collected from daily inspections is used to 
detect and correct equipment problems in order to prevent, to the 
extent that they can be prevented, collisions, derailments, and other 
occurrences involving railroad passenger equipment that cause injury or 
death to railroad employees, railroad passengers, or to the general 
public.
    Upon detailed review of part 238, FRA made several adjustments to 
its estimated paperwork burdens in this ICR extension, as described in 
the 60-day notice published on November 8,

[[Page 4327]]

2021.\1\ FRA determined that many estimated paperwork burdens were 
either outdated or accounted for in other regulatory sections. 
Additionally, FRA found the associated burdens related to train 
equipment inspection and testing, as well as employee training and job 
briefings have been addressed previously when FRA calculated the 
economic costs of the regulation. FRA also notes below where it 
anticipates zero railroad submissions during this 3-year ICR period.
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    \1\ The adjustments to the estimated paperwork burdens are also 
described within this ICR's Supporting Statement available for 
public review after this 30-day notice is published in the Federal 
Register at https://www.reginfo.gov/public/.
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    Type of Request: Extension without change (with changes in 
estimates) of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Respondent Universe: 34 railroads and manufacturers.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 4,860,940.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 95,946 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent (Total 
Cost Equivalent): $7,173,483.\2\
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    \2\ FRA updated the total cost equivalent from $7,149,477 to 
$7,173,483 to correct a previous calculation error in the 60-day 
notice.
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    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,
Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2022-01603 Filed 1-26-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


