[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 73 (Friday, April 15, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22617-22618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-08141]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2022-0002-N-5]


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 Requests (ICRs) abstracted below to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. These 
ICRs describe the information collections and their expected burdens. 
On January 14, 2022, 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 May 16, 
2022.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICRs 
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 January 14, 2022, FRA 
published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on 
the ICRs for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 87 FR 2482. FRA 
received no comments in response to this notice.
    Before OMB decides whether to approve the proposed collections 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

[[Page 22618]]

(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: Locomotive Certification (Noise Compliance Regulations).
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0527.
    Abstract: Under authority granted by the Noise Control Act of 1972, 
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established limits for 
noise emissions related to rail carriers in 40 CFR part 201. Those 
limits are enforced by FRA under 49 CFR part 210. In particular, the 
information FRA collects under Sec.  210.27 is necessary to ensure 
compliance with EPA noise standards for new locomotives. Although 
railroads no longer need to display a certification badge or tag in the 
locomotive cab, as was previously required by now-removed Sec.  
210.27(d), the locomotives still need to be tested and certified to 
comply with the noise emission standards, as required under Sec.  
210.27(a)-(c).
    Type of Request: Extension without change (with changes in 
estimates) of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Respondent Universe: 4 locomotive manufacturers.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 4.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 2 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $155.

    Title: Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0560.
    Abstract: Under 49 CFR part 222, FRA seeks to collect information 
from railroads and public authorities in order to increase safety at 
public highway-rail grade crossings nationwide by requiring that 
locomotive horns be sounded when trains approach and pass through these 
crossings or by ensuring that a safety level at least equivalent to 
that provided by routine locomotive horn sounding exists for quiet zone 
corridors in which such horn sounding is silenced. FRA reviews 
applications by public authorities intending to establish new quiet 
zones by implementing alternative safety measures and approves the 
effectiveness rate assigned to them.
    FRA made several adjustments to its estimated paperwork burdens in 
this ICR extension.
    Type of Request: Extension without change (with changes in 
estimates) of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Respondent Universe: 754 railroads/645 public authorities.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 3,620.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 7,253 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: 
$452,585.
    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 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. 2022-08141 Filed 4-14-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


