[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 77 (Friday, April 21, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24657-24659]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08413]



[[Page 24657]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2023-0002-N-09]


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, 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 
June 20, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR 
should be submitted on regulations.gov to the docket, Docket No. FRA-
2023-0002. All comments received will be posted without change to the 
docket, including any personal information provided. Please refer to 
the assigned OMB control number (2130-0500) 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. Arlette Mussington, Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: [email protected] or 
telephone: (571) 609-1285 or Ms. Joanne Swafford, Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: [email protected] or 
telephone: (757) 897-9908.

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).
    This ICR responds to the information collection mandate in Section 
22421(b) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and also 
provides routine updates to 49 CFR part 225's overall information 
collection request renewal.
    FRA believes that soliciting public comment may reduce the 
administrative and paperwork burdens associated with the collection of 
information that Federal statutes and 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: Accident/Incident Reporting and Recordkeeping.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0500.
    Abstract: The railroad accident/incident reporting regulations in 
49 CFR part 225 require railroads to submit reports summarizing 
collisions, derailments, and certain other accidents/incidents 
involving damages above a periodically revised dollar threshold, as 
well as certain injuries to passengers, employees, and other persons on 
railroad property. As the reporting requirements and the information 
needed regarding each category of accident/incident are unique, a 
different form is used for each category.
    In response to the mandate in IIJA Section 22421,\1\ FRA intends to 
utilize Form FRA F 6180.54 Special Study Blocks 49a and 49b to collect 
the following information for a projected five-year period: (1) the 
length of the involved trains, in feet, and (2) the number of crew 
members who were aboard a controlling locomotive involved in an 
accident at the time of such accident. This modification produces a 
minimal additional burden with respect to what is already being 
reported, as FRA estimates that the utilization of the Special Study 
Blocks will require an additional 2 minutes to complete, for a total 
average burden time of approximately 2 hours and 2 minutes per form, 
adding an additional 57 hours to the overall collection request.
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    \1\ Specifically, IIJA section 22421(b) requires FRA to update 
Special Study Block 49 on Form FRA F 6180.54, for a period of five 
years, to collect information on: (1) the number of cars and length 
of trains involved in an accident/incident; and (2) the number of 
crew members who were aboard a controlling locomotive involved in an 
accident at the time of such accident. Railroads are already 
required to report the number of cars in the consist of a train 
involved in an accident on Form FRA F 6180.54, Field 35.
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    In this 60-day notice, FRA has made multiple adjustments to its 
estimated paperwork burden for the entire part 225 collection request, 
resulting in a reduction of 5,563 hours, from 35,846 hours in the 
current inventory, to 30,283 hours in the requested inventory. The 
primary reason for the reduction in the estimated paperwork burden is 
the expected decrease in the number of submissions. Specifically, under 
Sec.  225.19(d), FRA expects submissions will decrease significantly 
from 11,636 hours to 7,040 hours due to a reduction in the number of 
injuries reported in the last two years. There is no change in the 
method of collection; this is a routine update for this 3-year ICR 
renewal period.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form(s): FRA F 6180.54; .55; .55a; .56; .57; .78; .81; .97; .98; 
.107; .150.
    Respondent Universe: 784 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden:

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                                                                                                                                Total
                                                                                                                                annual      Total cost
          CFR section                 Respondent universe           Total annual responses       Average time per response      burden     equivalent in
                                                                                                                                hours       U.S. dollar
                                                                (A)..........................  (B).........................  (C = A * B)        (D = C *
                                                                                                                                             wage rates)
                                                                                                                                                     \2\
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225.6(a)--Consolidated           784 railroads................  0.33 requests................  40.00 hours.................        13.20       $1,028.41
 reporting--Request to FRA by
 parent corporation to treat
 its commonly controlled
 carriers as a single railroad
 carrier for purposes of this
 part.
                                ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    --(b) Written agreement by   The burden for this requirement is included in Sec.   225.6(a).
     parent corporation with
     FRA on specific
     subsidiaries included in
     its railroad system.
                                ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    --(c) Notification by        The burden for this requirement is included in Sec.   225.6(a).
     parent corporation
     regarding any change in
     the subsidiaries making up
     its railroad system and
     amended written agreement
     with FRA.
                                ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
225.9--Telephonic reports of     784 railroads................  2,589.00 phone reports.......  15.00 minutes...............       647.25       50,427.25
 certain accidents/incidents
 and other events.
225.11--Reporting of accidents/  784 railroads................  1,699.00 forms...............  2 hours + 2 minutes.........     3,454.63      269,150.22
 incidents--Form FRA F 6180.54
 (IIJA created an additional
 burden of 2 minutes to what is
 already being reported.).
225.12(a)--Rail equipment        784 railroads................  732.00 forms.................  15.00 minutes...............       183.00       14,257.53
 accident/incident reports
 alleging human factor as
 cause--Form FRA F 6180.81.
    --(b) Part I Form FRA F      784 railroads................  800 notices + 800 notice       10 minutes + 3 minutes......       333.83       26,008.70
     6180.78 (Notices).                                          copies + 3,200 copies + 10
                                                                 copies.
    --(c) Joint operations.....  784 railroads................  73.00 reports................  20.00 minutes...............        24.00        1,869.84
    --(d) Late identification..  784 railroads................  20 attachments + 20 notices..  10.00 minutes...............         6.67          519.66
    --(g) Employee statement     Railroad employees...........  60.00 statements.............  1.50 hours..................        90.00        7,011.90
     supplementing railroad
     accident report (Part II
     Form FRA 6180.78).
    --(g)(3) Employee            Railroad employees...........  5.00 letters.................  2.00 hours..................        10.00          779.10
     confidential letter.
225.13(A)--Late reports--RR      784 railroads................  50.00 late reports...........  2.00 hours..................       100.00        7,791.00
 discovery of improperly
 omitted report of accident/
 incident.
    --(B) RR late/amended        784 railroads................  20 amended reports + 30        1 hour + 3 minutes..........        21.50        1,675.07
     report of accident/                                         copies.
     incident based on employee
     statement supplementing RR
     accident report.
225.18(a)--RR narrative report   784 railroads................  12.00 reports................  15.00 minutes...............         3.00          233.73
 of possible alcohol/drug
 involvement in accident/
 incident.
    --(b) Reports required by    784 railroads................  5.00 reports.................  30.00 minutes...............         2.50          194.78
     Sec.   219.209(b) appended
     to rail equipment accident/
     incident report.
225.19(a)--Rail-highway grade    784 railroads................  2,161.50 forms...............  2.00 hours..................     4,323.00      336,804.93
 crossing accident/incident
 report--Form FRA F 6180.57.
    --(d) Death, injury, or      784 railroads................  7,040.00 forms...............  1.00 hour...................     7,040.00      548,486.40
     occupational illness (Form
     FRA F 6180.55a).
225.21--Railroad injury and      784 railroads................  9,408.00 forms...............  10.00 minutes...............     1,568.00      122,162.88
 illness summary--Form FRA F
 6180.55.
225.21--Annual railroad report   784 railroads................  784.00 forms.................  15.00 minutes...............       196.00       15,270.36
 of employee hours and
 casualties, by state--Form FRA
 F 6180.56.
225.21/25--Railroad employee     784 railroads................  4,000.00 forms...............  1.00 hour...................     4,000.00      311,640.00
 injury and/or illness record--
 Form FRA F 6180.98.
    --Copies of forms to         784 railroads................  3.60 form copies.............  2.00 minutes................         0.12            9.35
     employees.
225.21--Initial rail equipment   784 railroads................  10,194.00 forms..............  30.00 minutes...............     5,097.00      397,107.27
 accident/incident record--Form
 FRA F 6180.97.
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    --Completion of Form FRA F   FRA anticipates zero railroad submissions during this 3-year ICR period.
     6180.97 because of rail
     equipment involvement.
                                ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    --Alternative record for     784 railroads................  150.00 forms.................  75.00 minutes...............       187.50       14,608.13
     illnesses claimed to be
     work related--Form FRA F
     6180.107.
    --Highway User Statement--   784 railroads................  721.00 letters/forms.........  50.00 minutes...............       600.83       46,810.67
     RR cover letter and Form
     FRA F 6180.150 sent out to
     potentially injured
     travelers involved in a
     highway-rail grade
     crossing accident/incident.
    --Form FRA F 6180.150        117 injured individuals......  117.00 forms.................  45.00 minutes...............        87.75        6,836.60
     completed by highway user
     and sent back to railroad.
225.25(h)--Posting of monthly    784 railroads................  9,408.00 lists...............  5.00 minutes................       784.00       61,081.44
 summary.
225.27(a)(1)--Retention of       784 railroads................  7,500.00 records.............  2.00 minutes................       250.00       19,477.50
 records.
                                ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    --Record of Form FRA F       The estimated paperwork burden for this requirement is included in 225.21 (Alternative record for illnesses claimed to
     6180.107s.                   be work related).
                                ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    --Record of Monthly Lists..  784 railroads................  9,408.00 records.............  2.00 minutes................       313.60       24,432.58
    (a)(2)--Record of Form FRA   784 railroads................  10,194.00 records............  2.00 minutes................       339.80       26,473.82
     F 6180.97.
    --Record of employee human   784 railroads................  1,464.00 records.............  2.00 minutes................        48.80        3,802.01
     factor attachments.
225.33--Internal Control Plans-- 784 railroads................  10.00 amendments.............  6.00 hours..................        60.00        4,674.60
 Amendments.

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225.35--Access to records and    784 railroads................  784.00 lists.................  20.00 minutes...............       261.33       20,360.22
 reports.
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225.37(a)--Optical media         FRA anticipates zero submissions during this 3-year ICR period.
 transfer of reports, updates,
 and amendments.
                                ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (c)(2)--Electronic           784 railroads................  4,704.00 submissions.........  3.00 minutes................       235.20       18,324.43
     submission of reports,
     updates, and amendments.
                                ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Totals \3\.............  784 railroads................  85,570 responses.............  N/A.........................       30,283       2,359,310
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    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 85,570.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 30,283 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: 
2,359,310.
    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.
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    \2\ The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the 2021 Surface 
Transportation Board Full Year Wage A&B data series using the 
appropriate employee group hourly wage rage that includes a 75 
percent overhead charge.
    \3\ Totals may not add due to rounding.
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    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.

Brett A. Jortland,
Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2023-08413 Filed 4-20-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


