80 FR 30109 - Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 100 (May 26, 2015)

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and its implementing regulations, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) hereby announces that it is seeking an extension of the following currently approved information collection activities. On April 27, 2015, FRA published in the Federal Register its Safety Advisory titled Mechanical Inspections and Wheel Impact Load Detector Standards for Trains Transporting Large Amounts of Class 3 Flammable Liquids (FRA Safety Advisory 2015-01). See 80 FR 23318. The information collection activities associated with FRA Safety Advisory 2015-01 received a six- month emergency approval from OMB on April 30, 2015. FRA seeks a regular clearance (extension of the current approval for three years) to continue this effort to enhance the mechanical safety of tank cars in high hazard flammable trains transporting large quantities of Class 3 flammable liquids. Before submitting these information collection requirements for clearance by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified below.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 26, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30109-30110]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-12579]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA 2015-0007-N-11]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and its 
implementing regulations, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) 
hereby announces that it is seeking an extension of the following 
currently approved information collection activities. On April 27, 
2015, FRA published in the Federal Register its Safety Advisory titled 
Mechanical Inspections and Wheel Impact Load Detector Standards for 
Trains Transporting Large Amounts of Class 3 Flammable Liquids (FRA 
Safety Advisory 2015-01). See 80 FR 23318. The information collection 
activities associated with FRA Safety Advisory 2015-01 received a six-
month emergency approval from OMB on April 30, 2015. FRA seeks a 
regular clearance (extension of the current approval for three years) 
to continue this effort to enhance the mechanical safety of tank cars 
in high hazard flammable trains transporting large quantities of Class 
3 flammable liquids. Before submitting these information collection 
requirements for clearance by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB), FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the 
activities identified below.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than July 27, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on any or all of the following 
proposed activities by mail to either: Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of 
Safety, Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 17, Washington, DC 
20590, or Ms. Kimberly Toone, Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, 
Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 
35, Washington, DC 20590. Commenters requesting FRA to acknowledge 
receipt of their respective comments must include a self-addressed 
stamped postcard stating, ``Comments on OMB control number 2130-0607.'' 
Alternatively, comments may be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493-
6216 or (202) 493-6497, or via email to Mr. Brogan at 
[email protected], or to Ms. Toone at [email protected]. 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: Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Planning 
and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 
New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 17, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: 
(202) 493-6292) or Ms. Kimberly Toone, Office of Information 
Technology, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey 
Ave. SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-
6132). (These telephone numbers are not toll-free.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
Public Law 104-13, sec. 2, 109 Stat. 163 (1995) (codified as revised at 
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 
for comment on information collection activities before seeking 
approval for reinstatement or renewal by OMB. 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 
5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), 1320.10(e)(1), 1320.12(a). Specifically, FRA 
invites interested respondents to comment on the following summary of 
proposed information collection activities regarding: (i) Whether the 
information collection activities are necessary for FRA to properly 
execute its functions, including whether the activities will have 
practical utility; (ii) 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; (iii) ways 
for FRA to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
being collected; and (iv) ways for FRA to minimize the burden of 
information collection activities on the public by automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology (e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses). See 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)(I)-(iv); 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)(1)(I)-(iv). FRA believes that soliciting public comment will 
promote its efforts to reduce the administrative and paperwork burdens 
associated with the collection of information mandated by Federal 
regulations. In summary, FRA reasons that comments received will 
advance three objectives: (i) Reduce reporting burdens; (ii) ensure 
that it

[[Page 30110]]

organizes information collection requirements in a ``user friendly'' 
format to improve the use of such information; and (iii) accurately 
assess the resources expended to retrieve and produce information 
requested. See 44 U.S.C. 3501.
    Below is a brief summary of the currently approved information 
collection activities that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as 
required under the PRA:
    Title: FRA Safety Advisory 2015-01, Mechanical Inspections and 
Wheel Impact Detector Standards for Trains Transporting Large Amounts 
of Class 3 Flammable Liquids.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0607.
    Abstract: Recent derailments have occurred involving trains 
transporting large quantities of petroleum crude oil and ethanol. 
Preliminary investigation of one of these recent derailments involving 
a crude oil train indicates that a mechanical defect involving a broken 
tank car wheel may have caused or contributed to the incident. FRA is 
issuing this Safety Advisory to make recommendations to enhance the 
mechanical safety of the cars in trains transporting large quantities 
of flammable liquids. This Safety Advisory recommends that railroads 
use highly qualified individuals to conduct the brake and mechanical 
inspections and recommends a reduction to the impact threshold levels 
the industry currently uses for wayside detectors that measure wheel 
impacts to ensure the wheel integrity of tank cars in those trains.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Frequency of Submission: One-time; on occasion.
    Respondent Universe: 70 Railroads.
    Reporting Burden:

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                                          Respondent                               Average time
        Safety Advisory 2015-01            universe      Total annual responses    per response    Total annual
                                          (railroads)                                (minutes)     burden hours
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(1) Maintenance Advisories from                     70  350,000 Advisories......               1           5,833
 Railroads to Car Owners after Wheel
 Impact Load Detector (WILD) Automatic
 Notification that Detects an Impact
 Above Threshold of 60kips.
(2) Records of Initial Terminal Brake               70  1,000 Inspections/                    30             500
 Inspection by Qualified Mechanical                      Records.
 Inspector and Records of Freight Car
 Inspections at Initial Terminals with
 Designated Inspectors.
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    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Total Estimated Responses: 351,000.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 6,333 hours.
    Status: Regular Review.
    Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 CFR 1320.5(b), 
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 unless it displays a currently valid OMB 
control number.

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

Erin McCartney,
Acting Chief Financial Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-12579 Filed 5-22-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P