82 FR 20530 - Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 83 (May 2, 2017)

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the proposed information collection activities listed below. Before submitting these information collection requests (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified below.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 83 (Tuesday, May 2, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20530-20531]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-08792]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2017-0002-N-12]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), U.S. Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its 
implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the proposed 
information collection activities listed below. Before submitting these 
information collection requests (ICR) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is soliciting public comment on specific 
aspects of the activities identified below.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than July 3, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the information collection 
activities by mail to either: Ms. Kim Toone, Information Collection 
Clearance Officer, Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, Federal 
Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 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-XXXX,'' and 
should also include the title of the ICR. Alternatively, comments may 
be faxed to (202) 493-6216 or (202) 493-6497, or emailed 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: Ms. Kim Toone, Information Collection 
Clearance Officer, Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, Federal 
Railroad

[[Page 20531]]

Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, 
DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6132). (This telephone number is not 
toll free.)

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(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), 1320.10(e)(1), 
1320.12(a). Specifically, FRA invites interested parties to comment on 
the following summary of proposed information collection activities 
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 by automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques and other forms of information technology (e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of responses). See 44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1).
    FRA believes that soliciting public comment will promote its 
efforts to 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) ensure that it organizes 
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.
    Below is a brief summary of information collection activities that 
FRA will submit for OMB renewed or revised clearance as the PRA 
requires:
    Title: Experimental Investigation of Automation-Induced Human Error 
in Locomotive Cab.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-XXXX.
    Abstract: The purpose of this collection is to identify and 
evaluate the potential for human error associated with the operation of 
systems and automation in the locomotive cab. This research addresses 
DOT's strategic goal of safety. Once the nature and risk of human error 
in locomotive cab systems and automation is better understood, error 
mitigating steps can be taken to provide safer systems and reduce the 
risk of accidents or incidents involving these systems. FRA will use 
the research's results to identify training, operational procedures, or 
automation design standards that will improve the safety of automated 
systems in locomotive cabs.
    Affected Public: Railroad Engineers.
    Respondent Universe: 30 Engineers.
    Frequency of Submission: One Time.
    Reporting Burden:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Average time
                                        Respondent universe      Total annual     per response    Total  annual
                                                                  responses         (hours)        burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Simulator Experience................  30 Engineers...........              30              6.5              195
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 30.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 195 hours.
    Type of Request: New Information Collection Request.
    Title: Design and Evaluation of a Robust Manual Locomotive 
Operating Mode.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-XXXX.
    Abstract: The purpose of this study is to design and evaluate a 
prototype locomotive operating mode that allows an operator to 
``manually'' control a train by providing a desired speed target while 
the control system determines the throttle notch changes required. This 
research addresses DOT's safety strategic goal. Information collected 
from this research will be used by researchers and equipment designers 
to evaluate the merit of a prototype display and control configuration 
maximizing the use of both automation and human capabilities. The 
information will also assist the Federal government in recommending 
display design standards to the rail industry for future displays and 
the results may help design future displays and controls for 
locomotives.
    Affected Public: Railroad Engineers, College Student Volunteers.
    Respondent Universe: Railroad Engineers and College Student 
Volunteers.
    Frequency of Submission: One time.
    Reporting Burden:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Average time
             CFR section                Respondent universe      Total annual     per response    Total  annual
                                                                  responses         (hours)        burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Simulator Experience................  30 Engineers and                     30                9              270
                                       college students.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 30.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 270 hours.
    Type of Request: New Information Collection Request.
    Under 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.

Sarah L. Inderbitzin,
Acting Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2017-08792 Filed 5-1-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P