Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below. Before submitt...
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION:
Notice of information collection; request for comment.
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 15, 2020.
ADDRESSES:
Submit written comments on the ICR activities by mail to either: Ms. Hodan Wells, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Railroad Safety, Regulatory Analysis Division, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590; or Ms. Kim Toone, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Information Technology, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 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 2130-0010,” 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. Wells at
hodan.wells@dot.gov,
or Ms. Toone at
kim.toone@dot.gov. 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.
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.
See44 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.
See44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1).
FRA believes that soliciting public comment may 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) 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
( printed page 21065)
information requested.
See44 U.S.C. 3501.
The summary below describes the ICR that FRA will submit for OMB clearance as the PRA requires:
Title:
Track Safety Standards.
OMB Control Number:
2130-0010.
Abstract:
The information collection associated with 49 CFR part 213 is used by FRA to ensure and enhance rail safety by monitoring complete compliance with all regulatory requirements. Part 213 prescribes minimum safety requirements for railroad track that is part of the general railroad system of transportation. While the requirements prescribed in this part generally apply to specific track conditions existing in isolation, a combination of track conditions, none of which individually amounts to a deviation from the requirements in this part, may require remedial action to provide safe operations over that track. Qualified persons inspect track and take action to allow safe passage of trains and ensure compliance with the prescribed standards. In 2013, FRA amended the Track Safety Standards and Passenger Equipment Safety Standards to promote the safe interaction of rail vehicles with the track over which they operate under a variety of conditions at speeds up to 220 m.p.h.
Type of Request:
Extension with change (revised estimates) of a currently approved collection.
Affected Public:
Businesses.
Form(s):
N/A.
Respondent Universe:
746 railroads.
Frequency of Submission:
On occasion.
Reporting Burden:
CFR section
Respondent universe
(railroads)
Total annual responses
Average time per responses
Total annual burden hours
Total cost equivalent 1
213.4(f)—Excepted track—Notification to FRA about removal of excepted track
746
15 notices
10 minutes
2.5
$190
213.5(c)—Responsibility for compliance—Notification of assignment to FRA
746
15 notices
1 hour
15
1,140
213.7(a)-(b)—Designations: Names on list with written authorizations
746
2,500 documents
10 minutes
416.7
31,669
213.17(a)—Waivers
746
10 petitions
2 hours
20
1,520
213.57(e)—Curves, elevation and speed limitations—Request to FRA for vehicle type approval
746
4 requests
8 hours
32
2,432
213.57(f)—Written Notification to FRA prior to implementation of higher curving speeds
746
4 notifications
2 hours
8
608
213.57(g)—Written consent of track owners obtained by railroad providing service over that track
746
4 written consents
45 minutes
3
228
213.110(a)—Gage restraint measurement systems (GRMS)—Implementing GRMS—notices & reports
746
1 notification
45 minutes
.8
61
213.110(g)—GRMS vehicle output reports
746
1 report
5 minutes
.1
8
213.110(h)—GRMS vehicle exception reports
746
1 report
5 minutes
.1
8
213.110(j)—GRMS/PTLF—procedures for data integrity
746
1 documented procedure
1 hour
1
76
213.110(n)—GRMS inspection records
746
2 records
30 minutes
1
76
213.118(a)-(c)—Continuous welded rail (CWR)—Revised plans w/procedures for CWR
438
10 plans
4 hours
40
3,040
213.118(d)—Notification to FRA and RR employees of CWR plan effective date
438
750 notifications to employees
15 seconds
3.1
236
213.118(e)—Written submissions after plan disapproval
438
5 written submissions
2 hours
10
760
213.118(e)—Final FRA disapproval and plan amendment
438
5 amended plans
1 hour
5
380
213.234(f)—Automated inspection of track constructed with concrete crossties—Recordkeeping requirements
30
2,000 records
30 minutes
1,000
76,000
213.237(b)(2)—Inspection of Rail—Detailed request to FRA to change designation of a rail inspection segment or establish a new segment
65
4 requests
15 minutes
1
76
213.237(b)(3)—Notification to FRA and all affected employees of designation's effective date after FRA's approval/conditional approval
65
1 notice to FRA + 15 bulletins
15 minutes
4
304
213.237(d)—Notice to FRA that service failure rate target in paragraph (a) of this section is not achieved
65
4 notices
15 minutes
1
76
213.237(d)—Explanation to FRA as to why performance target was not achieved and provision to FRA of remedial action plan
65
4 letters of explanation/plans
15 minutes
1
76
213.241—Inspection records2
746
1,375,000 records
10 minutes
229,166.7
17,416,669
213.303(b)—Responsibility for compliance—Notification of assignment to FRA
2
5 notices
30 minutes
2.5
190
213.305(a)-(c)—Designation of qualified individuals; general qualifications—Written authorization for remedial actions
2
20 written documents
30 minutes
10
760
213.305(e)—Designation of qualified individuals; general qualifications; recordkeeping requirements for designations
2
200 records
10 minutes
33.3
2,531
( printed page 21066)
213.317(a)-(b)—Waivers
2
2 petitions
8 hours
16
1,216
213.329(e)—Curves, elevation and speed limitations—FRA approval of qualified vehicle types based on results of testing
213.345(h)—Written consent of other affected track owners by railroad
4
4 written consents
30 minutes
2
230
213.369(d)—Inspection Records—Record of inspection of track
2
15,000 records
10 minutes
2,500
190,000
Total
746
1,404,410 responses
N/A
233,899
17,776,417
1
The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the Surface Transportation Board's Full Year Wage A&B data series using the appropriate employee group hourly wage rate that includes a 75-percent overhead charge.
2Note:
Each record of an inspection under §§ 213.4, 213.119, 213.233, 213.235, and 213.237 is covered under § 213.241.
Total Estimated Annual Responses:
1,404,410.
Total Estimated Annual Burden:
233,899 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent:
$17,776,417.
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 unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.