[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 137 (Thursday, July 16, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43298-43299]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-15330]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2020-0027-N-14]
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment
Request
AGENCY: 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
September 14, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR to
Ms. Hodan Wells, Information Collection Clearance Officer, at email:
[email protected] or telephone: (202) 493-0440. 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.
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).
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
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: Railroad Safety Appliance Standards.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0594.
Abstract: The information collection associated with 49 CFR part
231 is used by FRA to promote and enhance the safe placement and
securement of safety appliances on modern rail equipment by
establishing a process for the review and approval of existing industry
standards. In 2011, FRA amended the regulations related to safety
appliance arrangements by permitting railroad industry representatives
to submit requests for the approval of existing industry standards
relating to the safety appliance arrangements on newly constructed
railroad cars, locomotives, tenders, or other rail vehicles in lieu of
the specific provisions contained in part 231.
Type of Request: Extension with change (revised estimates) of a
currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Businesses.
Form(s): N/A.
Respondent Universe: Railroads/railroad industry representatives/
rail labor unions/general public.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
Reporting Burden:
[[Page 43299]]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average time
CFR section Respondent Total annual per responses Total annual Total cost
universe responses (hours) burden hours equivalent \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
231.33(b)--Procedure for Association of 1 petition..... 16 16 $1,232
special approval of existing American
industry safety appliance Railroads (AAR)
standards--drafting and (industry rep.).
filing of petitions.
--(b)(6) Affirmative AAR (industry 1 affirmation 1 1 77
statement by petitioner rep.). statement.
that a petition copy has
been served on rep. of
employees responsible
for equipment's
operation/inspection/
testing/maintenance.
--(f)(3)(iii) Disposition AAR (industry 1 petition or 2 2 154
of petitions: petition rep.). additional
returned by FRA document.
requesting additional
information.
231.35(a)-Procedure for AAR (industry 1 petition for 16 16 1,232
modification of an approved rep.). modification.
industry safety appliance
standard for new car
construction--drafting and
filing of petitions.
--Affirmative statement AAR (industry 1 affirmation 1 1 77
by petitioner that a rep.). statement.
petition copy has been
served on rep. of
employees responsible
for equipment's
operation/inspection/
testing/maintenance.
--(b)(2)(iii) Statement 5 rail labor 1 statement of 1 1 77
of interest in reviewing unions/general interest.
special approval filed public.
with FRA.
--(e) FRA review of AAR (industry 1 additional 1 1 77
petition for rep.). comment.
modification; agency
objection and AAR
response.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Total................ N/A............. 7 responses.... N/A 38 2,926
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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.
Total Estimated Annual Responses: 7.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 38 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $2,926.
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.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.
Brett A. Jortland,
Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2020-15330 Filed 7-15-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P