[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 104 (Friday, May 29, 2020)] [Notices] [Pages 32440-32443] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2020-11598] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [Docket No. FRA-2020-0027-N-9] 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 below. DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before July 28, 2020. ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the ICR activities by mail to either: Ms. Qiana Swayne, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Railroad Policy and Development, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590; or Ms. Kim Toone, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Administration, 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 2130-0615,'' 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. Swayne at [email protected], or Ms. Toone at [email protected]. Please refer to the assigned OMB control number in any [[Page 32441]] 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: Grants Management Requirements for Federal Railroad Administration. Grant Awards and Cooperative Agreements. OMB Control Number: 2130-0615. Abstract: FRA solicits grant applications for projects including, but not limited to, preconstruction planning activities, safety improvements, congestion relief, improvement of grade crossings, and rail line relocation, as well as projects that encourage development, expansion, and upgrades to passenger and freight rail infrastructure and services. FRA funds projects that meet FRA and government-wide evaluation standards and align with the DOT Strategic Plan. FRA administers award agreements for both construction and non- construction projects that will result in benefits or other tangible improvements in rail corridors, service, safety, and technology. These projects include completion of preliminary engineering, environmental, research and development, final design, and construction. FRA requires systematic and uniform collection and submission of information, as approved by OMB, to ensure accountability of Federal assistance provided by FRA. Through this information collection, FRA will measure Federal award recipients' performance and results, including expenditures in support of agreed-upon activities and allowable costs outlined in an FRA Notice of Grant Award. This information collection includes OMB-required reports and documentation, as well as additional forms and submissions to compile evidence relevant to addressing FRA's important policy challenges, promoting cost-effectiveness in FRA programs, and providing effective oversight of programmatic and financial performance. FRA issues and manages awards in compliance with 2 CFR part 200: Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. The forms for which FRA is seeking renewal of its current approval are listed below. All non-research awards are subject to the application, reporting, closeout, and other processes described in this notice. Form(s): All FRA forms are located at FRA's public website; all SF forms are located at Grants.gov. FRA forms 30 (FRA Assurance and Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements), 31 (Grant Adjustment Require Form), 32 (Service Outcome Agreement Annual Reporting), 33 (Final Performance Report), 34 (Quarterly Progress Report), 35 (Application Form), 217 (Categorical Exclusion Worksheet), 229 (NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership Supplier Scouting--FRA Item Opportunity Synopsis), 251 (Applicant Financial Capability Questionnaire), and 252 (Payment Summary Spreadsheet). SF forms 270 (Request for Advance or Reimbursement), 424 (Application for Federal Assistance), 424 A (Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs), 424B (Assurance for Non-Construction Programs), 424C (Budget Information for Construction Programs), 424D (Assurances for Construction Programs), 425 (Federal Financial Report), and LLL (Disclosure of Lobbying Activities). Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection. Affected Public: Generally includes States and local governments and railroads. Frequency of Submission: Varied; on occasion/monthly. Reporting Burden: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Average time Total annual Form name Form Grant activity/process Total annual (hours) per Total annual dollar cost responses response burden hours equivalent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grant Application.................... FRA F 35................ Application............ 250 34 8,500.00 $348,415.00 Application for Federal Assistance... SF 424.................. Application............ 250 1.1 275.00 11,272.25 Budget Information for Non- SF 424A................. Application............ 75 3 225.00 9,222.75 Construction Programs. Assurances for Non-Construction SF 424B................. Application............ 75 0.25 18.75 768.56 Programs. Budget Information for Construction SF 424C................. Application............ 175 3 525.00 21,519.75 Programs. Assurances for Construction Programs. SF 424D................. Application............ 175 0.25 43.75 1,793.31 Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.... SF LLL.................. Application............ 250 0.17 42.50 1,742.08 Applicant Financial Capability FRA F 251............... Application............ 168 2 336.00 13,772.64 Questionnaire. [[Page 32442]] FRA Assurances and Certifications FRA F 30................ Application............ 250 0.25 62.50 2,561.88 Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters and Drug-Free Workplace Requirement. Federal Financial Report (new SF 425 New Awards....... Awards & Maintenance... 500 1.5 750.00 30,742.50 awardees submit each quarter). Federal Financial Report (existing SF 425 Existing Grantees Awards & Maintenance... 864 1.5 1,296.00 53,123.04 awardees submit each quarter). Request for Advance or Reimbursement. SF 270.................. Awards & Maintenance... 860 1 860.00 35,251.40 Payment Summary Spreadsheet.......... SF 252.................. Awards & Maintenance... 860 0.5 430.00 17,625.70 Quarterly Progress Report (new FRA F 34 New Awards..... Awards & Maintenance... 500 2 1,000.00 40,990.00 awardees submit each quarter). Quarterly Progress Report (existing FRA F 34 Existing Awards & Maintenance... 864 2 1,728.00 70,830.72 awardees submit each quarter). Grantees. Grant Adjustment Request Form........ FRA F 31................ Awards & Maintenance... 212 1 212.00 8,689.88 Service Outcome Agreement (SOA) FRA F 32................ Awards & Maintenance... 24 1 24.00 983.76 Annual Reporting. Certification of Compliance or Non- Narrative Request....... Buy America Component.. 15 3 45.00 1,844.55 Compliance with Buy America Requirements for Steel, Iron, or Manufactured Products being produced by Awardee. Certification of Compliance with Buy Narrative Request....... Buy America Component.. 1 62 62.00 2,541.38 America for Rolling Stock. Waivers--Requests/Applications for Narrative Request....... Buy America Component.. 15 1200 18,000.00 737,820.00 Waivers, excluding FRA Form 229 (narrative request). NIST Manufacturing Extension FRA F 229............... Buy America Component.. 15 18 270.00 11,067.30 Partnership Supplier Scouting--FRA-- Item Opportunity Synopsis (FRA F 229). Awardee Investigations (including FRA Narrative Request....... Buy America Component.. 3 333 999.00 40,949.01 initiated investigations). Awardee direct reply to FRA after Narrative Request....... Buy America Component.. 2 1 2.00 81.98 request to conduct investigation of bidder/offeror. Additional Documents to FRA from Narrative Request....... Buy America Component.. 1 4 4.00 163.96 Awardee/Investigated Party. Transmission of Awardee/Bidder/ Narrative Request....... Buy America Component.. 2 0.5 1.00 40.99 Offeror Reply to Petitioner. Awardee/Investigated Bidder/Offeror Narrative Request....... Buy America Component.. 1 8 8.00 327.92 response to Petitioner Comment. Written request to FRA for Narrative Request....... Buy America Component.. 1 4 4.00 163.96 information bearing on substance of investigation which has been submitted by petitioner, interested parties, or awardees. Detailed Statement to FRA Regarding Narrative Request....... Buy America Component.. 1 8 8.00 327.92 Confidentiality of Previously Submitted Information to Agency. Awardee Determination to make award Narrative Request....... Buy America Component.. 1 40 40.00 1,639.60 before resolution of investigation one of this sections specified reasons. Notification to FRA by Awardee to Narrative Request....... Buy America Component.. 1 1 1.00 40.99 make award during pendency of investigation. Request to FRA for Reconsideration of Narrative Request....... Buy America Component.. 1 80 80.00 3,279.20 Initial Decision by Party Involved in Investigations. Pre-Award Audit...................... Narrative Request....... Buy America Component.. 1 33 33.00 1,352.67 Final Contract between Awardee and Narrative Request....... Buy America Component.. 1 16 16.00 655.84 Bidder/Offeror. Post Award Audit..................... Narrative Request....... Buy America Component.. 1 256 256.00 10,493.44 Rolling Stock Domestic Content Narrative Request....... Buy America Component.. 1 120 120.00 4,918.80 Improvement Plans. [[Page 32443]] Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Narrative Request....... Awards & Maintenance... 2 15552 31,104.00 1,274,952.96 Environmental Assessment (EA)........ Narrative Request....... Awards & Maintenance... 4 3120 12,480.00 511,555.20 Categorical Exclusion Worksheet...... FRA F 217............... Awards & Maintenance... 50 156 7,800.00 319,722.00 Final Performance Report............. FRA F 33................ Closeout............... 79 8 632.00 25,905.68 --------------------------------------------------------------- Total............................ ........................ ....................... 6,551.00 21,078.02 88,293.50 3,619,150.57 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Estimated Annual Burden: 88,293.50 hours. Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $3,619,150.57. 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. 2020-11598 Filed 5-28-20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-06-P