Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION:

Notice of information collection; request for comment.

SUMMARY:

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Requests (ICRs) abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs describe the information collections and their expected burden. On November 14, 2018, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICRs.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before March 25, 2019.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments on the ICRs to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503, Attention: FRA Desk Officer. Comments may also be sent via email to OMB at the following address: oira_submissions@omb.eop.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Robert Brogan, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Railroad Safety, Regulatory Analysis Division, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W33-497, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: 202-493-6292); or Ms. Kim Toone, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Administration, Office of Information Technology, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W34-212, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: 202-493-6132).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520, and its implementing regulations, 5 CFR part 1320, require Federal agencies to issue two notices seeking public comment on information collection activities before OMB may approve paperwork packages. See 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.8 through 1320.12. On November 14, 2018, FRA published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on the ICRs for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 83 FR 56909. FRA received no comments in response to this notice.

Before OMB decides whether to approve these proposed collections of information, it must provide 30 days for public comment. Federal law requires OMB to approve or disapprove paperwork packages between 30 and 60 days after the 30-day notice is published. 44 U.S.C. 3507(b)-(c); 5 CFR 1320.12(d); see also 60 FR 44978, 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. OMB believes the 30-day notice informs the regulated community to file relevant comments and affords the agency adequate time to digest public comments before it renders a decision. 60 FR 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. Therefore, respondents should submit their respective comments to OMB within 30 days of publication to best ensure having their full effect.

Comments are invited on the following ICRs regarding: (1) Whether the information collection activities are necessary for FRA to properly execute its functions, including whether the information 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 to minimize the burden of information collection activities on the public, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The summaries below describe the ICRs that FRA will submit for OMB clearance as the PRA requires:

Title: State Safety Participation Regulations and Reporting of Remedial Actions.

OMB Control Number: 2130-0509.

Abstract: The collection of information is set forth under 49 CFR part 212, and requires qualified state inspectors to provide various reports to FRA for monitoring and enforcement purposes concerning state investigative, inspection, and surveillance activities regarding railroad compliance with Federal railroad safety laws and regulations. Additionally, under 49 CFR part 209, subpart E, railroads are required to report to FRA actions taken to remedy certain alleged violations of law.

Type of Request: Extension with change (revised estimates) of a currently approved information collection.

Form(s): FRA F 6180.33/61/67/96/96A/109/110/111/112/144.

Respondent Universe: States and Railroads.

Frequency of Submission: On occasion.

Total Estimated Annual Responses: 82,402.

Total Estimated Annual Burden: 49,047 hours.

Total Estimated Burden Hours Dollar Equivalent Cost: $3,629,478.

Title: Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings.

OMB Control Number: 2130-0560.

Abstract: Under 49 CFR part 222, FRA seeks to collect information from railroads and public authorities in order to increase safety at public highway-rail grade crossings nationwide by requiring that locomotive horns be sounded when trains approach and pass through these crossings or by ensuring that a safety level at least equivalent to that provided by routine locomotive horn sounding exists for quiet zone corridors in which horns are silenced. FRA reviews applications by public authorities intending to establish new quiet zones or, in some cases, continue pre-rule quiet zones to ensure the necessary level of safety is achieved.

Type of Request: Extension with change (revised estimates) of a currently approved information collection.

Form(s): N/A.

Respondent Universe: 728 Railroads/340 Public Authorities.

Frequency of Submission: On occasion.

Total Estimated Annual Responses: 4,362.

Total Estimated Annual Burden: 9,236 hours.

Total Estimated Burden Hours Dollar Equivalent Cost: $681,983.

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.