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 Request (ICR) abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the information collection and its expected burden. On October 5, 2020, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICR.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before February 8, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular ICR by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Kim Toone, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-06132) or kim.toone@dot.gov.

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 October 5, 2020, FRA published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on the ICR for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 85 FR 62798. FRA received no comments in response to this 60-day notice.

Before OMB decides whether to approve the proposed collection 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 1320.10(b); 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 ICR 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 summary below describes the ICR that FRA will submit for OMB clearance as the PRA requires:

Title: Design and Evaluation of a Robust Manual Locomotive Operating Mode.

OMB Control Number: 2130-0623.

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to design and evaluate a prototype locomotive operating mode that allows an engineer 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. The ICR, which was previously approved by OMB, will be extended as the study was not completed by the anticipated completion date.

Type of Request: Extension without change of a current information collection.

Affected Public: Railroad Engineers, College Student Volunteers.

Respondent Universe: 20 Engineers/10 Volunteers.

Frequency of Submission: Once.

Total Estimated Annual Responses: 90.

Total Estimated Annual Burden: 272.

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 a respondent is not required to respond to, conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.