2013-00221. Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and its implementing regulations, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) hereby announces that it is seeking renewal of the following currently approved information collection activities. Before submitting these information collection requirements (ICRs) for clearance by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified below.

DATES:

Comments must be received no later than March 11, 2013.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments on any or all of the following proposed activities by mail to either: Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Safety, Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 20590, or Ms. Kimberly Toone, Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 35, 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-____.” Alternatively, comments may be transmitted via facsimile to [phone] or [phone], or via email to Mr. Brogan at [e-mail], or to Ms. Toone at [e-mail]. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: [phone]) or Ms. Kimberly Toone, Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: [phone]). (These telephone numbers are not toll-free.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104-13, § 2, 109 Stat. 163 (1995) (codified as revised at 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 for comment on information collection activities before seeking approval for reinstatement or renewal by OMB. 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), 1320.10(e)(1), 1320.12(a). Specifically, FRA invites interested respondents to comment on the following summary of proposed information collection activities regarding (i) whether the information collection activities are necessary for FRA to properly execute its functions, including whether the activities will have practical utility; (ii) 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; (iii) ways for FRA to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information being collected; and (iv) ways for FRA to minimize the burden of information collection activities on the public by automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology (e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses). See 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)(I)-(iv); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1)(I)-(iv). FRA believes that soliciting public comment will promote its efforts to reduce the administrative and paperwork burdens associated with the collection of information mandated by Federal regulations. In summary, FRA reasons that comments received will advance three objectives: (i) Reduce reporting burdens; (ii) ensure that it organizes information collection requirements in a “user friendly” format to improve the use of such information; and (iii) accurately assess the resources expended to retrieve and produce information requested. See 44 U.S.C. 3501.

Below is a brief summary of the currently approved ICRs that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under the PRA:

Title: Passenger Equipment Safety Standards.

OMB Control Number: 2130-0544.

Abstract: The information gained from daily inspections is used to detect and correct equipment problems so as to prevent collisions, derailments, and other occurrences involving railroad passenger equipment that cause injury or death to railroad employees, railroad passengers, or to the general public; and to mitigate the consequences of any such occurrences, to the extent that they cannot be prevented. The information provided promotes passenger train safety by ensuring requirements are met for railroad equipment design and performance; fire safety; emergency systems; the inspection, testing, and maintenance of passenger equipment; and other provisions for the safe operation of railroad passenger equipment.

Affected Public: Businesses.

Respondent Universe: 27 railroads.

Frequency of Submission: On occasion; annually.

Reporting Burden

CFR Section	Respondent universe	Total annual responses	Average time per response	Total annual burden hours
229.47: Emergency Brake Valve—Stenciling Locomotives	27 railroads	30 stencillings	1 minute	1
Stenciling: DMU, MU, Cab Control Locomotives	27 railroads	5 stencillings	1 minute	.08
238.7 Waivers	27 railroads	5 waivers	2 hours	10
238.15: Movement of Passenger Equip. w/power brake defects: Limitations on movement found during Class I/IA Brake Test	27 railroads	1,000 tags/cards	3 minutes	50
Limitations on movement of passenger equip. in passenger service that becomes defective en route after Class I/IA brake test	27 railroads	288 tags/cards	3 minutes	14
Conditional Requirement: Notifications	27 railroads	144 Notifications	3 minutes	7
238.17: Movement of Passenger Equip. w/Other than Power Brake Defects: Defects Developed En Route	27 railroads	200 tags/cards	3 minutes	10
Special Requisites For Movement of Equipment w/Safety Appliance Defects	27 railroads	76 tags/cards	3 minutes	4
Notifications	22 railroads	38 notifications	30 seconds	.32
238.21: Special Approval Procedure: Petitions For Alternative Std.	27 railroads	1 petition	16 hours	16
Petitions For Alternative Compl.	27 railroads	1 petition	120 hours	120
238.21: Petitions For Special Approval of Pre-Revenue Service Acceptance Plan	27 railroads	10 petitions	40 hours	400
Comments	Public/RR Industry	4 comments	1 hour	4
238.103: Fire Safety: Fire Safety Analysis: New Railroads—New Equipment	2 New Railroads	2 fire safety analyses	150 hours	300
Existing Equipment: Fire Safety Analysis	27 railroads	1 analysis	40 hours	40
Equipment Transferred to New Service: Fire Safety Analysis	27 railroads	3 analyses	20 hours	60
238.107: Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance Plan: Annual Reviews	27 railroads	12 reviews	60 hours	720
238.109: Training, Qualification, and Designation Prog.—Training Employees Who Perform Mechanical Insp.	7,500 employees; 100 trainers	2,500 employees trained/100 instructors	1.33 hours	3,458
Recordkeeping	27 railroads	2,500 records	3 minutes	125
238.111: Pre-Revenue Service Acceptance Testing Plan: Equipment Previously Used in Revenue Service	9 equipment manufacturers	2 plans	16 hours	32
Equipment Not Previously Used in Revenue Service	9 equipment manufacturers	2 plans	192 hours	384
Subsequent Orders	9 equipment manufacturers	2 plans	60 hours	120
238.213: Corner Posts—Plan in lieu of meeting requirements of section (b) of this provision	27 railroads	10 plans	40 hours	400
238.229: Welded Safety Appliances—List identifying each piece of equipment w/a welded safety bracket/support	27 railroads	27 lists	60 minutes	27
List of passenger equipment placed into service prior to Jan. 1, 2007, with a welded safety appliance	27 railroads	27 lists	60 minutes	27
Tagging defective welded safety appliance	27 railroads	4 tags	3 minutes	20
Notification to crewmembers of movement of defective equipment	27 railroads	2 notifications	1 minutes	.0333
Written safety appliance inspection plan to FRA	27 railroads	27 plans	16 hours	432
Training of RR inspection personnel	27 railroads	54 tr. Employees	4 hours	216
Remedial action: Record	27 railroads	1 record	2.25 hour	2
Petition for Special Approval of Alternative Compliance pursuant to section 238.21	27 railroads	15 petitions	4 hours	60
Record of inspection/repair of welded safety appliance brackets/supports	27 railroads	3,054 records	12 minutes	611
238.230: Safety Appliances: New Equipment—Inspection/Record of welded safety appliance brackets/supports	27 railroads	100 records	6 minutes	10
Documentation to FRA of Other welded safety appliances & safety appliance brackets/supports	27 railroads	15 documents	4 hours	60
238.231: RR Procedure to secure unattended locomotive required to have a hand brake or parking brake applied	27 railroads	27 procedures	2 hours	54
238.237: Automated Monitoring—Documentation for setting alerter or deadman control	27 railroads	3 documents	2 hours	6
Tagging defective alerter or deadman control in locomotive cab	27 railroads	25 tags	3 minutes	1
238.303: Exterior Calendar Day Inspection of Equip.	27 railroads	25 notices	2 minutes	1
Defective Dynamic Brakes on MU Locomotive	27 railroads	50 tags/cards	3 minutes	3
Defective Dynamic Brakes on Conventional Locos	27 railroads	50 tags/cards	3 minutes	3
MU equipment with inoperative/or ineffective air compressor: documentation of train safety	27 railroads	4 documents	2 hours	8
Notice to train crew of number of units with inoperative or ineffective air compressors	27 railroads	100 notices	3 minutes	5
Record of inoperative or ineffective air compressor	27 railroads	100 records	2 minutes	3
Record of each exterior calendar day mechanical inspection	27 railroads	2,376,920 records	1 minute	435,769
238.305: Interior Calendar Day Mechanical Insp.: Tagging Req.	27 railroads	540 tags	1 minute	9
Inspection and Records	27 railroads	1,968,980 inspect/records	5 minutes + 1 minute	196,898
238.307: Periodic Mechanical Inspection of Pass. Cars: Notification of Alternative Intervals	27 railroads	2 notifications	5 hours	10
Non-Complying Conditions	27 railroads	200 notices	2 minutes	7
Inspections and Records of Insp.	27 railroads	19,284 inspections/records	200 hours + 2 minutes	3,857,443
Reliability Assessments Concerning Alt. Inspection Interval	27 railroads	5 documents	100 hours	500
238.311: Single Car Test: Movement to Nest Forward Location	27 railroads	50 tags	3 minutes	3
238.313: Class I Brake Test—Records	27 railroads	15,600 records	30 minutes	7,800
238.315: Class IA Brake Test	27 railroads	18,250 verbal notices	5 seconds	25
Communication Signal Tests	22 railroads	365,000 tests	15 seconds	1,521
238.317: Class II Brake Test: Communication Signal System Test	27 railroads	365,000 tests	15 seconds	1,521
238.321: Out-of-service credit	27 railroads	1,250 notations	2 minutes	42
238.445: Automated Monitoring	1 railroad	10,000 alerts/alarms	10 seconds	28
Self-Tests: Notific	1 railroad	21,900 notifications	20 seconds	122
238.503/505: FRA approval of written inspection, testing, and maintenance program for Tier II passenger equipment prior to implementation of program & use of equipment in passenger operation	27 railroads	1 program/plan	1,200 hours	1,200
Comments on program	Public/Interested Rail Parties	3 comments	3 hours	9

Total Responses: 5,151,727.

Estiamated Total Annual Burden: 4,510,711 hours.

Status: Regular Review.

Title: Designation of Qualified Persons.

OMB Control Number: 2130-0511.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Businesses.

Form(s): N/A.

Abstract: The collection of information is used to prevent the unsafe movement of defective freight cars. Railroads are required to inspect freight cars for compliance and to determine restrictions on the movements of defective cars.

Annual Estimated Burden: 40 hours.

Status: Regular Review.

Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 CFR 1320.5(b), 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.

Issued in Washington, DC, on January 3, 2013.

Rebecca Pennington,

Chief Financial Officer, Federal Railroad Administration.