2014-24688. Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request  

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    AGENCY:

    Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), DOT.

    ACTION:

    Notice.

    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 the information collection requests (ICRs) below 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 December 16, 2014.

    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 (202) 493-6216 or (202) 493-6479, or via email to Mr. Brogan at Robert.Brogan@dot.gov, or to Ms. Toone at Kimberly.Toone@dot.gov. Please refer to the assigned OMB control number in any Start Printed Page 62514correspondence 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.

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    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 17, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6292) 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: (202) 493-6132). (These telephone numbers are not toll-free.)

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    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104-13, sec. 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 currently approved information collection activities that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under the PRA:

    Title: Inspection Brake System Safety Standards for Freight and Other Non-Passenger Trains and Equipment (Power Brakes and Drawbars).

    OMB Control Number: 2130-0008.

    Abstract: Section 7 of the Rail Safety Enforcement and Review Act of 1992, Public Law 102-365, amended Section 202 of the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970 (45 U.S.C. 421, 431 et seq.), empowered the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a review of the Department's rules with respect to railroad power brakes and, where applicable, prescribe standards regarding dynamic brake equipment. In keeping with the Secretary's mandate and the authority delegated from him to the FRA Administrator, FRA issued revisions to the regulations governing freight power brakes and equipment in October 2008 by adding a new subpart addressing electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) brake systems. The revisions are designed to provide for and encourage the safe implementation and use of ECT brake system technologies. These revisions contain specific requirements relating to design, interoperability, training, inspection, testing, handling defective equipment and periodic maintenance related to ECP brake systems. The final rule also identifies provisions of the existing regulations and statutes where FRA is proposing to provide flexibility to facilitate the voluntary adoption of this advanced brake system technology. The collection of information is used by FRA to monitor and enforce current regulatory requirements related to power brakes on freight cars as well as the recently added requirements related to ECP brake systems. The collection of information is also used by locomotive engineers and road crews to verify that the terminal air brake test has been performed in a satisfactory manner.

    Form Number(s): None.

    Affected Public: Businesses.

    Respondent Universe: 559 railroads.

    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.

    Affected Public: Businesses.

    Reporting Burden:

    CFR sectionRespondent universeTotal annual responsesAverage time per responseTotal annual burden hours
    229.27—Annual Tests30,000 Locomotives30,000 tests15 minutes7,500
    232.3—Applicability—Cars Not Used in Service559 Railroads8 cards10 minutes1
    232.7—Waivers559 railroads25 petitions80 hours2,000
    232.11—Penalties559 railroads1 false record10 minutes17
    232.15—Movement of Defective Equipment1,620,000 cars/locos128,400 tags2.5 minutes5,350
    —Notice of Defective Car/Locomotive and Restrictions1,620,000 cars/locos25,000 notices3 minutes1,250
    232.17—Special Approval Procedure559 railroads4 petitions100 hours400
    —Petitions—Pre-Revenue Svc Plans559 railroads2 petitions100 hours200
    —Copies of Petitions—Special Approval559 railroads4 petitions20 hours80
    —Statements of InterestPublic/Railroads14 statements8 hours112
    —Comments on Special Approval Procedure PetitionPublic/Railroads13 comments4 hours52
    232.103—General Requirements for All Train Brakes114,000 cars70,000 stickers10 minutes11,667
    232.105—General Requirements For Locomotives30,000 locomotives30,000 forms5 minutes2,500
    232.107—Air Source Requirements—Plans10 new railroads1 plan40 hours40
    —Amendments to Plan50 Existing Plans10 amendment20 hours200
    —Record Keeping50 Existing Plans1,150 records20 hours23,000
    232.109—Dynamic Br. Requirements—Rcd559 railroads1,656,000 rcd4 minutes110,400
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    —Repair of Inoperative Dynamic Brakes30,000 locomotives6,358 records4 minutes424
    —Locomotives w/Inoperative Dynamic Br30,000 locomotives6,358 tags30 seconds53
    —Deactivated Dynamic Brakes: Markings8,000 locomotives10 markings5 minutes1
    —Rule Safe Train Handling Procedures5 new railroads5 oper. rules4 hours20
    —Amendments559 railroads15 amendment1 hour15
    —Over Speed Top Rules—5 MPH Increase559 railroads5 requests20.5 hours103
    —Locomotive Engineer Certification Programs—Dynamic Brakes Training5 new railroads5 amendments16 hours80
    232.111—Train Information Handling5 new railroads5 procedures40 hours200
    —Amendments100 railroads100 am. proc.20 hours2,000
    —Reports to Train Crews559 railroads2,112,000 rpts10 minutes352,000
    232.203—Training Requirements: Training Programs—Subsequent Years15 railroads5 programs100 hours500
    —Amendments to Written Program559 railroads559 am. prog.8 hours4,472
    —Training Records559 railroads67,000 records8 minutes8,933
    —Training Notifications559 railroads67,000 notices3 minutes3,350
    —Validation/Assessment Plans559 railroads1 plan + 559 copies40 hrs./1 min.49
    —Amendments to Validation/Assessment Plans559 railroads50 amendment20 hours1,000
    232.205—Class I Brake Test—Initial Terminal Insp559 railroads1,646,000 notices45 seconds20,575
    232.207—Class I A Brake Tests: 1000 Mile Insp
    —Subsequent Years559 railroads5 designations1 hour5
    —Amendments559 railroads5 amendments1 hour5
    232.209—Class II Brake Tests—Intermediate Insp559 railroads1,597,000 comments3 seconds1,331
    232.213—Extended Haul Trains—Designations84,000 train movements200 designates15 minutes50
    232.303—General Requirements—Track Brake Test1,600,000 freight cars5,600 tags5 minutes467
    —Location of Last Track Brake Test/Single Car Test1,600,000 freight cars320,000 stencillings5 minutes26,667
    232.305—Single Car Tests1,600,000 freight cars320,000 tests/rcds45 minutes240,000
    232.307—Request to Modify Single Car Air Brake Test ProceduresAAR1 request + 3 copies20 hours + 5 minutes20
    —Statement Affirming That Request Copies Have been Served on Designated Employee RepresentativesAAR1 statement + 4 copies30 minutes + 5 minutes1
    —Comment on Modification RequestRR Industry/Public/Interested Parties2 comments816
    232.309—Equipment and Devices—Tests/Calibrations640 shops5,000 tests30 minutes2,500
    232.403—Design Standards For One-way EOT Devices—Unique Code245 railroads12 requests5 minutes1
    232.407—Operations Requiring 2-Way EOTs245 railroads50,000 communications30 seconds417
    232.409—Inspection and Testing of 2-Way EOTs245 railroads447,500 communications30 seconds3,729
    —Testing Telemetry Equipment245 railroads32,708 markings60 seconds545
    232.503—Process to Introduce New Brake System Technology—Special Approval559 railroads1 request/letter60 minutes1
    —Pre-Revenue Service Demonstration559 railroads1 request3 hours3
    232.505—Pre-Revenue Service Acceptance Testing Plan: Maintenance Procedure—Subsequent Years559 railroads1 procedure160 hours160
    —Amendments559 railroads1 amendment40 hours40
    —Design Descriptions—Petitions559 railroads1 petition67 hours67
    —Results Pre-Revenue Service Acceptance Testing559 railroads1 report13 hours13
    —Description of Brake Systems Technologies Previously Used in Revenue Service559 railroads5 descriptions40 hours200
    232.603—ECP Requirements: Brakes—Configuration Management Plans4 railroads1 plan160 hours160
    —Updated Plans in Subsequent Years4 railroads1 plan60 hours60
    —Modification of Standards—Requests4 railroads1 request + 4 copies8 hours + 5 minutes8
    —RR Statement Affirming Copy of Modification Request to Employee Reps4 railroads4 statements + 24 copies60 minutes + 5 minutes6
    —Comments on Modification RequestPublic/Interested Parties4 comments2 hours8
    232.605—ECP Training Programs4 railroads4 programs100 hours400
    —Programs in Subsequent Years4 railroads2 programs100 hours200
    —ECP Trained Employees4 railroads6,409 workers8 hrs./24 hrs.10,512
    —ECP Trained Employees—Subsequent Yr4 railroads6,409 workers1 hr./8 hrs.30,264
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    —ECP Trained Employees—Records4 railroads6,409 records4 minutes855
    —ECP Trained Employees—Sub. Records4 railroads6,409 records4 minutes428
    —RR/Contractor Assessment of ECP Training Programs—Amended Plans4 railroads4 amended Plans40 hours160
    —ECP Amended Operating Rules4 railroads4 am. rules24 hours96
    —Amended Locomotive Engineer Certification Programs4 railroads4 programs40 hours160
    232.607—ECP Trains Inspection/Testing:—Notification to Locomotive Engineer4 railroads10,000 tests + 10,000 notices90 minutes + 45 seconds15,125
    —Cars Added en Route—Tests/Notifications4 railroads1,000 tests + 1,000 notices60 minutes + 45 seconds1,006
    —Non-ECP Cars Added—Inspections and Tagging of Defective Equipment2000 Cars200 insp. + 400 tags5 minutes + 2.5 minutes34
    232.609—Handling of Defective Equipment w/ECP Brake Systems—Tagging25 Cars50 tags2.5 minutes2
    —Train in ECP Mode w/Less Than 85% of Cars w/Operative Brakes—Insp. + Tagging20 Cars20 insp. + 40 tags5 minutes + 2.5 minutes3
    —Freight Cars w/ECP Systems Found with Defective Non-Safety Appliance—Tagging75 cars150 tags2.5 minutes6
    —Conventional Train Operating with ECP Stand Alone Brake Systems—Tagging500 cars1,000 tags2.5 minutes42
    —Procedures for Handling ECP Brake System Repairs4 railroads4 procedures24 hours96
    —Submission to FRA of ECP Brake System Repair Locations—Lists4 railroads4 lists8 hours32
    —Notice to FRA of Change in List4 railroads1 notification60 minutes1
    232.611—Periodic Maintenance Inspection and Repair of ECP Cars Before Release from Repair Shop or Track500 freight Cars500 inspection and records10 minutes83
    —Petitions for Special Approval of Pre-Revenue Service Acceptance Testing PlanAAR1 petition + 2 copies24 + 5 minutes24
    —Single Car Brake Test on ECP Retrofitted Cars2,500 freight Cars2,500 tests/records45 minutes1,875
    —Modification of Single Car Test StandardAAR1 procedure40 hours40

    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 8,677,683.

    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 991,451 hours.

    Status: Extension without Change of a Currently Approved Collection.

    Title: Occupational Noise Exposure for Railroad Operating Employees.

    OMB Control Number: 2130-0571.

    Abstract: The collection of information is used by FRA to ensure that railroads covered by this rule establish and implement—by specified dates—noise monitoring, hearing conservation, and audiometric testing programs, as well as hearing conservation training programs, to protect their employees against the damaging and potentially dangerous effects of excessive noise in the everyday rail environment.

    Affected Public: Businesses.

    Respondent Universe: 460 railroads.

    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.

    Reporting Burden:

    CFR sectionRespondent universeTotal annual responsesAverage time per responseTotal annual burden hours
    227.9—Waivers460 Railroads5 petitions60 minutes5
    227.103—Noise Monitoring Program460 Railroads460 programs3 hours/30 hours/600 hours5,128
    —Notification of Employee of Monitoring460 Railroads905 lists30 minutes453
    227.107—Hearing Conservation Program (HCP)460 railroads461 HCPs150 hrs/2 hrs/31 hrs/7.5 hours2,875
    —Revised Hearing Conservation Programs (HCPs)460 railroads5 HCPs1.74 hours9
    227.109—Audiometric Testing Program—Existing Employees—Baseline Audiograms85,600 Employees7,100 a-grams25 minutes2,958
    —Periodic Audiograms85,600 Employees8,000 a-grams10 minutes1,333
    —Evaluation of Audiograms85,600 Employees2,330 eval. + 93 retests6 min./2.5 hrs.280
    —Problem Audiograms/& required documents to Medical Professional8,000 Employees45 documents10 minutes8
    —Follow-up Procedures—Notifications8,000 Employees93 notices15 minutes8
    —Fitting/Training of Employees: Hearing Protectors240 Employees240 tr. session2 minutes8
    —Referrals For Clinical/Otological Exam240 Employees20 referrals2 hours40
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    —Notification to Employee of Need: Otological Examination240 Employees20 notices5 minutes2
    —New Audiometric Interpretation240 Employees20 notices5 minutes2
    227.111—Audiometric Test Requirements1,000 Mobile Vans1,000 tests45 minutes750
    227.117—Hearing Protection Attenuation—Evaluation460 Railroads50 evaluations30 minutes25
    —Re-Evaluations460 Railroads10 re-evals30 minutes5
    227.119—Hearing Conservation Training Program—Development460 Railroads/AAR441 programs1 hour/58 hrs/30 minutes353
    —Employee Training460 Railroads26,000 tr. Employees30 minutes13,000
    —Periodic Training460 Railroads7,100 tr. Employees30 minutes3,550
    227.121—Record Keeping—Authorization: Records460 Railroads30 requests + 30 responses10 minutes + 15 minutes13
    —Request for Copies of Reports460 Railroads150 requests + 150 responses21 minutes + 45 minutes166
    —Records Transfer When Carrier Becomes Defunct460 Railroads10 records24 minutes4
    —Railroad Audiometric Test Records460 Railroads26,000 records2 minutes867
    —Hearing Conservation Program (HCP) Records460 Railroads54,000 records45 seconds675
    229.121—Locomotive Cab Noise—Tests/Certification3 Equipment Manufacturers700 tests/records40 minutes + 5 minutes111
    —Equipment Maintenance: Excessive Noise Reports460 Railroads3,000 reports + 3,000 record1 minute + 1 minute100
    —Maintenance Records460 Railroads3,750 records1 minute63
    —Internal Auditable Monitoring Systems460 Railroads460 systems36 min. + 8.25 hours506
    Appendix H—Static Test Protocols/Records700 Locomotives2 retests + 2 records10 minutes + 5 minutes1

    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 145,682.

    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 33,928 hours.

    Status: Extension of a Currently Approved Collection.

    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.

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

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    Issued in Washington, DC.

    Rebecca Pennington,

    Chief Financial Officer.

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    [FR Doc. 2014-24688 Filed 10-16-14; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 4910-06-P

Document Information

Published:
10/17/2014
Department:
Federal Railroad Administration
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice.
Document Number:
2014-24688
Dates:
Comments must be received no later than December 16, 2014.
Pages:
62513-62517 (5 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. FRA-2014-0011-N-19
PDF File:
2014-24688.Pdf