2018-03361. Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request  

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    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 October 11, 2017, 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 22, 2018.

    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.

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    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    Mr. Robert Brogan, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Railroad Safety, Safety Regulatory Analysis Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6292); or Ms. Kim Toone, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Administration, Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6132).

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    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 1320.8-12. On October 11, 2017, FRA published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on the ICRs for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 82 FR 47595. 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: Occupational Noise Exposure for Railroad Operating Employees.

    OMB Control Number: 2130-0571.

    Abstract: FRA uses the collection of information to ensure railroads covered by this rule establish and implement noise monitoring, hearing conservation, and audiometric testing programs. This collection also includes hearing conservation training programs that protect railroad employees from the damaging and potentially dangerous effects of excessive noise in the everyday rail environment.

    Request: Extension with change of a current information collection.

    Affected Public: Businesses.

    Form(s): N/A.

    Respondent Universe: 502 railroads.

    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.

    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 164,734.

    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 28,311 hours.

    Title: Conductor Certification.

    OMB Control Number: 2130-0596.Start Printed Page 7294

    Abstract: FRA's conductor certification regulation (49 CFR part 242) requires railroads to have a formal program for certifying conductors. As part of that program, railroads are required to have a formal process for training prospective conductors and determining that all persons are competent before permitting them to serve as a conductor. FRA intended the regulation to ensure that only those persons who meet minimum Federal safety standards serve as conductors. FRA collects information to ensure that railroads and their employees fully comply with all the requirements of part 242, including a conductor certification/recertification program, fitness requirements, initial and periodic testing of conductors, territorial qualifications, etc.

    Type of Request: Extension with change of a current information collection.

    Affected Public: Businesses.

    Form(s): N/A.

    Respondent Universe: 704 railroads.

    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.

    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 268,799.

    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 856,406 hours.

    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.

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

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    Brett A. Jortland,

    Acting Deputy Chief Counsel.

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    [FR Doc. 2018-03361 Filed 2-16-18; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 4910-06-P

Document Information

Published:
02/20/2018
Department:
Federal Railroad Administration
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of information collection; request for comment.
Document Number:
2018-03361
Dates:
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before March 22, 2018.
Pages:
7293-7294 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. FRA-2018-0008-N-1
PDF File:
2018-03361.Pdf