2023-07438. Agency Information Collection Activity; Notice of Request for Public Comment and Submission to OMB for Information Collection: Confidential Close Call Transit Data for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)

AGENCY:

Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST–R), Department of Transportation.

ACTION:

Notice to continue to collect confidential close call transit data.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, BTS announces the intention of the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to use the approved OMB Number 2138–0044, and to continue to collect the following information: Confidential Close Call Transit Data for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA or the Authority), which includes but is not limited to the collection of data from Rail, Bus, Information Technology, and Command Center personnel. This data collection effort supports a multi-year program focused on improving the Authority in its entirety, by collecting and analyzing data and information on close calls and other unsafe occurrences within WMATA. The program is co-sponsored by WMATA and labor leadership including: the President/Business Agent of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 922 and Office & Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 2. The Close Call program is designed to identify safety issues and propose preventive actions based on voluntary reports of a close call submitted confidentially to BTS, an Agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation. This information collection is necessary for systematically analyzing data to identify root causes of potentially unsafe events. On January 23, 2023, BTS published Federal Register notice, allowing for a 60-day comment period on the ICR. The comment period closed on March 24, 2023. The agency received no comments. The purpose of this notice is to allow 30 days for public comment to OMB on this collection from all interested individuals and organizations.

DATES:

Written comments should be submitted by May 10, 2023.

ADDRESSES:

The agency seeks public comments on its proposed information collection. Comments should address whether the information will have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503, Attention: BTS Desk Officer.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Demetra V. Collia, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Safety Data and Analysis, RTS–31, E36–302, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590–0001; Phone No. (202) 366–1610; Fax No. (202) 366–3383; email: [e-mail]. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., EST, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Data Confidentiality Provisions: The confidentiality of Close Call data is protected under the BTS confidentiality statute (49 U.S.C. 6307) and the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act (CIPSEA) of 2018 (Pub. L. 115–435 Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018, Title III). In accordance with these confidentiality statutes, only statistical (aggregated) and non-identifying data will be made publicly available by BTS through reports. BTS will not release to WMATA or any other public or private entity any information that might reveal the identity of individuals who have submitted a report.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. The Data Collection

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35; as amended) and 5 CFR part 1320 require each Federal agency to obtain OMB approval to continue an information collection activity. BTS is seeking OMB approval for the following BTS information collection activity:

Title: Confidential Close Call Transit Data.

OMB Control Number: 2138–0044.

Type of Review: Continue to Collect.

Respondents: WMATA employees.

Number of Respondents: 150 (per annum).

Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour.

Frequency: Intermittent for 3 years. (Reports are submitted when there is a qualifying event

Total Annual Burden: 150 hours.

Demetra V. Collia,

Office Director.