2020-07911. Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request  

  • Start Preamble

    AGENCY:

    Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

    ACTION:

    Notice of information collection; request for comment.

    SUMMARY:

    Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below. Before submitting this ICR to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified in the ICR.

    DATES:

    Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before June 15, 2020.

    ADDRESSES:

    Submit written comments on the ICR activities by mail to either: Ms. Hodan Wells, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Railroad Safety, Regulatory Analysis Division, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590; or Ms. Kim Toone, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Information Technology, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 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 2130-0010,” and should also include the title of the ICR. Alternatively, comments may be faxed to 202-493-6216 or 202-493-6497, or emailed to Ms. Wells at hodan.wells@dot.gov, or Ms. Toone at kim.toone@dot.gov. 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.

    End Preamble Start Supplemental Information

    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    The PRA, 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 to allow comment on information collection activities before seeking OMB approval of the activities. See 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.8 through 1320.12. Specifically, FRA invites interested parties to comment on the following ICR regarding: (1) Whether the information collection activities are necessary for FRA to properly execute its functions, including whether the activities 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 for FRA to minimize the burden of information collection activities on the public, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. See 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1).

    FRA believes that soliciting public comment may reduce the administrative and paperwork burdens associated with the collection of information that Federal regulations mandate. In summary, FRA reasons that comments received will advance three objectives: (1) Reduce reporting burdens; (2) organize information collection requirements in a “user-friendly” format to improve the use of such information; and (3) accurately assess the resources expended to retrieve and produce Start Printed Page 21065information requested. See 44 U.S.C. 3501.

    The summary below describes the ICR that FRA will submit for OMB clearance as the PRA requires:

    Title: Track Safety Standards.

    OMB Control Number: 2130-0010.

    Abstract: The information collection associated with 49 CFR part 213 is used by FRA to ensure and enhance rail safety by monitoring complete compliance with all regulatory requirements. Part 213 prescribes minimum safety requirements for railroad track that is part of the general railroad system of transportation. While the requirements prescribed in this part generally apply to specific track conditions existing in isolation, a combination of track conditions, none of which individually amounts to a deviation from the requirements in this part, may require remedial action to provide safe operations over that track. Qualified persons inspect track and take action to allow safe passage of trains and ensure compliance with the prescribed standards. In 2013, FRA amended the Track Safety Standards and Passenger Equipment Safety Standards to promote the safe interaction of rail vehicles with the track over which they operate under a variety of conditions at speeds up to 220 m.p.h.

    Type of Request: Extension with change (revised estimates) of a currently approved collection.

    Affected Public: Businesses.

    Form(s): N/A.

    Respondent Universe: 746 railroads.

    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.

    Reporting Burden:

    CFR sectionRespondent universe (railroads)Total annual responsesAverage time per responsesTotal annual burden hoursTotal cost equivalent 1
    213.4(f)—Excepted track—Notification to FRA about removal of excepted track74615 notices10 minutes2.5$190
    213.5(c)—Responsibility for compliance—Notification of assignment to FRA74615 notices1 hour151,140
    213.7(a)-(b)—Designations: Names on list with written authorizations7462,500 documents10 minutes416.731,669
    213.17(a)—Waivers74610 petitions2 hours201,520
    213.57(e)—Curves, elevation and speed limitations—Request to FRA for vehicle type approval7464 requests8 hours322,432
    213.57(f)—Written Notification to FRA prior to implementation of higher curving speeds7464 notifications2 hours8608
    213.57(g)—Written consent of track owners obtained by railroad providing service over that track7464 written consents45 minutes3228
    213.110(a)—Gage restraint measurement systems (GRMS)—Implementing GRMS—notices & reports7461 notification45 minutes.861
    213.110(g)—GRMS vehicle output reports7461 report5 minutes.18
    213.110(h)—GRMS vehicle exception reports7461 report5 minutes.18
    213.110(j)—GRMS/PTLF—procedures for data integrity7461 documented procedure1 hour176
    213.110(n)—GRMS inspection records7462 records30 minutes176
    213.118(a)-(c)—Continuous welded rail (CWR)—Revised plans w/procedures for CWR43810 plans4 hours403,040
    213.118(d)—Notification to FRA and RR employees of CWR plan effective date438750 notifications to employees15 seconds3.1236
    213.118(e)—Written submissions after plan disapproval4385 written submissions2 hours10760
    213.118(e)—Final FRA disapproval and plan amendment4385 amended plans1 hour5380
    213.234(f)—Automated inspection of track constructed with concrete crossties—Recordkeeping requirements302,000 records30 minutes1,00076,000
    213.237(b)(2)—Inspection of Rail—Detailed request to FRA to change designation of a rail inspection segment or establish a new segment654 requests15 minutes176
    213.237(b)(3)—Notification to FRA and all affected employees of designation's effective date after FRA's approval/conditional approval651 notice to FRA + 15 bulletins15 minutes4304
    213.237(d)—Notice to FRA that service failure rate target in paragraph (a) of this section is not achieved654 notices15 minutes176
    213.237(d)—Explanation to FRA as to why performance target was not achieved and provision to FRA of remedial action plan654 letters of explanation/plans15 minutes176
    213.241—Inspection records27461,375,000 records10 minutes229,166.717,416,669
    213.303(b)—Responsibility for compliance—Notification of assignment to FRA25 notices30 minutes2.5190
    213.305(a)-(c)—Designation of qualified individuals; general qualifications—Written authorization for remedial actions220 written documents30 minutes10760
    213.305(e)—Designation of qualified individuals; general qualifications; recordkeeping requirements for designations2200 records10 minutes33.32,531
    Start Printed Page 21066
    213.317(a)-(b)—Waivers22 petitions8 hours161,216
    213.329(e)—Curves, elevation and speed limitations—FRA approval of qualified vehicle types based on results of testing22 cover letters + 2 technical reports + 2 diagrams30 minutes + 16 hours + 15 minutes33.52,546
    213.329(f)—Written notification to FRA 30 days prior to implementation of higher curving speeds22 notices2 hours4304
    213.329(g)—Written consent of other affected track owners by railroad22 written consents45 minutes1.5114
    213.333(d)—Automated vehicle-based inspection systems—Track Geometry Measurement System (TGMS) output/exception reports77 reports1 hour7532
    213.341(b)-(d)—Initial inspection of new rail & welds—Inspection records2800 records2 minutes26.72,029
    213.343(a)-(e)—Continuous welded rail (CWR)—Procedures for installations and adjustments of CWR22 plans4 hours8608
    213.343(h)—Recordkeeping requirements28,000 records2 minutes266.720,269
    213.345(a)-(c)—Vehicle qualification testing—Vehicle qualification program for all vehicle types operating at track Class 6 speeds or above22 program plans120 hours24018,240
    213.345(d)—Previously qualified vehicle types qualification programs22 program plans8 hours161,216
    213.345(h)—Written consent of other affected track owners by railroad44 written consents30 minutes2230
    213.369(d)—Inspection Records—Record of inspection of track215,000 records10 minutes2,500190,000
    Total7461,404,410 responsesN/A233,89917,776,417
    1 The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the Surface Transportation Board's Full Year Wage A&B data series using the appropriate employee group hourly wage rate that includes a 75-percent overhead charge.
    2Note: Each record of an inspection under §§ 213.4, 213.119, 213.233, 213.235, and 213.237 is covered under § 213.241.

    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 1,404,410.

    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 233,899 hours.

    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $17,776,417.

    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.

    Start Authority

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

    End Authority Start Signature

    Brett A. Jortland,

    Acting Chief Counsel.

    End Signature End Supplemental Information

    [FR Doc. 2020-07911 Filed 4-14-20; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 4910-06-P