2020-15837. Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

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, 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. These ICRs describe the information collections and their expected burdens. On April 22, 2020, 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 August 21, 2020.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICRs should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find the particular ICR by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Hodan Wells, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Railroad Safety, Regulatory Analysis Division, Federal Railroad Administration, telephone [phone], email: [e-mail].

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 through 1320.12. On April 22, 2020, FRA published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on the ICRs for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 85 FR 22512. FRA received two anonymous comments in response to this notice. One commenter expressed support for this ICR, indicating that updates to the PRA information positively impacts crews and passengers; the other did not address FRA's information collection activities.

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: Locomotive Cab Sanitation.

OMB Control Number: 2130-0552.

Abstract: FRA's locomotive cab sanitation standards, 49 CFR 229.137 and 229.139, prescribe minimum standards for the locomotive cab sanitation compartment, including the toilet facility. FRA uses the information collection associated with these provisions to promote rail safety and locomotive crew member health by ensuring crew member access to a functioning and sanitary toilet facility and that railroads timely remediate defective and unsanitary conditions in the sanitation compartment.

Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved information collection.

Affected Public: Businesses (railroads).

Form(s): N/A.

Respondent Universe: 746 railroads.

Frequency of Submission: One-time.

Total Estimated Annual Responses: 113,256.

Total Estimated Annual Burden: 1,272 hours.

Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $96,672.

Title: Locomotive Crashworthiness.

OMB Control Number: 2130-0564.

Abstract: Under 49 CFR part 229, subpart D, FRA prescribes minimum crashworthiness standards for locomotives. These crashworthiness standards are intended to help protect locomotive cab occupants in the event of a train collision or derailment. FRA uses this collection of information to ensure railroads operate locomotives that meet the prescribed minimum performance standards and design load requirements for newly manufactured and re-manufactured locomotives.

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

Affected Public: Businesses/Public/Interested Parties.

Form(s): N/A.

Respondent Universe: 746 railroads/4 locomotive manufacturers.

Frequency of Submission: On occasion; one-time.

Total Estimated Annual Responses: 546.

Total Estimated Annual Burden: 507 hours.

Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $38,532.

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.

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

Brett A. Jortland,

Deputy Chief Counsel.