01-32018. Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Federal Railroad Administration, 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 these information collection requirements 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 March 1, 2002.

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, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 17, Washington, DC 20590, or Ms. Dian Deal, Office of Information Technology and Productivity Improvement, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., 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 2130-0544. Alternatively, comments may be transmitted via facsimile to [phone] or [phone], or E-mail to Mr. Brogan at [e-mail], or to Ms. Deal at [e-mail]. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 17, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: [phone]) or Dian Deal, Office of Information Technology and Productivity Improvement, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: [phone]). (These telephone numbers are not toll-free.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Pub. L. No. 104-13, § 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 are brief summaries of three currently approved information collection activities that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under the PRA:

Title: Passenger Equipment Safety Standards.

OMB Control Number: 2130-0544.

Abstract: The information gained from daily inspections is used to detect and correct equipment problems so as to prevent collisions, derailments, and other occurrences involving railroad passenger equipment that cause injury or death to railroad employees, railroad passengers, or the general public; and to mitigate the consequences of any such occurrences, to the extent they can not be prevented. The information provided promotes passenger train safety by ensuring requirements are met for railroad passenger equipment design and performance; fire safety; emergency systems; the inspection, testing, and maintenance of passenger equipment; and other provisions for the safe operation of railroad passenger equipment.

Affected Public: Railroads.

Respondent Universe: 685 railroads.

Frequency of Submission: On occasion; annually, recordkeeping.

Reporting Burden:

CFR section	Respondent universe	Total annual responses	Average time per response	Total annual burden hours	Total annual burden cost
216.14—Special Notice for Repairs	14 Railroads	9 Forms	5 minutes	1	$34
238.1—Scope	14Railroads	11 Notifications	45 minutes	8	272
238.7—Waivers	14 Railroads	9 Waivers	2 hours/25 hours	64	2,176
238.11—Penalties	14 Railroads	1 False Report	15 minutes	25	8
238.15—Pass Equip.—Detective en route	14 Railroads	1,000 Tags/cards	3 minutes	50	2,250
—Auto Tracking Sys	14 Railroads	288 Tags/cards	3 minutes	14	630
—Conditional Reqmnt	14 Railroads	144 Notifications	3 minutes	7	315
238.17—Usual Limitations Pass Equip—Defects	14 Railroads	200 Tags/cards	3 minutes	10	300
—Safety App Defects	14 Railroads	76 Tags/cards	3 minutes	4	120
Notifications	14 Railroads	38 Notifications	30 seconds	.32	10
238.19—List of Brake Repair Points	14 Railroads	1 List	2 hours	2	68
—Subsequent Yrs	14 Railroads	1 Update	1 hour	1	34
238.21—Spec. Approval Proced	14 Railroads	1 Petition	16 hours	16	544
—Alt. Compliance	14 Railroads	1 Petition	120 hours	120	4,080
—Service Test Plan	14 Railroads	2 Plans	40 hours	80	2,720
—Comments	14 Railroads	8 Comments	1 hour	8	440
238.103—Fire Saf	14 Railroads	4 Equip Designs	540 hours	2,160	110,400
—Subsequent Orders	14 Railroads	4 Equip Designs	60 hours	240	24,000
238.107—Insp. Test & Main Plan	14 Railroads	14 Reviews	60 hours	840	28,560
238.109—Employee Training	14 Railroads	3,900 Employees	2 hours	7,800	232,500
—Recordkeeping	14 Railroads	2,500 Records	3 minutes	125	4,250
238.111—Pre-Rev. Service Test Plan	10 Equip Man.	4 Plans	16 hours	64	4,288
—Pre-Rev. Service Test Plan	10 Equip Man	4 Plans	200 hours	800	69,440
Subsequent Orders	10 Equip Plan	4 Plans	60 hours	240	18,720
238.203—Static End Strength	14 Railroads	1 Petition	100 hours	100	5,500
—Comments	14 Railroads	6 Comments	20 hours	120	6,600
238.237—Auto Monitoring	14 Railroads	14 Documents	2 hours	28	952
—Tags	14 Railroads	100 Tags	3 minutes	5	225
238.303—MU Locos Inop. Brakes	14 Railroads	50 Tags/cards	3 minutes	3	135
—Conv. Locomotive	14 Railroads	50 Tags/cards	3 minutes	3	135
—Written Notices	14 Railroads	25 Written Notices	3 minutes	1	34
—Records	14 Railroads	2,017,756 Records	1 minute	33,629	1,143,386
238.305—Int. Calendar Day Insp	14 Railroads	480 Tags	1 minute	8	288
—Records	14 Railroads	1,866,904 Records	1 minute	31,115	1,057,910
238.307—Periodic Mech Insp.—p/cars	14 Railroads	5 Notifications	3 hours	25	850
—Records	14 Railroads	56,462 Records	2 minutes	941	63,988
—Detailed Docs	14 Railroads	5 Documents	100 hours	500	17,000
238.311—Single Car Test	14 Railroads	25 Tags	3 minutes	1	36
238.315—Class IA—Brake Pressure	14 Railroads	365,000 Communications	3 seconds	304	0
—Comm Signal Sys	14 Railroads	365,000 Tests	15 seconds	1,521	0
238.317—Class II Brake Test	14 Railroads	365,000 Communications	3 seconds	304	0
—Signal Sys	14 Railroads	365,000 Tests	15 seconds	1,521	50
238.431—Brake System	14 Railroads	1 Analysis	40 hours	40	1,360
238.437—Emerg Communication	3 Car Manuf	3 instr. Sets/2250 decals	25 hours/10 min	117	3,810
238.441—Emerg. Roof Entrance Loc	3 Car Manuf	3 instr. Sets/250 placards	25 hours/1 hour	325	10,050
238.445—Auto. Monitoring	1 Railroad	10,000 Alerts	10 seconds	28	0
—Self-Test Feature	1 Railroad	21,900 Notification	20 seconds	122	0

Total Responses: 5,442,514.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 83,417 hours.

Status: Regular Review.

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.

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

Kathy A. Weiner,

Director, Office of Information Technology and Support Systems,Federal Railroad Administration.