Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 248 / Monday, December 28, 2020 / Notices 84459 

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: (202) 493–0440, email: 

Hodan.wells@dot.gov. 

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 September 29, 

2020, FRA published a 60-day notice in 

the Federal Register soliciting comment 

on the ICR for which it is now seeking 

OMB approval. See 85 FR 61085. FRA 

received no comments in response to 

this notice. 

Before OMB decides whether to 

approve the proposed collection 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 ICR 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 summary below describes the ICR 

that FRA will submit for OMB clearance 

as the PRA requires: 

Title: Training, Qualification, and 

Oversight for Safety-Related Railroad 

Employees. 

OMB Control Number: 2130–0597. 

Abstract: In 2014, FRA published a 

final rule establishing minimum 

training standards for all safety-related 

railroad employees, as required by the 

Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008. 

The final rule requires each railroad or 

contractor that employs one or more 

safety-related employees to develop and 

submit a training program to FRA for 

approval and to designate the minimum 

training qualifications for each 

occupational category of employee. 

Additionally, the rule requires most 

employers to conduct periodic oversight 

of their own employees and annual 

written reviews of their training 

programs to close performance gaps. 

FRA will use the information 

collected to ensure each employer— 

railroad or contractor—conducting 

operations subject to 49 CFR part 243 

develops, adopts, submits, and complies 

with a training program for each 

category and subcategory of safetyrelated railroad employee. Each program 

must have training components 

identified so that FRA will understand 

how the program works when it reviews 

the program for approval. Further, FRA 

will review the required training 

programs to ensure they include: Initial, 

ongoing, and on-the-job criteria; testing 

and skills evaluation measures designed 

to foster continual compliance with 

Federal standards; and the identification 

of critical safety defects and plans for 

immediate remedial actions to correct 

them. 

In response to petitions for 

reconsideration, FRA extended the 

effective date for developing the 

required training program under 

§ 243.101 for each Class I railroad, and 

each intercity or commuter passenger 

railroad conducting operations with 

400,000 or more total annual employee 

work hours to January 1, 2020, and for 

all remaining employers subject to this 

part to May 1, 2021. 

Type of Request: Extension with 

change (revised estimates) of a currently 

approved collection. 

Affected Public: Businesses. 

Form(s): N/A. 

Respondent Universe: 1,155 railroads/ 

contractors/training organizations/ 

learning institutions. 

Frequency of Submission: On 

occasion. 

Total Estimated Annual Responses: 

165,054. 

Total Estimated Annual Burden: 

91,069 hours. 

Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour 

Dollar Cost Equivalent: $7,020,889. 

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 a 

respondent is not required to respond 

to, conduct, or sponsor a collection of 

information that does not display a 

currently valid OMB control number. 

Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501–3520. 

Brett A. Jortland, 

Deputy Chief Counsel. 

[FR Doc. 2020–28471 Filed 12–23–20; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–06–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Railroad Administration 

[Docket Number FRA–2020–0097] 

Notice of Application for Approval of 

Discontinuance or Modification of a 

Railroad Signal System 

Under part 235 of title 49 Code of 

Federal Regulations (CFR) and 49 U.S.C. 

20502(a), this document provides the 

public notice that on December 14, 

2020, the National Railroad Passenger 

Corporation (Amtrak) petitioned the 

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) 

seeking approval to discontinue or 

modify a signal system. FRA assigned 

the petition Docket Number FRA–2020– 

0097. 

Applicant: National Railroad Passenger 

Corporation, Nicholas J. Croce III, PE, 

Deputy Chief Engineer, C&S, 2995 

Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 

Specifically, Amtrak requests 

permission to convert approximately 13 

miles of its cab signal and fixed 

automatic block signal system to a 

signal system having cab signals 

without fixed automatic block signals, 

operated under NORAC Rule 562, on 

Amtrak’s New York Division, Main Line 

New York to Philadelphia, Northeast 

Corridor, between County Interlocking 

located at milepost (MP) 32.8 in New 

Brunswick, New Jersey, and Union 

Interlocking located at MP 19.7 in 

Rahway, New Jersey. Amtrak is the 

owner and operator of this line, but 

Conrail and New Jersey Transit Rail 

Operations (NJTRO) both operate on 

portions of this line as tenants with 

trackage rights. Both Conrail and NJTRO 

have concurred with the application. 

Amtrak’s proposed changes are to 

remove 34 fixed automatic block signals 

between County Interlocking and Union 

Interlocking; convert each of the former 

signal locations to block points on 

Tracks 1, 2, 3, and 4; and install Clear 

to the Next Interlocking ‘‘C’’ lights, per 

NORAC Rule 280a, on interlocking 

signals at County Interlocking 

(eastward) and Edison, Lincoln, and 

Union Interlockings (westward). 

Amtrak states removing the signals 

will eliminate maintenance and 


tkelley on DSKBCP9HB2PROD with NOTICES
84460 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 248 / Monday, December 28, 2020 / Notices 

operation of unnecessary hardware and 

reduce delays to trains caused by 

failures of the signals. 

A copy of the petition, as well as any 

written communications concerning the 

petition, is available for review online at 

www.regulations.gov. 

Interested parties are invited to 

participate in these proceedings by 

submitting written views, data, or 

comments. FRA does not anticipate 

scheduling a public hearing in 

connection with these proceedings since 

the facts do not appear to warrant a 

hearing. If any interested parties desire 

an opportunity for oral comment and a 

public hearing, they should notify FRA, 

in writing, before the end of the 

comment period and specify the basis 

for their request. 

All communications concerning these 

proceedings should identify the 

appropriate docket number and may be 

submitted by any of the following 

methods: 

• Website: http://

www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: Docket Operations Facility, 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

(DOT), 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, W12– 

140, Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey 

Ave., SE, Room W12–140, Washington, 

DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 

Monday through Friday, except Federal 

Holidays. 

Communications received by 

February 11, 2021 will be considered by 

FRA before final action is taken. 

Comments received after that date will 

be considered if practicable. Anyone 

can search the electronic form of any 

written communications and comments 

received into any of our dockets by the 

name of the individual submitting the 

comment (or signing the document, if 

submitted on behalf of an association, 

business, labor union, etc.). Under 5 

U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments 

from the public to better inform its 

processes. DOT posts these comments, 

without edit, including any personal 

information the commenter provides, to 

www.regulations.gov, as described in 

the system of records notice (DOT/ALL– 

14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 

https://www.transportation.gov/privacy. 

See also https://www.regulations.gov/ 

privacyNotice for the privacy notice of 

regulations.gov. 

Issued in Washington, DC. 

John Karl Alexy, 

Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, 

Chief Safety Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2020–28557 Filed 12–23–20; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–06–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Railroad Administration 

[Docket No. FRA–2020–0027–N–31] 

Proposed Agency Information 

Collection Activities; Comment 

Request 

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) and its 

implementing regulations, this notice 

announces that FRA is forwarding the 

Information Collection Request (ICR) 

abstracted below to the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) for 

review and comment. The ICR describes 

the information collection and its 

expected burden. On September 11, 

2020, FRA published a notice providing 

a 60-day period for public comment on 

the ICR. 

DATES: Interested persons are invited to 

submit comments on or before January 

27, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments and 

recommendations for the proposed ICR 

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: (202) 493–0440, email: 

Hodan.wells@dot.gov. 

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 September 11, 

2020, FRA published a 60-day notice in 

the Federal Register soliciting comment 

on the ICR for which it is now seeking 

OMB approval. See 85 FR 56286. FRA 

received no comments in response to 

this notice. 

Before OMB decides whether to 

approve the proposed collection 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 ICR 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 summary below describes the ICR 

that FRA will submit for OMB clearance 

as the PRA requires: 

Title: Railroad Operating Rules. 

OMB Control Number: 2130–0035. 

Abstract: The collection of 

information associated with Title 49 

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 

217 and 218, Railroad Operating Rules 

and Practices, requires railroads to file 

with FRA copies of their operating 

rules, timetables, timetable special 

instructions, and subsequent 

amendments. The regulations also 

require railroads to retain copies of 

these documents at their systems 

headquarters and make these documents 

available to FRA upon request. 


tkelley on DSKBCP9HB2PROD with NOTICES