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 Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration [Docket No. FRA 2011-0001-N-10]
 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 October 11, 2011.
 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, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 20590, or Ms. Kimberly Toone, Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., 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 2130-0008.” Alternatively, comments may be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493-6216 or (202) 493-6479, or via e-mail to Mr. Brogan at 
                        *Robert.Brogan@dot.gov,*
                         or to Ms. Toone at 
                        *Kimberly.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.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Mail Stop 21, Washington, DC 20590 (
                        *telephone:*
                         (202) 493-6292) or Ms. Kimberly Toone, Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (
                        *telephone:*
                         (202) 493-6132). (These telephone numbers are not toll-free.)


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law. 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 
                    ( print page 50321)
                    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 is a brief summary of the currently approved information collection request (ICR) that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under the PRA: *Title:*
                     Inspection Brake System Safety Standards for Freight and Other Non-Passenger Trains and Equipment (Power Brakes and Drawbars). *OMB Control Number:*
                     2130-0008. *Abstract:*
                     Section 7 of the Rail Safety Enforcement and Review Act of 1992, Public Law No. 102-365, amended Section 202 of the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970 (45 U.S.C. 421, 431 
                    *et seq.*), empowered the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a review of the Department's rules with respect to railroad power brakes and, where applicable, prescribe standards regarding dynamic brake equipment. In keeping with the Secretary's mandate and the authority delegated from him to the FRA Administrator, FRA issued revisions to the regulations governing freight power brakes and equipment in October 2008 by adding a new Subpart addressing electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) brake systems. The revisions are designed to provide for and encourage the safe implementation and use of ECT brake system technologies. These revisions contain specific requirements relating to design, interoperability, training, inspection, testing, handling defective equipment and periodic maintenance related to ECP brake systems. The final rule also identifies provisions of the existing regulations and statutes where FRA is proposing to provide flexibility to facilitate the voluntary adoption of this advanced brake system technology. The collection of information is used by FRA to monitor and enforce current regulatory requirements related to power brakes on freight cars as well as the recently added requirements related to ECP brake systems. The collection of information is also used by locomotive engineers and road crews to verify that the terminal air brake test has been performed in a satisfactory manner. *Form Number(s):*
                     None. *Affected Public:*
                     Businesses
                    *.* *Respondent Universe:*
                     559 railroads. *Frequency of Submission:*
                     On occasion. *Affected Public:*
                     Businesses. Reporting Burden CFR Section
Respondent universe
Total annual responses
Average time per 
                             response
Total annual burden hours229.27: Annual Tests
30,000 Locomotives
30,000 tests
15 minutes
7,500232.3: Applicability—Cars Not Used in Service
559 Railroads
8 cards
10 minutes
1232.7: Waivers
559 railroads
20 petitions
40 hours
800232.11: Penalties
559 railroads
1 false record
10 minutes
.17232.15: Movement of Defective Equipment—Notice of Defective Car/Locomotive and Restrictions
1,620,000 cars/locos
128,400 tags
2.5 minutes
5,3501,620,000 cars/locos
25,000 notices
3 minutes
1,250232.17:Special Approval Procedure
559 railroads
4 petitions
100 hours
400Petitions—Pre-Revenue Svc Plans
559 railroads
2 petitions
100 hours
200Copies of Petitions—Special Approval
559 railroads
4 petitions
40 hours
160Statements of Interest
Public/Railroads
14 statements
8 hours
112Comments on Special Approval Procedure Petition
Public/Railroads
13 comments
4 hours
52232.103: General Requirements for All Train Brakes
114,000 cars
70,000 stickers
10 minutes
11,667232.105: General Requirements For Locomotives
30,000 locomotives
30,000 forms
5 minutes
2,500232.107:Air Source Requirements—Plans
10 new railroads
1 plan
40 hours
40Amendments to Plan
50 Existing Plans
10 amendment
20 hours
200Record Keeping
50 Existing Plans
1,150 records
20 hours
23,000232.109:Dynamic Br. Requirements—Rcd
559 railroads
1,656,000 rcd
4 minutes
110,400Repair of Inoperative Dynamic Brakes
30,000 locomotives
6,358 records
4 minutes
424Locomotives w/Inoperative Dynamic Br.
30,000 locomotives
6,358 tags
30 seconds
53Deactivated Dynamic Brakes: Markings
8,000 locomotives
10 markings
5 minutes
1Rule Safe Train Handling Procedures
5 new railroads
5 oper. rules
4 hours
20Amendments
559 railroads
15 amendment
1 hour
15Over Speed Top Rules—5 MPH Increase
559 railroads
5 requests
20.5 hours
103Locomotive Engineer Certification Programs—Dynamic Brakes Training
5 new railroads
5 amendments
16 hours
80232.111:Train Information Handling
5 new railroads
5 procedures
40 hours
200Amendments
100 railroads
100 am. proc.
20 hours
2,000Reports to Train Crews
559 railroads
2,112,000 rpts
10 minutes
352,000232.203:Training Requirements: Training Programs—Subsequent Years
15 railroads
5 programs
100 hours
500Amendments to Written Program
559 railroads
559 am. prog.
8 hours
4,472( print page 50322)Training Records
559 railroads
67,000 records
8 minutes
8,933Training Notifications
559 railroads
67,000 notices
3 minutes
3,350Validation/Assessment Plans
559 railroads
1 plan +559 copies
40 hrs./1 min.
49Amendments to Validation/Assessment Plans
559 railroads
50 amendment
20 hours
1,000232.205: Class I Brake Test—Initial Terminal Insp.
559 railroads
1,646,000 notices
45 seconds
20,575232.207:Class I A Brake Tests: 1000 Mile Insp.
559 railroads
25 designations
30 minutes
13Subsequent Years
559 railroads
1 designation
1 hour
1Amendments
559 railroads
5 amendments
1 hour
5232.209: Class II Brake Tests—Intermediate Insp.
559 railroads
1,600,000 comments
3 seconds
1,333232.213:Extended Haul Trains—Designations
84,000 train movements
100 designations
15 minutes
25Records
84,000 train movements
25,200 records
20 minutes
8,400232.303:General Requirements—Track Brake Test
1,600,000 freight cars
5,600 tags
5 minutes
467Location of Last Track Brake Test/Single Car Test
1,600,000 freight cars
320,000 stenciling
5 minutes
26,667232.305: Single Car Tests
1,600,000 freight cars
320,000 tests/rcds
45 minutes
240,000232.309:  Equipment and Devices—Tests/Calibrations
640 shops
5,000 tests
30 minutes
2,500232.403: Design Standards For One-way EOT Devices—Unique Code
245 railroads
12 requests
5 minutes
1232.407: Operations Requiring 2-Way EOTs
245 railroads
50,000 commun
30 seconds
417232.409:Inspection and Testing of 2-Way EOTs
245 railroads
450,000 commun
30 seconds
3,750Testing Telemetry Equipment
245 railroads
32,708 markings
60 seconds
545232.503:Process to Introduce New Brake System Technology—Special Approval
559 railroads
1 request/letter
60 minutes
1Pre-Revenue Service Demonstration
559 railroads
1 request
3 hours
3232.505:Pre-Revenue Service Acceptance Testing Plan: Maintenance Procedure—1st Year
559 railroads
1 procedure
160 hours
160Subsequent Years
559 railroads
1 amendment
40 hours
40Amendments
559 railroads
1 petition
67 hours
67Design Descriptions—Petitions
559 railroads
1 report
13 hours
13Results Pre-Revenue Service Acceptance Testing
559 railroads
5 descriptions
40 hours
200Description of Brake Systems Technologies Previously Used in Revenue Service232.603:ECP Requirements Brakes—Configuration Management Plans
4 railroads
1 plan
160 hours
160Updated Plans in Subsequent Years
4 railroads
1 plan
160 hours
160Modification of Standards—Requests
4 railroads
1 request + 4 copies
8 hours + 5 minutes
8RR Statement Affirming Copy of Modification Request to Employee Reps.
4 railroads
4 statements + 24 copies
60 minutes + 5 minutes
6Comments on Modification Request
Public/Interested Parties
4 comments
2 hours
8232.605:ECP Training Programs
4 railroads
4 programs
100 hours
400Programs in Subsequent Years
4 railroads
2 programs
100 hours
200ECP Trained Employees
4 railroads
6,409 empl.
8 hrs./24 hrs.
10,512ECP Trained Employees—Subsequent Yr
4 railroads
6,409 empl.
1 hr./8 hrs.
30,264ECP Trained Employees—Records
4 railroads
6,409 records
4 minutes
855ECP Trained Employees—Sub. Records
4 railroads
6,409 records
4 minutes
428RR/Contractor Assessment of ECP Training Programs—Amended Plans
4 railroads
4 amended plans
40 hours
160232.607:ECP Trains Inspection/Testing
4 railroads
10,000 tests + 10,000 notices
90 minutes + 45 seconds
15,125Notification to Locomotive Engineer:Cars Added en Route—Tests/Notifications
4 railroads
1,000 tests + 1,000 notices
60 minutes + 45 seconds
1,006Non-ECP Cars Added—Inspections and Tagging of Defective Equipment
2000 Cars
200 insp. + 400 tags
5 minutes + 2.5 minutes
34232.609:( print page 50323)Handling of Defective Equipment w/ECP Brake Systems—Tagging
25 Cars
50 tags
2.5 minutes
2Train in ECP Mode w/Less Than 85% of Cars w/Operative Brakes—Insp. + Tagging
20 Cars
20 insp. + 40 tags
5 minutes + 2.5 minutes
3Freight Cars w/ECP Systems Found with Defective Non-Safety Appliance—Tagging
75 Cars
150 tags
2.5 minutes
6Conventional Train Operating with ECP Stand Alone Brake Systems—Tagging
500 Cars
1,000 tags
2.5 minutes
42Procedures for Handling ECP Brake System Repairs
4 railroads
4 procedures
24 hours
96Submission to FRA of ECP Brake System Repair Locations—Lists
4 railroads
4 lists
8 hours
32Notice to FRA of Change in List
4 railroads
1 notification
60 minutes
1232.611:Periodic Maintenance Inspection and Repair of ECP Cars Before Release from Repair Shop or Track
500 freight Cars
500 inspection and records
10 minutes
83Petitions for Special Approval of Pre-Revenue Service Acceptance Testing Plan
AAR
1 petition + 2 copies
24 hours + 5 minutes
24Single Car Brake Test on ECP Retrofitted Cars
2,500 freight Cars
2,500 tests/Records
45 minutes
1,875Modification of Single Car Test Standard
AAR
1 procedure
40 hours
40
 *Total Responses:*
                     8,677,078. *Total Estimated Total Annual Burden:*
                     990,276 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. Issued in Washington, DC on August 5, 2011 . Kimberly Coronel, Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad Administration.


[FR Doc. 2011-20464 Filed 8-11-11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-06-P