[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 201 (Thursday, October 17, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 83758-83759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-23921]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2024-0026]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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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) summarized below to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR 
describes the information collection and its expected burden. On July 
30, 2024, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public 
comment on the ICR. FRA received no comments in response to the notice.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
November 18, 2024.

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 Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the 
search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Arlette Mussington, Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d3b2a1bfb6a7a7b6fdbea6a0a0babdb4a7bcbd93b7bca7fdb4bca5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a6c7d4cac3d2d2c388cbd3d5d5cfc8c1d2c9c8e6c2c9d288c1c9d0">[email protected]</span></a> or 
telephone: (571) 609-1285 or Ms. Joanne Swafford, Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4822272926262d663b3f292e2e273a2c082c273c662f273e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="315b5e505f5f541f42465057575e435571555e451f565e47">[email protected]</span></a> or 
telephone: (757) 897-9908.

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 July 30, 2024, FRA 
published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting public 
comment on the ICR for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 89 FR 
61230. FRA has received no comments related to the proposed collection 
of information.
    Before OMB decides whether to approve this proposed collection of 
information, it must provide 30 days' notice 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. The 30-day notice informs the regulated community of its 
opportunity to file relevant comments and affords the agency adequate 
time to consider public comments before it renders a decision. 60 FR 
44983, Aug. 29, 1995. Therefore, each respondent should submit their 
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: Uniform Report of Small Business (SB) Commitments/Awards and 
Payments.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-New.
    Abstract: The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program is 
statutorily mandated and intended to assist small businesses owned and 
controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals 
compete fairly in the Department of Transportation's transportation 
funding programs for certain highway, transit, and aviation programs. 
The DBE program is implemented by recipients of DOT financial 
assistance. The DOT DBE directive does not include rail assistance 
programs and FRA does not have a mandated DBE program. Rather, FRA 
issues and manages rail assistance programs in compliance with the DOT 
regulations for implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 
found at 49 CFR part 21 and the Uniform Administrative Requirements, 
Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards found at 2 
CFR part 200. Specifically, 2 CFR 200.321 (a) through (b)(6) provides 
affirmative steps a non-Federal entity must take to assure that 
minority businesses, women's

[[Page 83759]]

business enterprises, and labor surplus area firms are used when 
possible.
    In 2015, Congress instructed the Secretary of Transportation to 
conduct a nationwide disparity and availability study on the 
availability and use of small businesses owned and controlled by 
socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and veteran-owned 
small businesses in publicly funded intercity rail passenger 
transportation projects.
    The report for the study was provided to Congress in 2022. The 
report noted a gap in data available for analysis to determine if there 
is any disparity in rail transportation grant awards. To address the 
data gap identified in the report, FRA is proposing to add new form, 
FRA F 6180.281 titled, Small Business (SB) Commitments/Awards and 
Payments. The proposed data collection will address this gap and aid 
future considerations of the application of the DBE program.
    The purpose of FRA F 6180.281 is to collect data from grant 
recipients to determine the amount of dollars from FRA grants and 
contracts that flow to small, women-owned and Disadvantaged Business 
Enterprises (DBE). This would identify all prime contractors, sub-
contractors, consultants, and vendors that FRA grant recipients worked 
with and on which they spent grant funds. Additionally, the proposed 
new form, FRA F 6180.281 ``SB Commitments/Awards and Payments'' would 
be used by FRA to carry out its oversight responsibilities of non-
Federal entities receiving grant funds.
    This collection of information aligns with DOT's Strategic Goal of 
Equity as it supports establishing economic equity for small businesses 
owned by disadvantaged individuals and promoting development 
opportunities.
    Type of Request: Approval of a new collection of information.
    Affected Public: Generally, includes States and local governments 
and railroads.
    Form(s): FRA F 6180.281.
    Respondent Universe: 140 grant recipients.
    Frequency of Submission: Annually.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 140.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 49,980 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: 
$2,289,584.
    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 that does not display a currently valid OMB control 
number.
    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.

Christopher S. Van Nostrand,
Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2024-23921 Filed 10-16-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


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