The proposed collection of information complies with a statutory mandate, and will be used by FRA to review grant applications to determine whether the requirements and criteria established by the Railroad Safety Improvement Act (RSIA) and agency guidelines are met to award $50 million in grant funds that will be used for development of PTC technologies.
FRA is requesting that OMB grant Emergency Clearance processing for FRAÂs Information Collection Request (ICR) related to its Notice of Funding Availability and Solicitation of Applications for Grants under the Railroad Safety Technology Program for the following reasons:
(1.) The program, for which this ICR is being submitted, is a new program mandated by Congress as part of the RSIA. Because of the nature of these funds, current economic conditions, statutory imperatives, state of technology development, and the various passenger and freight rail carriers, railroad suppliers, and State and local governments need for immediate assistance to quickly resolve critical and complex technology issues associated with deployment of PTC by December 31, 2015, it would be impossible for FRA to go through normal clearance procedures. FRA needs sufficient time to review applications and to resolve the highly complex technology issues involved. Any delay in receiving and reviewing applications would cause FRA to miss the Congressional RSIA deadline. Further, FRA is unable to go through normal clearance procedures without great public harm resulting in the form of increased numbers of rail accidents/incidents and corresponding increases in rail injuries and fatalities that could have been avoided if PTC technologies had been implemented. Congress specifically funded this grant program in FY 2010 after no funds had been requested by the Administration in FY 2009 and FY 2010 because it deemed it urgent that railroads implement PTC technologies as soon as practicable to prevent any more devastating accidents like the one that happened in Chatsworth, California.
(2.) There has been a high level of interest expressed in discussions with the agency that FRA move quickly to make awards under this new program. FRA has been contacted by numerous State and local departments of transportation, publicly owned passenger and commuter railroads, and freight railroads that are responsible for installation of PTC by December 31, 2015. They have inquired about the status of this new program, and requested that the application and award process begin at the earliest possible date. Only through the granting of the Emergency Clearance processing request will FRA be able to act in a timely manner to assist States and affected communities, and thereby meet the demands of the stakeholders in this critically important safety program. Finally, it needs to be noted that applications for grant funding will be open for a short period of time (until July 1, 2010, or the date on which all available funds have been committed) with the funds expected to be obligated soon thereafter.
This is a new collection of information resulting from the Congressional mandate under the Rail Safety Improvement Act (Sec. 105; 49 U.S.C. 20158). Consequently, there are no program changes or adjustments.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Notice of Funds Availability and Solicitation of Applications for Grants under the Railroad Safety Technology Grant Program