FRA Safety Advisory 2015-03, Operational and Signal Modifications for Compliance with Maximum Authorized Passenger Train Speeds and Other Speed Restrictions

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
49 U.S.C. 20157.doc Supplementary Document	2015-07-07
SA 2015-03 Signed Cover Letter.pdf Supplementary Document	2015-07-07
49 U.S.C. 20103.doc Supplementary Document	2015-07-07
July 7, 2015, FR Notice (SA 2015-03 Emg. Proc.).pdf Supplementary Document	2015-07-07
drfSA2015-03.doc Supporting Statement A	2015-07-07

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
217355	FRA Safety Advisory 2015-03 Other-Safety Advisory	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 2130-0613	ICR Reference No: 201507-2130-001
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: DOT/FRA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: FRA Safety Advisory 2015-03, Operational and Signal Modifications for Compliance with Maximum Authorized Passenger Train Speeds and Other Speed Restrictions
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Emergency	Approval Requested By: 07/14/2015
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 08/03/2015
	Date Received in OIRA: 07/10/2015
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	02/29/2016	6 Months From Approved
Responses	5,880	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	2,217	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	169,399	0	0

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Abstract: FRA is issuing this Safety Advisory to stress to passenger railroads and railroads that host passenger service and their employees the importance of compliance with Federal regulations and applicable railroad rules governing applicable passenger train speed limits. This safety advisory makes recommendations to these railroads to ensure that compliance with applicable passenger train speed limits is addressed by appropriate railroad operating policies and procedures and signal systems. The proposed collection of information will be used by FRA to monitor voluntary compliance with the Advisory's safety recommendations by affected railroads.

Emergency Justfication: FRA is requesting Emergency processing approval seven (7) days after publication of the required Federal Register Notice on July 7, 2015, See 80 FR 38799, because FRA cannot reasonably comply with normal clearance procedures on account of use of normal clearance procedures is reasonably likely to disrupt the collection of information. Additionally, in light of the recent Amtrak overspeed derailment that occurred on May 12 at Frankford Junction, Philadelphia, FRA believes safety is an issue. The FRA Safety Advisory took effect immediately upon issuance. FRA cannot wait the normal 90- to 180-day period for routine Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review and approval. Under the FRA Safety Advisory, the agency stresses to passenger railroads and railroads that host passenger service and their employees the importance of compliance with Federal regulations and relevant railroad operating rules governing applicable passenger train speed limits. The associated collection of information involves affected railroads surveying their entire systems, or the portions on which passenger service is operated, and identifying main train locations where there is a reduction of more than 20 mph from the approach speed to a curve or bridge and the maximum authorized operating speed for passenger trains at that curve or bridge (identified locations). It also involves installation of additional signage alerting engineers and conductors of the maximum authorized passenger train speed throughout the passenger railroad’s system or the portions on which passenger service is operated, with particular emphasis on additional signage at the identified locations. FRA is, therefore, requesting OMB approval of this collection of information within the above stipulated timeframe

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 49 USC 20103 Name of Law: Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	80 FR 38799	07/07/2015
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
FRA Safety Advisory 2015-03

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	5,880	0	0	5,880	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	2,217	0	0	2,217	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	169,399	0	0	169,399	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: These are new information collection requirements. By definition, this entire submission is a program change. As stated in the Summary provided on page 1 of the attached Supporting Justification, the total number of hours that FRA is requesting by OMB for this Emergency Processing submission is 2,217 hours and the total number of responses requested is 5,880. Further, as noted in the Summary on page 1, upon OMB's Emergency Clearance for 180 days, FRA will initiate necessary steps to obtain regular Clearance of this proposed information collection. As noted above, the additional cost to respondents besides the burden hours detailed in the answer to question number 12 of the attached Supporting Justification amounts to $169,399. This cost relates to the signage provision, specifically the purchase and installation of wayside signs at the identified locations. Since this is a new collection of information, this additional cost is also, by definition, a program change.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $0

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 07/10/2015

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