This is a new collection of information. The purpose of the data collection is to receive monthly status updates on PTC implementation within the railroad industry on a continuous basis in order to ensure compliance by affected railroads with the PTC Congressional statutory and FRA regulatory mandates that take effect at the end of the 2015 calendar year. Primary users of the information will be headquarters personnel throughout FRA's Office of Safety, including, but not limited to, the Positive Train Control (PTC) Division, as well as regional personnel in charge of monitoring and enforcement. This information will also assist FRA's Office of Railroad Policy and Development (RPD) in making grant decisions.
FRA is requesting Emergency processing approval for this proposed information collection by July 24, 2015, 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. FRA cannot wait the normal 90- to 180-day period for routine Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review and approval. Rail safety throughout the country is also at stake regarding timely implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC). Under the Congressionally mandated and FRA regulatory deadlines, all covered passenger railroads are required to implement Positive Train Control (PTC) on their entire systems by December 31, 2015 (less than six months from now). FRA needs the immediate and continuous information to be provided by the proposed PTC census questionnaire to determine the implementation status of PTC on each of the affected 38 passenger railroads in order to assist them in meeting the statutory and regulatory deadline of December 31. FRA is, therefore, requesting OMB approval of this proposed collection of information four (4) days after the required Notice is published in the Federal Register on July 20, 2015.
US Code:
49 USC 20103
Name of Law: Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970
This proposed census is a new collection of information. The total estimated burden for this proposed collection of information is 76 hours per year and the estimated total number of responses is 456. By definition, the entire submission is a program change.
As noted in the answer to question number 13, there is no additional cost to respondents besides the costs itemized in the answer to question number 12 above.
FRA is requesting Emergency processing approval for this proposed information collection by July 24, 2015, 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. FRA cannot delay this collection of information until it has allowed for 90-days of public comment as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) for non-emergency collections because of the looming PTC implementation deadline for affected railroads. Under the Congressionally mandated and FRA regulatory deadlines, all covered passenger railroads are required to implement Positive Train Control (PTC) on their entire systems by December 31, 2015 (less than six months from now). FRA needs the immediate and continuous information to be provided by the proposed PTC census questionnaire to determine the implementation status of PTC on each of the affected 38 passenger railroads in order to assist them in meeting the statutory and regulatory deadline of December 31. FRA is, therefore, requesting OMB approval of this proposed collection of information four (4) days after the required Notice is published in the Federal Register on July 20, 2015. Moreover, as the recent Amtrak derailment at Frankford Junction just outside Philadelphia, PA, and other recent accidents vividly illustrate, rail safety throughout the country is at stake and will be enhanced by timely implementation of PTC.
Upon receiving OMB's Emergency Clearance for 180 days, FRA will initiate necessary steps to obtain regular Clearance of this proposed information collection.
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.