FRA Safety Advisory, 2015-04, Ballast Defects and Conditions -- Importance of Identification and Repair in Preventing Development of Unsafe Combinations of Track Conditions

Forms and Documents

Forms and supporting documents for this ICR

Document	Type	Status	Availability
SA 2015-04 PRA Re-signed Emg. Cvr Lttr..pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2015-09-04	Available
September 1, 2015, FR Notice (SA 2015-04 Emg. Proc.).pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2015-09-01	Available
49 CFR 1.89.doc	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2015-09-01	Available
49 U.S.C. 20103.doc	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2015-09-01	Available
drfSA2015-04__comments.doc	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2015-09-09	Available

IC Document Collections

Information collection document groups

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
218080	FRA Safety Advisory 2015-01, Ballast Defects and Conditions	Other-Safety Advisory	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 2130-0614	ICR Reference No: 201509-2130-005
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: DOT/FRA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: FRA Safety Advisory, 2015-04, Ballast Defects and Conditions -- Importance of Identification and Repair in Preventing Development of Unsafe Combinations of Track Conditions
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: 09/08/2015
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 09/09/2015
	Date Received in OIRA: 09/03/2015
Terms of Clearance:

table that charts list comparision

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	03/31/2016	6 Months From Approved
Responses	10,200	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	10,200	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

---

Abstract: FRA issued Safety Advisory 2015-04 on August. 26, 2015, to emphasize the importance of timely repairing ballast defects and conditions on main tracks. FRA notes that ballast defects and ballast conditions that are not repaired in a timely manner can lead to future defects. FRA believes it is important for track inspectors to be aware that ballast defects and conditions can cause track components to deteriorate rapidly and compromise the stability of the track structure, and that inspectors are trained to identify and repair ballast defects and conditions. The proposed collection of information will be used by FRA to encourage track owners to update their internal engineering instructions and train their employees on them and this Advisory.

Emergency Justfication: FRA is requesting Emergency processing approval seven (7) days after publication of the required Notice in the Federal Register on September 1, 2015, See 80 FR 52842, 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. The 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 Safety Advisory and associated information collection, FRA strongly recommends that track owners and railroads assess current internal engineering instructions in view of the concerns raised by FRA in this Advisory, and update them to ensure that the instructions provide specific guidance to track inspectors on how to identify and repair ballast defects and other ballast conditions, and on the appropriate corrective action to implement, particularly in areas with one or more additional track conditions. Further, FRA strongly recommends that track owners and railroads train track inspectors on the updated engineering instructions and this Safety Advisory. Finally, FRA strongly recommends that track owners and railroads ensure that supervisors provide oversight of track inspectors to achieve proper identification and repair of ballast defects and other track conditions. This Safety Advisory and associated collection of information are necessary to ensure the safety of the Nation’s railroad employees, passengers, and the general public. FRA is, therefore, requesting OMB approval of this collection of information within the above stipulated timeframe.

---

Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 49 USC 20203 Name of Law: Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

---

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

---

Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	80 FR 52842	09/01/2015
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

---

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

table that charts list of burden

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
FRA Safety Advisory 2015-01, Ballast Defects and Conditions

---

ICR Summary of Burden

table that charts list 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	10,200	0	0	10,200	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	10,200	0	0	10,200	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	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 10,200 hours and the total number of responses requested is 10,200. Further, as noted in the Summary on page 1 ofb that document, 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, there are no additional cost to respondents besides the burden hours detailed in the answer to question number 12 of the attached Supporting Justification.

---

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

---

Common Form ICR:  No

---

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: 09/03/2015

---