In this final rule under 49 CFR Part 270, FRA is amending its regulations requiring commuter and intercity passenger rail (IPR) operations to develop and implement a system safety program (SSP) to improve the safety of their operations. The rule clarifies that each passenger rail operation has responsibility for ensuring compliance with the SSP final rule. Each railroad will use its SSP/SSP Plan to proactively identify and mitigate or eliminate hazards at an early stage and the resulting risk on its system to reduce the number of railroad accidents, incidents, and associated injuries, fatalities, and property damage. A railroad has the flexibility to tailor an SSP to its specific operations. An SSP will be implemented by an SSP Plan submitted to FRA for approval. Under this information collection, FRA will audit a railroad's compliance with its SSP. This information collection is mandatory, submitted as needed, and there is a requirement for reporting and recordkeeping.
Currently, the OMB inventory for this collection of information shows a total burden of 2,084 hours and 738 responses, while this updated submission reflects a total burden of 2,279 hours and 776 responses. Overall, the adjustments increased the burden by 195 hours and by 38 responses. More specifically, program changes increased the burden by 1 hour and number of responses by 24 while adjustments increased the burden by 194 hours and 14 responses.
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.