Inquiry into Blocked Highway-Rail Grade Crossings throughout the United States

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Form FRA F 6180.175 Inquiry into Blocked Highway-Rail Grade Crossings throughout the United States Form and Instruction	Modified
July 11 2022 (30-Day) FR Notice.pdf Supplementary Document	2022-07-11
2130-0630_Blocked Highway-Rail Grade.docx Supporting Statement A	2022-07-11
BIL Blocked Crossing Portal.pdf Supplementary Document	2022-07-08
April 1 2022 (60-Day FR) Notice.pdf Supplementary Document	2022-07-07

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
237816	Inquiry into Blocked Highway-Rail Grade Crossings throughout the United States Form and Instruction	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 2130-0630	ICR Reference No: 202207-2130-001
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 201909-2130-001
Agency/Subagency: DOT/FRA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Inquiry into Blocked Highway-Rail Grade Crossings throughout the United States
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 07/11/2022

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	11/30/2022
Responses	15,862	5,000
Time Burden (Hours)	1,033	250
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: On November 15, 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (Pub. L. 117-58) “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)” was enacted. In addition to mandating that FRA establish an online portal and corresponding database to receive information regarding blocked highway-rail grade crossings, section 22404 of BIL “encourages each complainant to report the blocked crossing to the relevant railroad.” Therefore, in preparation for this new statutory mandate, FRA proposes to modify the existing web-based forms by adding one question, “have you contacted the railroad?” Otherwise, the rest of the questions on the web-based forms will remain the same. In 2020, FRA created a dedicated website allowing the public, law enforcement personnel, and first responders to use web-based forms to voluntarily submit information about blocked crossings to FRA. Under the currently approved information collection request, users provide information regarding the location, date, time, duration, and immediate impacts of highway-rail grade crossings blocked by slow-moving or stationary trains. FRA uses the data collected to gain a more complete picture of where, when, for how long, and what impacts result from reported blocked crossing incidents. This information is voluntary and open to the public. There is no requirement for recordkeeping. The frequency will be as needed as determined by the public.

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Authorizing Statute(s): None

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:
	87 FR 19176	04/01/2022
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	87 FR 41166	07/11/2022
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Inquiry into Blocked Highway-Rail Grade Crossings throughout the United States	FRA F 6180.175	Blocked Crossing Reporting Form

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	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	15,862	5,000	0	0	10,862	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	1,033	250	0	0	783	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

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

Burden Increase Due to:

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

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: Currently, the OMB inventory for this collection of information shows a total burden of 250 hours and 5,000 responses, while this submission reflects a total burden of 1,033 hours and 15,862 responses. Overall, the burden increased by 783 hours and increased by 10,862 responses from the last approved submission due to adjustments. For example, • FRA added an additional burden (240 hours) in response to AAR’s comments that FRA should account for railroads’ estimated paperwork burdens in responding to FRA’s follow up inquiries on blocked crossings. • FRA anticipated an increase in the number of responses from the general public. • FRA anticipated a decrease in the number of responses from law enforcement personnel and first responders.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $44,392

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

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     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? No

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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: 07/11/2022

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