Notice of Funds Availability and Solicitation of Applications for Grants under the Railroad Rehabilitation and Repair Grant Program

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Ch. 10 of P.L. 110-329.pdf Supplementary Document	2008-11-06
drfRRPG.DOC Supporting Statement A	2008-11-06

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
187113	Notice of Funds Availability and Solicitation of Applications for Grants under the Railroad Rehabilitation and Repair Grant Program Other-Federal Register Notice (of Funds Availability)	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 2130-0580	ICR Reference No: 200811-2130-001
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: DOT/FRA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Notice of Funds Availability and Solicitation of Applications for Grants under the Railroad Rehabilitation and Repair Grant Program
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: 11/21/2008
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 12/08/2008
	Date Received in OIRA: 11/06/2008
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	06/30/2009	6 Months From Approved
Responses	46	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	4,875	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The collection of information will be used by FRA (and potentially contractors) to review grant applications to determine whether they fulfill the requirements and criteria established by statute and agency guidelines concerning the awarding of $20 million in grant funds to repair and rehabilitate rail infrastructure throughout the country damaged by recent hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters.

Emergency Justfication: FRA asks Emergency Clearance for the proposed collection of information for the following reasons: First, the program for which this ICR is being submitted is a new program established by Congress as part of the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009, (P.L. 110-329); Sept. 30,2008). Under this Act, Congress directed that $20 million in funds be provided to eligible States for immediate assistance to improve vital transportation pathways by rehabilitating and repairing Class II and Class III railroad infrastructure damaged by hurricanes, floods, and other recent natural disasters. The Emergency Clearance of the proposed information collection will allow FRA to fulfill Congress' intent by providing the necessary means for FRA to evaluate applications and promptly determine grant awardees so that it can implement this greatly needed economic program. Second, there has been a high level of interest expressed in discussions with FRA staff that the agency move quickly to make awards under this new program. FRA has been contacted by several State departments of transportation requesting that the application and award process begin at the earliest possible date. Only through the granting of Emergency Clearance will be FRA be able to act in a timely manner to assist States and affected communities, thereby meeting the demands of stakeholders in this critically important program. FRA will begin collecting application information within two weeks of the Federal Register Notice Requesting Emergency Clearance and grant funding will be open for a short period of time (until Jan. 16, 2009 or the date on which all funds have been committed) with funds expected to be obligated soon. For these two reasons, FRA respectfully requests a waiver of normal clearance procedures specified in the PRA and 5 CFR 1320. FRA can not reasonably comply with normal OMB procedures without considerable economic harm redounding to disaster affected States and Class II and Class III railroads and without FRA failing to carry out Congress' clear intent.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 110 - 329 Ch. 10 Name of Law: The Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: PL: Pub.L. 110 - 329 Ch. 10 Name of Law: The Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009

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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:
	73 FR 66096	11/06/2008
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
Notice of Funds Availability and Solicitation of Applications for Grants under the Railroad Rehabilitation and Repair Grant Program

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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	46	0	46	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	4,875	0	4,875	0	0	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: This is a new collection of information. Consequently, there are no program changes or adjustments.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $52,600

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]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? Uncollected

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: 11/06/2008

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