November 25, 2016, FR Notice (30-Day)

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 227 / Friday, November 25, 2016 / Notices

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and spans from Washington, DC to
Boston, MA. Amtrak, commuter
railroads, and freight railroads operate a
variety of services on the NEC. In the
Baltimore-Washington area, Amtrak
runs intercity passenger rail service,
Maryland Area Regional Commuter
operates commuter rail service, and CSX
Transportation and Norfolk Southern
Railway run freight trains during offpeak times over portions of the NEC
between Baltimore and Washington.
Each of these services competes for
operational times for service on the
existing NEC and demand continues to
increase.
Without additional transportation
improvements and capacity within the
Baltimore-Washington area, economic
development and growth opportunities
will be restricted. As congestion
increases on the NEC and on the
region’s highways, the demand for
continued economic development will
be impacted, including, for example,
tourism.
To address these issues, in 2012 FRA
launched the NEC FUTURE program to
consider the role of rail passenger
service in the context of current and
future transportation demands and to
evaluate the appropriate level of
capacity improvements to make across
the NEC. Through NEC FUTURE, FRA
will determine a long-term vision and
investment program for the NEC
documented in a Tier 1 EIS and Service
Development Plan. FRA published a
Tier 1 Draft EIS in November 2015;
however, the Draft EIS evaluated steelwheel technologies as a way to serve the
passenger rail needs of the region. It left
open the possibility and did not
preclude the study of and investment in
advanced guideway and other new
technologies, such as SCMAGLEV, to
meet the transportation needs of the
Northeast, including the BaltimoreWashington area. Additional
information on the NEC FUTURE
Program is available at: http://
www.necfuture.com/.
Proposed Alternatives To Consider
The EIS evaluating the SCMAGLEV
proposal will consider a range of
reasonable alternatives that FRA and
MDOT will develop based on the
purpose and need for the Proposed
Action, information obtained through
the scoping process, and previous
studies, including the 2003 Draft EIS
and 2007 Final EIS. The 2003 Draft EIS
identified three concepts that FRA and
MDOT have included in the initial
range of alternatives to be considered in
the EIS. FRA and MDOT will evaluate
and screen those earlier concepts as
well as additional options for

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elimination or further refinement during
the NEPA process. Alternatives will
include a no-build alternative and a
reasonable range of build alternatives.
Each build alternative will include
alignments that serve Washington, DC,
Baltimore, MD, and BWI Airport. A final
alignment has not been determined.
Possible Effects
The EIS will analyze the potential
direct, indirect, and cumulative effects
of the alternatives on the social,
economic, and environmental resources
in the study area. This analysis will
include identification of study areas
appropriate for each resource,
documentation of the affected
environment, and identification of
measures to avoid and/or mitigate
significant adverse impacts.
FRA and MDOT will evaluate the
impacts of the Proposed Action using
data and field analyses. The analysis of
resources will be consistent with NEPA,
CEQ regulations and FRA’s
Environmental Procedures.
Scoping, Public Involvement, and
Agency Coordination
This Notice initiates the scoping
process under NEPA. FRA and MDOT
invite comments from the public and
encourage broad public participation
throughout the NEPA process. In
particular, FRA and MDOT invite
comments from the public, Federal,
state, and local agencies, and all
interested parties on the scope of the
EIS including: The purpose and need for
the Project; alternatives to study; the
selection of alternatives; environmental
effects to consider and evaluate;
methodologies to use for evaluating
effects; the approach for public and
agency involvement; and mitigation
measures associated with the potential
future construction, operation, and
maintenance of the Proposed Action.
This will ensure all relevant issues,
constraints, and reasonable alternatives
are addressed early in the development
of the EIS. FRA and MDOT will contact
directly the appropriate Federal, state,
and local agencies as well as private
organizations with a known interest in
the Proposed Action. FRA and MDOT
will request federal agencies with
jurisdiction by law or special expertise
with respect to potential environmental
issues to act as a cooperating agency in
accordance with 40 CFR 1501.16.
At various milestones during the
development of the EIS, FRA and
MDOT will provide additional
opportunities for public involvement,
such as public meetings and hearings,
open houses, and requests for comment
on the Draft EIS.

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Currently, scoping meetings for this
Project are scheduled for the dates and
locations below:
December 10, 2016: 10 a.m.–12 p.m.,
Lindale Middle School, 415 Andover
Rd., Linthicum Heights, MD
December 12, 2016: 5 p.m.–7 p.m.,
Arundel Middle School, 1179
Hammond Ln., Odenton, MD
December 13, 2016: 5 p.m.–7 p.m., Du
Burns Coppermine Fieldhouse, 3100
Boston St., Baltimore, MD
December 14, 2016: 5 p.m.–7 p.m.,
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
Library, 901 G St. NW., Washington,
DC
Additional information, including
updated meeting schedule, is located on
the Project Web site (http://
www.BaltimoreWashington
SCMaglevProject.com).
Jamie Rennert,
Director, Office of Program Delivery.
[FR Doc. 2016–28285 Filed 11–23–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA–2016–0002–N–27]

Proposed Agency Information
Collection Activities; Comment
Request
Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA), U.S. Department
of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:

Under the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice
announces that the renewals and
reinstatements of the information
collection requests (ICRs) abstracted
below are being forwarded to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and comment. The ICRs describe
the information collections and their
expected burden. On September 23,
2016, FRA published a notice providing
a 60-day period for public comment on
the ICRs.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on
or before December 27, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Robert Brogan, Information Collection
Clearance Officer, Office of Railroad
Safety, Safety Regulatory Analysis
Division, RRS–21, Federal Railroad
Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Mail Stop 25, Washington,
DC 20590, (202) 493–6292, or Ms.
Kimberly Toone, Information Collection
Clearance Officer, Office of
SUMMARY:

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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 227 / Friday, November 25, 2016 / Notices

Administration, Office of Information
Technology, RAD–20, Federal Railroad
Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington,
DC 20590, (202) 493–6132. These
telephone numbers are not toll-free.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PRA,
44 U.S.C. 3501–3520, and its
implementing regulations, 5 CFR part
1320, require Federal agencies to issue
two notices seeking public comment on
information collection activities before
OMB may approve paperwork packages.
44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.5,
1320.8(d)(1), and 1320.12. On
September 23, 2016, FRA published a
60-day notice in the Federal Register
soliciting comment on ICRs for which it
is now seeking OMB approval. 81 FR
65698–656701. FRA received no
comments in response to that notice.
Before OMB decides whether to
approve these proposed collections of
information, it must provide 30 days for
public comment. 44 U.S.C. 3507(b), 5
CFR 1320.12(d). Federal law requires
OMB to approve or disapprove
paperwork packages between 30 and 60
days after the 30-day notice is
published. 44 U.S.C. 3507(b)–(c); 5 CFR
1320.12(d); see also 60 FR 44978, 44983,
August 29, 1995. OMB believes the 30day notice informs the regulated
community to file relevant comments
and affords the agency adequate time to
digest public comments before it
renders a decision. 60 FR 44983, Aug.
29, 1995. Therefore, respondents should
submit their respective comments to
OMB within 30 days of publication to
best ensure having their full effect. 5
CFR 1320.12(c); see also 60 FR 44983,
Aug. 29, 1995.
The summary below describes the
ICRs and their expected burdens.
Title: Alleged Violation Reporting
Form.
OMB Control Number: 2130–0590.
Abstract: The Alleged Violation
Reporting Form is a response to section
307(b) of the Rail Safety Improvement
Act of 2008, signed into law by
President George W. Bush on October
16, 2008, which requires FRA to
‘‘provide a mechanism for the public to
submit written reports of potential
violations of Federal railroad safety and
hazardous materials transportation laws,
regulations, and orders to the Federal
Railroad Administration.’’ The Alleged
Violation Reporting Form allows the
general public to submit alleged
violations directly to FRA. The form
allows FRA to collect information
necessary to investigate the alleged
violation and to follow up with the
submitting party.

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The Alleged Violation Reporting Form
collects the name, telephone number
and email address of the person
submitting the alleged violations; the
preferred method to contact the person;
the railroad or company name that
committed the alleged violation, the
date and time the alleged violation
occurred; the location the alleged
violation occurred; and details about the
alleged violation. All information is
voluntary. FRA collects the information
via a form on the FRA public Web site.
FRA may share the information
collected with FRA employees, State
DOT partners, and law enforcement
agencies.
Type of Request: Extension with
change of a currently approved
information collection.
Affected Public: General Public.
Form(s): FRA F 6180.151.
Total Annual Estimated Burden: 80
hours.
Total Annual Estimated Responses:
480.
Status: Regular Review.
Title: Remotely Controlled Switch
Operations.
OMB Control Number: 2130–0516.
Abstract: The regulations at 49 CFR
218.30 and 218.77 ensure remotely
controlled switches are properly lined
to protect workers who are vulnerable to
being struck by moving cars as they
inspect or service rolling equipment on
a particular track or, alternatively,
occupy camp cars. FRA believes that
creating required notifications promotes
safety by minimizing mental lapses of
workers who are simultaneously
handling several tasks. Sections 49 CFR
218.30 and 218.77 require the operator
of remotely controlled switches to
maintain a record of each notification
requesting Blue Signal Protection for 15
days. Operators of remotely controlled
switches use the information as a record
documenting Blue Signal Protection of
workers or camp cars. This record also
serves as a valuable resource for railroad
supervisors and FRA inspectors
monitoring regulatory compliance.
Type of Request: Extension with
change of a currently approved
information collection.
Affected Public: Businesses
(Railroads).
Form(s): N/A.
Total Annual Estimated Burden:
30,420 hours.
Total Annual Estimated Responses:
1,825,150.
Status: Regular Review.
Title: Bad Order and Home Shop for
Repair Card/Tag.
OMB Control Number: 2130–0519.
Abstract: Under 49 CFR part 215, each
railroad must inspect freight cars placed

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in service and take necessary remedial
action when defects are identified. Part
215 defects are items that have caused
accidents or incidents by freight cars
being inadvertently left in service when
not properly tagged. A railroad freight
car which has any component described
as defective in part 215 may be moved
to another location for repair only after
the railroad has complied the process in
§ 215.9 to ensure the movement is done
safely. Section 215.9 requires railroads
to attach a ‘‘bad order’’ or ‘‘home shop
for repair’’ card/tag (tag) describing each
defect to each side of the freight car. It
is imperative that a defective freight car
be tagged so it may be readily identified
as defective and moved to another
location for repair purposes only. At the
repair location, the tag serves as a record
that the notification requirements under
§ 215.9(a)(3) have been provided to
ensure proper handling of freight cars.
Railroads must retain each tag for 90
days to verify proper repairs were made
at the designated location. When
inspecting a freight car, FRA and State
inspectors also review tags to determine
whether defective cars are being
properly moved according to § 215.9.
Type of Request: Extension without
change of a currently approved
information collection.
Affected Public: Businesses
(Railroads).
Form(s): N/A.
Total Annual Estimated Burden:
15,750 hours.
Total Annual Estimated Responses:
270,000.
Status: Regular Review.
Title: Stenciling Freight Cars.
OMB Control Number: 2130–0520.
Abstract: The requirements for
stenciling freight cars that are placed in
service are under 49 CFR 215.301.
Section 215.301 requires railroads and
private car owners to stencil or
otherwise display identification marks
on freight cars. The identification marks
are used by both FRA and the railroads.
FRA uses the identification marks to
determine the railroads affected, the
number and type of cars involved, the
commodities being carried, and the
territorial and speed limits within
which the cars will be operated. FRA
reviews this information to determine if
the freight car is safe to operate, if the
operation qualifies for dedicated
service, and is excluded from part 215.
Railroads use the required information
to provide identification and control so
that dedicated cars remain in the
prescribed service. In addition, it
indicates to FRA that the car is in
special service and certain exceptions
have been provided for, with respect to
part 215.

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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 227 / Friday, November 25, 2016 / Notices
Request: Reinstatement without
change of a previously approved
collection that expired.
Affected Public: Businesses
(Railroads).
Form(s): N/A.
Total Annual Estimated Burden:
18,750 hours.
Total Annual Estimated Responses:
25,000.
Status: Regular Review.
Title: Grade Crossing Safety.
OMB Control Number: 2130–0534.
Abstract: FRA believes that highwayrail grade crossing (grade crossing)
accidents resulting from warning system
failures can be reduced. Accordingly,
FRA’s regulations require railroads to
take specific responses in the event of
an activation failure (when a grade
crossing warning system fails to indicate
the arrival of a train at least 20 seconds
prior to the train’s arrival at the crossing
or to indicate the presence of a train
occupying the crossing). Specifically,
railroads must report to FRA every
impact between on-track railroad
equipment and an automobile, bus,
truck, motorcycle, bicycle, farm vehicle,
or pedestrian at a highway-rail grade
crossing involving a crossing warning
system activation failure. Notification
must be provided to the National
Response Center within 24 hours of
occurrence at the stipulated toll-free
telephone number. Additionally,
railroads must report to FRA within 15
days each activation failure of a
highway-rail grade warning system.
Form FRA F 6180.83, ‘‘Highway-Rail
Grade Crossing Warning System
Report,’’ must be used for this purpose
and completed using the instructions
printed on the form. With this
information, FRA can correlate accident
data and equipment malfunctions with
the types of circuits and age of
equipment. FRA can then identify the
causes of activation malfunctions and
investigate them to determine whether
periodic maintenance, inspection, and
testing standards are effective.
Type of Request: Reinstatement with
change of a previously approved
collection that expired.
Affected Public: Businesses
(Railroads).
Form(s): N/A.
Total Annual Estimated Burden:
3,425 hours.
Total Annual Estimated Responses:
15,372.
Status: Regular Review.
Title: Bridge Worker Safety Rules.
OMB Control Number: 2130–0535.
Abstract: Under 49 U.S.C. 20139, FRA
must issue rules, regulations, orders,
and standards for the safety of

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maintenance-of-way employees on
railroad bridges, including for ‘‘bridge
safety equipment’’ such as nets,
walkways, handrails, and safety lines,
along with requirements for using
vessels when work is performed on
bridges located over bodies of water.
FRA added 49 CFR part 214 to establish
minimum workplace safety standards
for railroad employees performing work
on railroad bridges. Specifically, 49 CFR
214.105(c) establishes standards and
practices for safety net systems. Safety
nets and net installations must be droptested at the job site after initial
installation and before being used as a
fall-protection system, after major
repairs, and at 6-month intervals if left
at one site. If a drop-test is not feasible
and is not performed, then the railroad
or railroad contractor, or designated
competent person, must certify the net
and its installation comply with the
provisions of this section by preparing
a certification record prior to the use of
the net. The certification must identify
the net, the date it was determined the
net was in compliance with this section,
and the signature of the person making
this determination. Such person’s
signature must certify the net and its
installation comply with this section.
The most recent certification for each
net installation must be available at the
jobsite where the subject net is located.
FRA and State inspectors use the
information to enforce Federal
regulations. The information maintained
at the job site promotes safe bridge
worker practices.
Type of Request: Extension without
change of a currently approved
information collection.
Affected Public: Businesses
(Railroads).
Form(s): N/A.
Total Annual Estimated Burden: 1
hour.
Total Annual Estimated Responses: 6.
Status: Regular Review.
Addressee: Send comments regarding
these information collections to the
Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget, 725 Seventeenth Street NW.,
Washington, DC 20503, Attention: FRA
Desk Officer. Comments may also be
sent via email to OMB at the following
address: oira_submissions@
omb.eop.gov.
Comments are invited on the
following: Whether the proposed
collections of information are necessary
for DOT to properly perform its
functions, including: (1) Whether the
information will have practical utility;
the accuracy of DOT’s estimates of the
burden of the proposed information
collections; (2) ways to enhance the

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quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (3)
ways to minimize the burden of the
collections of information on
respondents, including the use of
automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
A comment to OMB is best assured of
having its full effect if OMB receives it
within 30 days of publication of this
notice in the Federal Register.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501–3520.
Patrick Warren,
Acting Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 2016–28394 Filed 11–23–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA–2016–0108; Notice 1]

Reflex & Allen USA, Incorporated,
Receipt of Petition for Decision of
Inconsequential Noncompliance
National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA),
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Receipt of petition.
AGENCY:

Reflex & Allen USA,
Incorporated (RAUS), has determined
that certain Reflex & Allen air brake
tubing products do not fully comply
with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard (FMVSS) No. 106, Brake
Hoses. RAUS filed a defect report dated
September 1, 2016, and amended it on
September 13, 2016. RAUS also
petitioned NHTSA on September 30,
2016, for a decision that the subject
noncompliance is inconsequential as it
relates to motor vehicle safety.
DATES: The closing date for comments
on the petition is December 27, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are
invited to submit written data, views,
and arguments on this petition.
Comments must refer to the docket and
notice number cited in the title of this
notice and submitted by any of the
following methods:
• Mail: Send comments by mail
addressed to U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M–
30, West Building Ground Floor, Room
W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: Deliver comments
by hand to U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M–
30, West Building Ground Floor, Room
W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC 20590. The Docket
SUMMARY:

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