[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4454-4455]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00693]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2016-0121]

Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    In accordance with part 211 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR), this provides the public notice that by a document
dated December 6, 2016, the Long Island Railroad Company (LIRR) has
petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a waiver of
compliance from certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety
regulations contained at 49 CFR part 214.353(a). FRA assigned the
petition Docket Number FRA-2016-0121. LIRR submitted this petition for
a partial waiver of a new regulation, which will be set forth in 49 CFR
214.353(a) and will go into effect on April 1, 2017, requiring that
conductors who act as roadway workers in charge (RWICs) receive annual
training as set forth in that section. See 81 FR 37840.
    LIRR is not requesting a waiver from the portion of the new rule
requiring that it provide conductors who act as RWICs the specified
training set forth in the rule. LIRR already includes all of those
items in its training of assistant conductors prior to their promotion
to conductors. In fact, the level of Qualifications/Certifications for
LIRR assistant conductors and conductors far exceeds the RWIC
requirements, and LIRR conductors are fully qualified on all operating
rules and physical characteristics for LIRR's entire system. LIRR also
is revising its syllabus to make sure that, as of April 1, 2017, the
refresher training given to conductors includes all of the specified
topics, as well as any additional topics recommended in FRA Safety
Advisory 2016-02 (See 81 FR 85676). Nor is it requesting a waiver from
the portion of the new rule requiring that these individuals be
qualified every 3 years and, in fact, will require that they be
qualified every 2 years. Finally, LIRR is not requesting that the
annual training requirement be waived for LIRR's roadway workers or any
employees (such as non-roadway worker Engineering Department employees)
other than conductors who act as RWICs. It is simply requesting that
LIRR be permitted to provide the specified training to its conductors
who act as RWICs every 2 years.
    LIRR is making this request because of the difficulty of training
all of its 1,200 conductors each year. LIRR currently conducts bi-
annual block training, with half of its conductors (600 out of 1,200)
trained in 1 year and the other half trained the following year. LIRR
also notes that it provides all of them each spring with a ``Roadway
Worker Refresher Guide'' that includes specific RWIC responsibilities.
In running its program in this manner, LIRR is able to maintain its 24
hour a day/7 day a week operation of the largest commuter railroad in
the United States and carry over 87 million passengers per year.
Requiring that all 1,200 conductors receive training each year would
force LIRR to hire additional conductors (an expensive and lengthy
process) and/or increase overtime (also expensive) to cover the
assignments that conductors cannot cover due to the increased training.
LIRR also may need to hire additional training personnel and/or limit
the amount of time such training personnel can devote to teaching LIRR
employees other non-mandated but useful subjects. As a public benefit
corporation that receives much of its funding from tax revenues, these
added personnel and training costs then would be passed on to the
public.
    LIRR has spoken with officials from The International Association
of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Division,
the union representing LIRR's conductors. SMART provided a letter in
support, and it is available for review in the public docket for this
waiver petition.
    Permitting LIRR to instruct and qualify its conductors who act as
RWICs on the items set forth in 49 CFR 214.353, Training and
qualification of roadway workers who provide on-track safety for
roadway work groups, every 2 years, rather than instruct them every
year and qualify them every 3 years, would allow LIRR to maintain the
safety of its passengers and employees and also allow it to maintain
its operations without the need to: (i) Hire additional conductors and/
or training personnel, (ii) increase overtime, or (iii) reduce training
in non-mandated areas. As the waiver would be in the public interest
and consistent with public safety, LIRR requests that it be granted.
    A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications
concerning the petition, is available for review online at
www.regulations.gov and in person at the U.S. Department of
Transportation's (DOT) Docket Operations Facility, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., W12-140, Washington, DC 20590. The Docket Operations
Facility is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal Holidays.
    Interested parties are invited to participate in these proceedings
by submitting written views, data, or comments. FRA does not anticipate
scheduling a public hearing in

connection with these proceedings since the facts do not appear to
warrant a hearing. If any interested party desires an opportunity for
oral comment and a public hearing, they should notify FRA, in writing,
before the end of the comment period and specify the basis for their
request.
    All communications concerning these proceedings should identify the
appropriate docket number and may be submitted by any of the following
methods:
     Web site: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax:<PHONE_NUMBER>.
     Mail: Docket Operations Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., W12-140, Washington, DC
20590.
     Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Room W12-140,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal Holidays.
    Communications received by February 27, 2017 will be considered by
FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date
will be considered as far as practicable.
    Anyone is able to search the electronic form of any written
communications and comments received into any of our dockets by the
name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the document,
if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.).
In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the
public to better inform its processes. DOT posts these comments,
without edit, including any personal information the commenter
provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records
notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at
www.transportation.gov/privacy. See also https://www.regulations.gov/privacyNotice for the privacy notice of regulations.gov.

Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-00693 Filed 1-12-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 18 (Tuesday, January 28, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5003-5004]
[FR Doc No: 2020-01374]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID FEMA-2020-0002; Internal Agency Docket No. FEMA-B-2005]

Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Comments are requested on proposed flood hazard
determinations, which may include additions or modifications of any
Base Flood Elevation (BFE), base flood depth, Special Flood Hazard Area
(SFHA) boundary or zone designation, or regulatory floodway on the
Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and where applicable, in the
supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports for the communities
listed in the table below. The purpose of this notice is to seek
general information and comment regarding the preliminary FIRM, and
where applicable, the FIS report that the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) has provided to the affected communities. The FIRM and
FIS report are the basis of the floodplain management measures that the
community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of having in
effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In addition, the FIRM and FIS
report, once effective, will be used by insurance agents and others to
calculate appropriate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings
and the contents of those buildings.

DATES: Comments are to be submitted on or before April 27, 2020.

ADDRESSES: The Preliminary FIRM, and where applicable, the FIS report
for each community are available for inspection at both the online
location https://www.fema.gov/preliminaryfloodhazarddata and the
respective Community Map Repository address listed in the tables below.
Additionally, the current effective FIRM and FIS report for each
community are accessible online through the FEMA Map Service Center at
https://msc.fema.gov for comparison.
    You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. FEMA-B-2005, to
Rick Sacbibit, Chief, Engineering Services Branch, Federal Insurance
and Mitigation Administration, FEMA, 400 C Street SW, Washington, DC
20472,<PHONE_NUMBER>, or (email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick Sacbibit, Chief, Engineering
Services Branch, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, FEMA,
400 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20472,<PHONE_NUMBER>, or (email)
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or visit the FEMA Map Information
eXchange (FMIX) online at https://www.floodmaps.fema.gov/fhm/fmx_main.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FEMA proposes to make flood hazard
determinations for each community listed below, in accordance with
section 110 of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, 42 U.S.C.
4104, and 44 CFR 67.4(a).
    These proposed flood hazard determinations, together with the
floodplain management criteria required by 44 CFR 60.3, are the minimum
that are required. They should not be construed to mean that the
community must change any existing ordinances that are more stringent
in their floodplain management requirements. The community may at any
time enact stricter requirements of its own or pursuant to policies
established by other Federal, State, or regional entities. These flood
hazard determinations are used to meet the floodplain management
requirements of the NFIP and are used to calculate the appropriate
flood insurance premium rates for new buildings built after the FIRM
and FIS report become effective.
    The communities affected by the flood hazard determinations are
provided in the tables below. Any request for reconsideration of the
revised flood hazard information shown on the Preliminary FIRM and FIS
report that satisfies the data requirements outlined in 44 CFR 67.6(b)
is considered an appeal. Comments unrelated to the flood hazard
determinations also will be considered before the FIRM and FIS report
become effective.
    Use of a Scientific Resolution Panel (SRP) is available to
communities in support of the appeal resolution process. SRPs are
independent panels of experts in hydrology, hydraulics, and other
pertinent sciences established to review conflicting scientific and
technical data and provide recommendations for resolution. Use of the
SRP only may be exercised after FEMA and local communities have been
engaged in a collaborative consultation process for at least 60 days
without a mutually acceptable resolution of an appeal. Additional
information regarding the SRP process can be found online at https://www.floodsrp.org/pdfs/srp_overview.pdf.
    The watersheds and/or communities affected are listed in the tables
below. The Preliminary FIRM, and where applicable, FIS report for each
community are available for inspection at both the online location
https://www.fema.gov/preliminaryfloodhazarddata and the respective
Community Map Repository address listed in the tables. For communities
with multiple ongoing Preliminary studies, the studies can be
identified by the unique project number and Preliminary FIRM date
listed in the tables. Additionally, the current effective FIRM and FIS
report for each community are accessible online through the FEMA Map
Service Center at https://msc.fema.gov for comparison.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 97.022, ``Flood
Insurance.'')

Michael M. Grimm,
Assistant Administrator for Risk Management, Department of Homeland
Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency.

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                                             Community map repository
               Community                             address
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                Boone County, Iowa and Incorporated Areas
          Project: 17-07-0832S Preliminary Date: March 28, 2019
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City of Beaver.........................  City Hall, 121 3rd Street,
                                          Beaver, IA 50031.
City of Berkley........................  Berkley City Hall, 266 284th
                                          Street, Perry, IA 50220.
City of Boone..........................  City Hall Building Department,
                                          923 8th Street, Boone, IA
                                          50036.
City of Fraser.........................  Fraser City Hall, 1008 157th
                                          Street, Boone, IA 50036.
City of Madrid.........................  City Hall, 304 South Water
                                          Street, Madrid, IA 50156.
City of Ogden..........................  City Hall, 513 West Walnut
                                          Street, Ogden, IA 50212.
City of Pilot Mound....................  City Hall, 212 South Pilot
                                          Street, Pilot Mound, IA,
                                          50223.
City of Woodward.......................  City Hall, 105 East 2nd Street,
                                          Woodward, IA, 50276.

Unincorporated Areas of Boone County...  Boone County Courthouse, 201
                                          State Street, Boone, IA 50036.
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[FR Doc. 2020-01374 Filed 1-27-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-12-P


[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 215 (Thursday, November 5, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70606-70607]
[FR Doc No: 2020-24552]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC21-3-000]

Commission Information Collection Activities (Ferc-725d); Comment
Request; Extension

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or
FERC) is soliciting public comment on a renewal of currently approved
information collection, FERC-725D (Facilities Design, Connections and
Maintenance Reliability Standards).

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due January 4,
2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments (identified by Docket No. IC21-3-
000) by one of the following methods:
     eFiling at Commission's Website: http://www.ferc.gov.
     U.S. Postal Service Mail: Persons unable to file
electronically may mail similar pleadings to the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426
     Effective 7/1/2020, delivery of filings other than by
eFiling or the U.S. Postal Service should be delivered to Health and
Human Services, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
    Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in
accordance with submission guidelines at: http://www.ferc.gov. For user
assistance, contact FERC Online Support by email at
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or by phone at<PHONE_NUMBER> (toll-free).
    Docket: Users interested in receiving automatic notification of
activity in this docket or in viewing/downloading comments and
issuances in this docket may do so at http://www.ferc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Ellen Brown may be reached by email
at<EMAIL_ADDRESS>telephone at<PHONE_NUMBER>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: FERC-725D,\1\ Facilities Design, Connections and Maintenance
Reliability Standards.
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    \1\ This renewal is being submitted to extend the OMB expiration
date and will not have an effect on the Docket No. RD20-4 that is
being addressed separately.
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    OMB Control No.: 1902-0247.
    Type of Request: Three-year approval of the FERC-725D information
collection requirements, with no changes to the reporting or
recordkeeping requirements. (There are adjustments to the estimates to
update the totals that represent the numbers reflected in the NERC
Compliance Registry as of July 17, 2020.)
    Abstract: On August 8, 2005, The Electricity Modernization Act of
2005, which is Title XII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005),
was enacted into law. EPAct 2005 added a new section 215 to the Federal
Power Act (FPA), which requires a Commission-certified Electric
Reliability Organization (ERO) to develop mandatory and enforceable
Reliability Standards, subject to Commission review and approval. Once
approved, the Reliability Standards may be enforced by the ERO, subject
to Commission oversight, or by the Commission independently. Section
215 of the FPA requires a Commission-certified ERO to develop mandatory
and enforceable Reliability Standards, subject to Commission review and
approval. Once approved, the Reliability Standards may be enforced by
the ERO subject to Commission oversight or by the Commission
independently. In 2006, the Commission certified NERC (now called the
North American Electric Reliability Corporation) as the ERO pursuant to
section 215 of the FPA. On March 16, 2007 (pursuant to section 215(d)
of the FPA), the Commission issued Order No. 693, approving 83 of the
107 initial Reliability Standards filed by NERC. In the intervening
years, numerous changes have been made to update, eliminate, or
establish various Reliability Standards.
    The information collected by FERC-725D is required to implement the
statutory provisions of section 215 of the Federal Power Act (FPA) (16
U.S.C. 824c). Pursuant to section 215 of the Federal Power Act
(FPA),\2\ in Order 836,\3\ the commission approved the following
standards, FAC-001-2 (Facility Interconnection Requirements), FAC-002-2
(Facility Interconnection Requirements) FAC-001-3 (Facility
Interconnection Requirements). Reliability Standard FAC-001-2 requires
each transmission owner and applicable generator owner to document
facility interconnection requirements, and to make them available upon
request to entities seeking to interconnect. In addition, Reliability
Standard FAC-001-2 requires each transmission owner and applicable
generator owner to include procedures for coordinating studies to
determine the impact of interconnecting facilities on existing
interconnections as well as on affected systems.
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    \2\ 16 U.S.C. 824(o).
    \3\ Order 836 in Docket No. RM16-13 was issued on 9/20/2017 and
is posted at https://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/opennat.asp?fileID=14684897.
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    Reliability Standard FAC-002-2 requires each transmission planner
and each planning coordinator to study the reliability impact of
interconnecting new--or materially modifying existing--generation,
transmission, or electricity end-user facilities on affected systems.
In particular, Reliability Standard FAC-002-2 requires transmission
planners and planning coordinators to perform steady-state, short-
circuit, and dynamic studies to evaluate system performance under both
normal and contingency conditions. In addition, Reliability Standard
FAC-002-2 requires each generator owner seeking to interconnect, each
transmission owner, each distribution provider, and each load-serving
entity that is seeking to interconnect new--or materially modifying
existing--transmission facilities or end-user facilities to coordinate
and cooperate on studies with its transmission planner and planning
coordinator. Reliability Standard FAC-001-3 (Transmission Owners) are
set out to avoid adverse impacts on the reliability of the Bulk
Electric System, Transmission Owners and applicable Generator Owners
must document and make Facility interconnection requirements available
so that entities seeking to interconnect will have the necessary
information.
    Type of Respondents: PA/PC, TP, TO, DP, & GO.\4\
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    \4\ PA = Planning Authority; PC = Planning Coordinator; TO =
Transmission Owner; GO = Generator Owner; DP = Distribution
Provider; TP = Transmission Provider.

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    Estimate of Annual Burden \5\ and Cost: \6\ The Commission
estimates an increase (adjustment) in the annual public reporting
burden for the FERC-725D that follow the two standards FAC-001-3 and
FAC-002-2. FAC-002-2 which increased from 1,206 to 1,542 and FAC-001-3
(Formerly FAC-001-2) which has no change, remains at 161 responses.
1,542 responses + 161 responses for at total of 1,703 responses, as
shown below in the table:
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    \5\ Burden is defined as the total time, effort, or financial
resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or
disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. For
further explanation of what is included in the information
collection burden, refer to 5 Code of Federal Regulations 1320.3.
    \6\ Commission staff estimates that the industry's skill set and
cost (for wages and benefits) for FERC-725D are approximately the
same as the Commission's average cost. The FERC 2020 average salary
plus benefits for one FERC full-time equivalent (FTE) is $172,329/
year (or $83.00/hour). See footnote 4.

                            FERC-725D: Mandatory Reliability Standards: FAC (Facilities, Design, Connections, and Maintenance)
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                                                Annual  number                                                                                Average
                                  Number of      of  responses   Total number     Average burden  hours   Total annual  burden hours and   annual  cost
                               respondents \7\        per        of responses    and cost  per response          total annual cost              per
                                                  respondent                                                                                respondent
                                           (1)             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4).....................  (3) * (4) = (5)...............       (5) / (1)
                                                                           (3)
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Annual Reporting and                     1,703               1           1,703  270 hrs.; $22,410.......  459,810 hrs.; $38,164,230.....         $22,410
 Recordkeeping (PA/PC, TP,
 TO, DP, & GO).
                              --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total FERC-725D..........            1,703               1           1,703  270 hrs.; $22,410.......  459,810 hrs.; $38,164,230.....          22,410
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    Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the Commission, including whether the information will have practical
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden and
cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality,
utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are
to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
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    \7\ The total number of planning authorities, transmission
planners and transmission owners, generator owners and distribution
providers equals 1,703.

    Dated: October 30, 2020.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-24552 Filed 11-4-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P