FR 2021-00197

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, is seeking to extend an information collection effort known as the "Annual Tank Car Survey". This initiative seeks approval for a 3-year extension to collect data from facilities engaged in modifying or building tank cars to enhanced safety standards. This initiative is part of compliance with the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act, which stresses safer transport of flammable liquids. Stakeholders and the general public are encouraged to provide feedback by March 12, 2021.

Summary of the Document

The document outlines the procedural steps the BTS is taking to extend the collection of data on tank car facilities. It details the necessity to gather projections from facilities capable of meeting new safer tank car specifications. The ultimate aim is to improve safety pertaining to the transportation of hazardous materials. The agency encourages public comments on various aspects of this plan.

Significant Issues and Concerns

The document contains technical jargon and legal references like the FAST Act and specific Department of Transportation (DOT) specifications. This could be challenging for individuals not versed in transportation policy or legislative documents. The complexity of instructions on how to submit comments may also intimidate those unfamiliar with the Federal rulemaking process. Furthermore, the emphasis on confidentiality lacks a clear explanation of the protective measures that will be implemented to safeguard individual responses.

The document details the estimated annual burden in terms of time and cost, which, while perhaps necessary for official purposes, could overwhelm the general public. Furthermore, there's a reference to Executive Order 13868 without giving context, potentially baffling readers unaware of its content or implications.

Impact on the Public and Stakeholders

From a public standpoint, the survey's findings are crucial to ensuring safer transportation of hazardous materials, thereby enhancing public safety. However, the document's complexity might deter public engagement, which is essential for informed decision-making. On the other hand, the focus on safety through adopting new standards could positively impact environmental and public safety groups, offering them a means to gauge and advocate for transportation safety standards.

For stakeholders directly involved, such as tank car facilities, the extended information collection signifies ongoing scrutiny and regulatory adherence requirements. While this may ensure compliance and overall safety, it could also impose an operational and financial burden on those facilities needing resources to meet the outlined specifications.

Conclusion

In summary, the initiative documented in this notice has far-reaching implications for public safety through improved transportation standards. It underscores the need for a balanced approach that considers feedback from varied stakeholders. However, the complexity, technical language, and procedural requirements present in the document could limit public comprehension and engagement, a factor crucial for the successful implementation of such policy initiatives.

In the Federal Register document titled "Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection: Annual Tank Car Survey," financial aspects are subtly interwoven in the discussion about the continuation of data collection related to tank cars compliant with new safety specifications.

A key financial element in the notice is the estimation of the total annual cost incurred by facilities participating in the survey. The estimated burden cost is $4,371, calculated based on 88 burden hours at a rate of $49.67 per hour for a manager in Transportation, Storage, and Distribution. This figure provides a quantitative footing to the notice, indicating the financial implications of complying with the data collection requirements.

Summary of Financial Allocations

There are no direct appropriations or spending plans identified in the document, as the focus is primarily on the estimated costs for the facilities participating in the survey. The mention of the total burden cost does, however, highlight an essential aspect of government data collection efforts — the cost to respondents. By stating the cost as $4,371, the document provides transparency about the resource demand expected from the entities involved.

Relation to Identified Issues

One of the issues noted was the potential complexity for the general public in understanding detailed calculations related to the estimated burden. The document indicates a total burden of 88 annual hours, focusing on the amount of time — 30 minutes per response from each facility — necessary to complete the survey. This meticulous breakdown could be confusing or overwhelming to a reader not accustomed to bureaucratic processes. The financial reference thus links to this issue by displaying precision that, while informative for some, may cloud comprehension for those unfamiliar with technical estimates.

Furthermore, while the document stresses confidentiality for participants, it would benefit from further explaining how this estimated cost, particularly how it translates into value for ensuring compliance with safety regulations, assures facility managers that their contributions are cost-worthy.

By understanding and evaluating these financial details, stakeholders can better assess whether the benefits of participating in the survey justify the associated costs, adding an additional layer of assessment crucial for informed decision-making in policy compliance and response.