[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 196 (Thursday, October 12, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47595-47599]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22044]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2017-0002-N-23]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), U.S. Department of 
Transportation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its 
implementing regulations, FRA seeks renewed approval of the proposed 
information collection activities listed below. Before submitting these 
information collection requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is soliciting public comment on specific 
aspects of the activities, which are identified in this notice.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than December 11, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on any or all of the following 
proposed activities by mail to either: Mr. Robert Brogan, Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Railroad Safety, Regulatory 
Analysis Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 20590; or Ms. Kim 
Toone, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Information 
Technology, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590. Commenters requesting 
FRA to acknowledge receipt of their respective comments must include a 
self-addressed stamped postcard stating, ``Comments on OMB Control 
Number 2130-0571'' or ``Comments on OMB Control Number 2130-0596,'' and 
should also include the title of the collection of information. 
Alternatively, comments may be faxed to (202) 493-6216 or (202) 493-
6497, or emailed to Mr. Brogan at [email protected], or Ms. Toone 
at [email protected]. Please refer to the assigned OMB control number 
in any correspondence submitted. FRA will summarize comments received 
in response to this notice in a subsequent notice and include them in 
its information collection submission to OMB for approval.

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 
(telephone: (202) 493-6292) or Ms. Kim Toone, Information Collection 
Clearance Officer, Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, Federal 
Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Mail Stop 35, 
Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6132).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520, and its 
implementing regulations, 5 CFR part 1320, require Federal agencies to 
provide 60-days' notice to the public to allow comment on information 
collection activities before seeking OMB approval to implement them. 
See 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), 1320.10(e)(1), 
1320.12(a). FRA invites interested respondents to comment on the 
following summary of proposed information collection activities 
regarding: (1) Whether the information collection activities are 
necessary for FRA to properly execute its functions, including whether 
the activities will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of FRA's 
estimates of the burden of the information collection activities, 
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used to 
determine the estimates; (3) ways for FRA to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information being collected; and (4) ways 
for FRA to minimize the burden of information collection activities on 
the public by automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques and other forms of information technology (e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of responses). See 44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1).
    FRA believes that soliciting public comment will promote its 
efforts to reduce the administrative and paperwork burdens associated 
with the collection of information that Federal regulations mandate. In 
summary, FRA reasons that comments received will advance three 
objectives: (1) Reduce

[[Page 47596]]

reporting burdens; (2) ensure that it organizes information collection 
requirements in a ``user-friendly'' format to improve the use of such 
information; and (3) accurately assess the resources expended to 
retrieve and produce information requested. See 44 U.S.C. 3501.
    Below is a brief summary of currently approved information 
collection activities that FRA will submit for renewed clearance by OMB 
as required under the PRA:
    Title: Occupational Noise Exposure for Railroad Operating 
Employees.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0571.
    Abstract: FRA uses the collection of information to ensure 
railroads covered by this rule establish and implement noise 
monitoring, hearing conservation, and audiometric testing programs. 
This collection also includes hearing conservation training programs 
that protect railroad employees from the damaging and potentially 
dangerous effects of excessive noise in the everyday rail environment.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 755 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Businesses (Railroads, railroads equipment 
manufacturers).
    Reporting Burden:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Respondent         Total annual      Average time per      Total annual
           CFR section                 universe            responses           response          burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
227.13--Waivers.................  502 railroads.....  2 petitions.......  60 minutes........  2 hours.
227.103--Noise monitoring         502 railroads.....  5 programs........  30 hours..........  150 hours.
 program: development and
 implementation.
    --Notification of employee    502 railroads.....  5 lists...........  30 minutes........  3 hours.
     of monitoring.
227.107--Hearing Conservation     502 railroads.....  5 HCPs............  31 hours..........  155 hours.
 Program (HCP)--Development of
 programs.
    --Revised hearing             502 railroads.....  5 HCPs............  1.75 hours........  9 hours.
     conservation programs
     (HCPs).
227.109--Audiometric Testing      85,600 employees..  7,704 tests.......  25 minutes........  3,210 hours.
 Program--Existing employees--
 baseline audiograms.
    --Periodic audiograms.......  85,600 employees..  28,530 tests......  10 minutes........  4,755 hours.
    --Evaluation of audiograms..  85,600 employees..  2,330 ratings + 93  6 min./+ 30 min...  280 hours.
                                                       retests.
    --Problem audiograms/&        8,000 employees...  45 documents......  10 minutes........  8 hours.
     provision of required
     documents to medical
     professional.
    --Follow-up procedures--      8,000 employees...  93 notices........  5 minutes.........  8 hours.
     notifications.
    --Fitting/training of         240 employees.....  240 tr. session...  5 minutes.........  20 hours.
     employees: hearing
     protectors.
    --Referrals for clinical/     240 employees.....  20 referrals......  2 hours...........  40 hours.
     otological exam.
    --Notification to employee    240 employees.....  20 notices........  5 minutes.........  2 hours.
     of need for otological
     examination.
    --New audiometric             240 employees.....  20 notices........  5 minutes.........  2 hours.
     interpretation.
227.111--Audiometric test         1,000 mobile vans.  1,000 tests.......  45 minutes........  750 hours.
 requirements.
227.117--Hearing protection       502 railroads.....  50 evaluations....  30 minutes........  25 hours.
 attenuation--evaluation.
    --Re-evaluations of adequacy  502 railroads.....  10 re-evaluations.  30 minutes........  5 hours.
     of hearing protection
     attenuation when employee
     noise exposure increases.
227.119--Hearing Conservation     502 railroads.....  5 programs........  60 minutes........  5 hours.
 Training Program--development.
    --Employee HCP Training.....  502 railroads.....  26,000 tr.          30 minutes........  13,000 hours.
                                                       employees.
    --Periodic Training.........  502 railroads.....  7,704 tr.           30 minutes........  3,852 hours.
                                                       employees.
227.121--Recordkeeping--authoriz  502 railroads.....  30 requests + 30    10 minutes + 15     13 hours.
 ation: records.                                       responses.          minutes.
    --Request for copies of       502 railroads.....  150 requests + 150  21 minutes + 45     166 hours.
     reports.                                          responses.          minutes.
    --Records transfer when       502 railroads.....  10 records........  24 minutes........  4 hours.
     carrier becomes defunct.
    --Railroad audiometric test   502 railroads.....  26,000 records....  2 minutes.........  867 hours.
     records.
    --Hearing Conservation        502 railroads.....  54,000 records....  45 seconds........  675 hours.
     Program (HCP): Records.
229.121--Locomotive Cab Noise--   3 equipment         610 records + 90    5 minutes + 40      111 hours.
 tests/records and certification.  manufacturers.      certs.              minutes.
    --Equipment maintenance:      484 railroads.....  3,000 reports +     1 minute + 1        100 hours.
     excessive noise reports.                          3,000 record.       minute.
    --Maintenance records.......  484 railroads.....  3,750 records.....  1 minute..........  63 hours.
    --Internal auditable          484 railroads.....  22 systems + 2      36 min. + 8.25      30 hours.
     monitoring systems.                               systems.            hours.
Appendix H--Static test           700 locomotives...  2 retests + 2       10 minutes + 5      1 hour.
 protocols/records.                                    records.            minutes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 164,734.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 28,311 hours.
    Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved Collection.
    Title: Conductor Certification.

[[Page 47597]]

    OMB Control Number: 2130-0596.
    Abstract: FRA's conductor certification regulation (49 CFR part 
242) requires railroads to have a formal program for certifying 
conductors. As part of that program, railroads are required to have a 
formal process for training prospective conductors and determining that 
all persons are competent before permitting them to serve as a 
conductor. FRA intended the regulation to ensure that only those 
persons who meet minimum Federal safety standards serve as conductors. 
FRA collects information to ensure that railroads and their employees 
fully comply with all the requirements of part 242, including a 
conductor certification/recertification program, fitness requirements, 
initial and periodic testing of conductors, territorial qualifications, 
etc.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 704 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion; annually.
    Reporting Burden:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Respondent         Total annual      Average time per      Total annual
       CFR section/subject             universe            responses           response          burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
242.9--Waivers--Petitions.......  704 railroads.....  3 petitions.......  3 hours...........  9 hours.
242.101/103--Certification        704 railroads.....  5 new programs....  15.5 hours........  78 hours.
 programs for new railroads.
    --Conductor certification     704 railroads.....  40 copies.........  15 minutes........  10 hours.
     submission: Copies to rail
     labor organizations--RLO.
    --Affirmative statements      704 railroads.....  40 avowals........  15 minutes........  10 hours.
     that copies of submissions
     were sent to RLOs.
    --Certified comments on       704 railroads.....  15 comments.......  4 hours...........  60 hours.
     submissions.
    --Certification programs      704 railroads.....  10 programs.......  3 hours...........  30 hours.
     disapproved by FRA and then
     revised.
    --Revised certification       704 railroads.....  3 programs........  2 hours...........  6 hours.
     programs still not
     conforming and then
     resubmitted.
    --Certification programs      704 railroads.....  15 programs.......  2 hours...........  30 hours.
     materially modified after
     initial FRA approval.
    --Materially modified         704 railroads.....  3 programs........  2 hours...........  6 hours.
     programs disapproved by FRA
     & then revised.
    --Revised programs            704 railroads.....  1 program.........  2 hours...........  2 hours.
     disapproved and then re-
     submitted.
242.105--Implementation Schedule
    --Issued certificates (\1/3\  704 railroads.....  16,200 certif.....  30 minutes........  8,100 hours.
     each year).
    --Issued certificates (\1/3\  704 railroads.....  1,800 certif......  30 minutes........  900 hours.
     each year).
    --Requests for delayed        704 railroads.....  200 requests......  30 minutes........  100 hours.
     certification.
    --Testing/evaluation to       704 railroads.....  1,000 tests.......  560 hours.........  560,000 hours.
     certify persons.
    --Testing/evaluation to       704 railroads.....  100 tests.........  400 hours.........  40,000 hours.
     certify conductors (Class
     III).
242.107--Types of service
    --Reclassification to diff.   704 railroads.....  25 conductor tests/ 8 hours...........  200 hours.
     type of cert.                                     ratings.
242.109--Opportunity by RRs for   704 Railroads.....  200 records + 200   30 minutes + 10     133 hours.
 certification candidates to                           comment.            minutes.
 review and comment on prior
 safety record.
242.111--Prior Safety Conduct as
 Motor Vehicle Operator
    --Eligibility determinations  704 Railroads.....  1,100 ratings.....  10 minutes........  183 hours.
    --Initial certification for   704 Railroads.....  75 certif.........  10 minutes........  13 hours.
     60 days.
    --Recertification for 60      704 Railroads.....  125 re-certif.....  10 minutes........  21 hours.
     days.
    --Driver info. not provided   704 Railroads.....  5 requests........  2 hours...........  10 hours.
     and request for waiver by
     persons/railroad.
    --Request to obtain driver's  54,000 Conductors/  18,000 requests...  15 minutes........  4,500 hours.
     license information from      Persons.
     licensing agency.
    --Requests for additional     54,000 Conductors/  25 requests.......  10 minutes........  4 hours.
     information from licensing    Persons.
     agency.
    --Notification to RR by       54,000 Conductors/  25 notices........  10 minutes........  4 hours.
     persons of never having a     Persons.
     license.
    --Report of Motor Vehicle     54,000 Conductors.  200 reports.......  10 minutes........  33 hours.
     Incidents.
    --Evaluation of driving       54,000 Conductors.  18,000 rating.....  15 minutes........  4,500 hours.
     record.
    --DAC referral by RR after    704 Railroads.....  180 referrals.....  5 minutes.........  15 hours.
     report of driving drug/
     alcohol incident.
    --DAC request and supply by   704 Railroads.....  5 requests/records  30 minutes........  3 hours.
     persons of prior counseling
     or treatment.
    --Conditional certifications  704 Railroads.....  50 certificate      4 hours...........  200 hours.
     recommended by DAC.                               endorsements.
242.113--Prior safety conduct as  54,000 conductors.  360 requests/360    15 minutes + 30     270 hours.
 employee of a different                               records.            minutes.
 railroad.
242.115--Determination that       54,000 conductors.  18,000              2 minutes.........  600 hours.
 person meets eligibility                              determination.
 requirements.
    --Written documents from DAC  54,000 conductors.  400 docs..........  30 minutes........  200 hours.
     that person is not affected
     by a disorder.
    --Self-referral by            704 railroads.....  30 self-referrals.  10 minutes........  5 hours.
     conductors for substance
     abuse counseling.

[[Page 47598]]

 
    --Certification reviews for   704 railroads.....  18,000 cert.        10 minutes........  3,000 hours.
     occurrence/documentation of                       reviews.
     prior alcohol/drug conduct
     by persons/conductors.
    --Written determination that  704 railroads.....  150 decision......  60 minutes........  150 hours.
     most recent incident has
     occurred.
    --Notification to person      704 railroads.....  300 notices.......  10 minutes........  50 hours.
     that recertification has
     been denied.
    --Persons/conductors waiving  54,000 conductors.  300 waivers/de-     10 minutes........  50 hours.
     investigation/de-                                 certs.
     certifications.
242.117--Vision and Hearing
 Acuity
    --Determination vision        704 railroads.....  18,000 deter......  20 minutes........  6,000 hours.
     standards met.
    --Determination hearing       704 railroads.....  18,000 deter......  20 minutes........  6,000 hours.
     standards met.
    --Additional gap hearing      704 railroads.....  200 deter.........  20 minutes........  67 hours.
     tests.
    --Medical examiner            704 railroads.....  18,000 certif.....  2 hours...........  36,000 hours.
     certificate that person has
     been examined/passed test.
    --Document standards met      704 railroads.....  100 docs..........  30 minutes........  50 hours.
     with conditions.
    --Document standards not met  704 railroads.....  100 docs..........  30 minutes........  50 hours.
    --Notation person needs       704 railroads.....  10,000 notes......  10 minutes........  1,667 hours.
     corrective device (glasses/
     hearing aid).
    --Request for further         704 railroads.....  100 requests + 100  60 minutes + 2      300 hours.
     medical evaluation for new                        ratings.            hours.
     determination.
    --Request for second retest   704 railroads.....  25 requests + 25    60 minutes + 2      75 hours.
     and another medical                               ratings.            hours.
     evaluation.
    --Consultations by medical    704 railroads.....  100 consults + 100  2 hours + 10        217 hours.
     examiners with railroad                           certif.             minutes.
     officer and issue of
     conditional certification.
    --Notification by certified   704 railroads.....  10 notices........  10 minutes........  2 hours.
     conductor of deterioration
     of vision/hearing.
242.119--Training
    --New RRs--Training program.  5 railroads.......  5 programs........  3 hours...........  15 hours.
    --Modification to training    704 railroads.....  5 program.........  30 minutes........  3 hours.
     program.
    --Completion of training      704 railroads.....  100 docs..........  60 minutes........  100 hours.
     program by conductors/
     persons--documents.
    --Conductor refresher         704 railroads.....  100 retrained       2 hours...........  200 hours.
     training.                                         conductors.
    --Modified training programs  704 railroads.....  24 modified         4 hours...........  96 hours.
     due to new laws,                                  programs.
     regulations, orders,
     technologies, procedures,
     or equipment.
    --Employee consultation with  704 railroads.....  1,000 consult.....  15 minutes........  250 hours.
     qualified supervisory
     employee if given written
     test to demonstrate
     knowledge of physical
     characteristics of any
     assigned territory.
    --Familiarization training    704 railroads.....  10 trained          8 hours...........  80 hours.
     for conductor of acquiring                        conductors.
     railroad from selling
     company/railroad prior to
     commencement of new
     operation.
    --RR Continuous education/    704 railroads.....  18,000 tr.          8 hours...........  144,000 hours.
     training of conductors.                           Conductors.
242.121--Knowledge Testing
    --Determining eligibility...  704 railroads.....  18,000 deter......  30 minutes........  9,000 hours.
    --Retests/re-examinations...  704 railroads.....  500 re-tests......  8 hours...........  4,000 hours.
242.123--Monitoring Operational
 Performance
    --Unannounced compliance      704 railroads.....  18,000 tests +      10 minutes + 5      4,500 hours.
     tests and records.                                18,000 records.     minutes.
    --Return to service that      704 railroads.....  1,000 tests +       10 minutes + 5      250 hours.
     requires unannounced                              1,000 records.      minutes.
     compliance test/record.
242.125/127--Determination made   704 railroads.....  100 decisions.....  30 minutes........  50 hours.
 by RR relying on another
 railroad's certification.
    --Determination by Another    704 railroads.....  100 decisions.....  30 minutes........  50 hours.
     Country.
242.203--Retaining information    704 railroads.....  18,000 records....  15 minutes........  4,500 hours.
 supporting determination:
 Records.
    --Amended electronic records  704 railroads.....  20 records........  60 minutes........  20 hours.
242.209--Maintenance of
 Certificates
    --Request to display          704 railroads.....  2,000 request/      2 minutes.........  67 hours.
     certificate.                                      displays.
    --Notification by conductors  704 railroads.....  1,000 notices.....  10 minutes........  167 hours.
     that RR request to serve
     exceeds certification.
242.211--Replacement of           704 railroads.....  500 replaced        5 minutes.........  42 hours.
 certificates.                                         certifications.
242.213--Multiple Certificates

[[Page 47599]]

 
    --Notification to engineer    704 railroads.....  5 notifications...  10 minutes........  1 hour.
     that no conductor is on
     train.
    --Notification of denial of   704 railroads.....  10 notices........  10 minutes........  2 hours.
     certification by
     individuals holding
     multiple certifications.
242.215--RR Oversight
 Responsibility
    --RR review and analysis of   704 railroads.....  44 reviews/         40 hours..........  1,760 hours.
     administration of                                 analyses.
     certification program.
    --Report of findings by RR    704 railroads.....  36 reports........  4 hours...........  144 hours.
     to FRA.
242.301--Determinations--Territo  320 railroads.....  1,080 deter.......  15 minutes........  270 hours.
 rial qualification and joint
 operations.
    --Notification by persons     320 railroads.....  500 notices.......  10 minutes........  83 hours.
     who do not meet territorial
     qualification.
242.401--Notification to          704 railroads.....  40 notices + 40     60 minutes/60       80 hours.
 candidate of information that                         responses.          minutes.
 forms basis for denying
 certification and candidate
 response.
    --Written notification of     704 railroads.....  80 notices........  60 minutes........  80 hours.
     denial of certification.
242.403/405--Criteria for
 revoking certification; periods
 of ineligibility
    --Review of compliance        704 railroads.....  950 reviews.......  10 minutes........  158 hours.
     conduct.
    --Written determination that  704 railroads.....  950 written         60 minutes........  950 hours.
     the most recent incident                          determination.
     has occurred.
242.407--Process for Revoking
 Certification
    --Revocation for violations   704 railroads.....  950 revoked         8 hours...........  7,600 hours.
     of section 242.115(e).                            certificates.
    --Immediate suspension of     704 railroads.....  950 suspend         1 hour............  950 hours.
     certificate.                                      certificates.
    --Determinations based on RR  704 railroads.....  950 decisions.....  15 minutes........  238 hours.
     hearing record.
    --Hearing record............  704 railroads.....  950 records.......  30 minutes........  475 hours.
    --Written decisions by RR     704 railroads.....  950 decisions.....  2 hours...........  1,900 hours.
     official.
    --Service of written          704 railroads.....  950 decisions +     10 minutes + 5      238 hours.
     decision on employee by RR                        950 proofs.         minutes.
     + RR service proof.
    --Written waiver of right to  54,000 Conductors.  425 waivers.......  10 minutes........  71 hours.
     hearing.
    --Revocation of               704 railroads.....  15 revoked          10 minutes........  3 hours.
     certification based on                            certifications.
     information that another
     railroad has done so.
    --Placing relevant            704 railroads.....  100 updated         1 hour............  100 hours.
     information in record prior                       Records.
     to suspending certification/
     convening hearing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Estimated Responses: 268,799.
    Total Estimated Total Annual Burden: 856,406 hours.
    Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved Collection.
    Under 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 CFR 1320.5(b) and 1320.8(b)(3)(vi), 
FRA informs all interested parties that it may not conduct or sponsor, 
and a respondent is not required to respond to a collection of 
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.

Brett Jortland,
Acting Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2017-22044 Filed 10-11-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P