[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 227 (Tuesday, November 24, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75108-75109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-25916]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2020-0027-N-29]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

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

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice 
announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Request 
(ICR) abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review and comment. The ICR describes the information collection and 
its expected burden. On August 26, 2020, FRA published a notice 
providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICR.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
December 24, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR 
should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular ICR by 
selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' 
or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Qiana Swayne, Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-0414) or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520, and its 
implementing regulations, 5 CFR part 1320, require Federal agencies to 
issue

[[Page 75109]]

two notices seeking public comment on information collection activities 
before OMB may approve paperwork packages. See 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 
CFR 1320.8 through 1320.12. On August 26, 2020, FRA published a 60-day 
notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on the ICR for which 
it is now seeking OMB approval. See 85 FR 52657. FRA received no 
comments in response to this 60-day notice.
    Before OMB decides whether to approve the proposed collection of 
information, it must provide 30 days for public comment. 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 1320.10(b); see also 60 FR 44978, 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. OMB 
believes the 30-day 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.
    Comments are invited on the following ICR regarding: (1) Whether 
the information collection activities are necessary for FRA to properly 
execute its functions, including whether the information 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 to minimize the burden of information 
collection activities on the public, including the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    The summaries below describe the ICR that FRA will submit for OMB 
clearance as the PRA requires:
    Title: Workforce Development Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0621.
    Abstract: FRA has statutory responsibility to ensure the safety of 
railroad operations under 49 U.S.C. 20103. To conduct safe railroad 
operations, the workforce must have the requisite knowledge and skills 
to operate equipment and utilize technologies. FRA therefore seeks to 
promote workforce development policy and standards to ensure the 
workforce has the necessary knowledge and skills to conduct safe 
railroad operations. Due to an increasingly dynamic and maturing 
workforce, combined with continual changes in knowledge and skills 
required to use new technologies, there is an increasing risk of not 
having the necessary talent pools to fill critical railroad operational 
positions.
    Since 2011, FRA has routinely performed a comprehensive overview of 
the railroad industry workforce. The Railroad Industry Modal Profile 
was a response to the DOT National Transportation Workforce Development 
Initiative that required each DOT Operating Administration to produce 
an analysis of its industry workforce. The most recent published update 
in April 2016, Railroad Industry Modal Profile: An Outline of the 
Railroad Industry Workforce Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities, 
highlighted numerous workforce challenges including age, diversity, 
knowledge management and succession planning, work-life balance, 
recruitment, and the impact of evolving technology.
    The prevailing workforce concerns during the early stages of the 
DOT National Transportation Workforce Development Initiative were the 
large number of retirement-eligible employees in transportation-related 
fields and the national shortage of science, technology, engineering, 
and math graduates. Because the railroad industry had done very little 
hiring in the late 1980s and throughout most of the 1990s, the 
retirement-eligible population became quite large, even beyond that of 
most other industries and transportation modes (each of which was also 
grappling with similar retirement population concerns).
    These workforce challenges persist. Although the industry has 
recognized the need to focus on recruitment and retention strategies, 
it continues to face risks in maintaining a viable workforce and 
building a pipeline of diverse talent. To take effective and efficient 
action to minimize these risks, FRA requires reliable information on 
current workforce development challenges, strategies, and outcomes. 
Initial data collected for the Railroad Industry Modal Profile 
established a baseline understanding of the risks and status. However, 
to confirm and further develop the understanding of the risks, 
potential solutions, and best practices that have been implemented by 
railroad stakeholders, this revised survey is proposed. With this 
submission, FRA is requesting permission to gather the needed 
information about the railroad industry workforce.
    Type of Request: Extension without Change.
    Affected Public: Class I freight and passenger railroads, short 
line and regional railroads, labor unions, major associations, 
academia, and specialty experts.
    Form(s): FRA F 240.
    Respondent Universe: 847.
    Frequency of Submission: One-time.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 213.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 88.75 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: 
$3,637.86.
    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 a respondent is not required to 
respond to, conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it 
displays a currently valid OMB control number.

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

Brett A. Jortland,
Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2020-25916 Filed 11-23-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P