[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 26, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 89017-89020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28382]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2023-0002-N-36]


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) and its 
implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the Information 
Collection Request (ICR) summarized below. Before submitting this ICR 
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is 
soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities 
identified in the ICR.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
February 9, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR 
should be submitted on regulations.gov to the docket, Docket No. FRA-
2023-0002. All comments received will be posted without change to the 
docket, including any personal information provided. Please refer to 
the assigned OMB control number (2130-0533) in any correspondence 
submitted. FRA will summarize comments received in a subsequent 30-day 
notice and include them in its information collection submission to OMB 
for approval.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Arlette Mussington, Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: [email protected] or 
telephone: (571) 609-1285, or Ms. Joanne Swafford, Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: [email protected] or 
telephone: (757) 897-9908.

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 of the activities. 
See 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.8 through 1320.12. Specifically, 
FRA invites interested parties to comment on the following ICR 
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

[[Page 89018]]

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, including 
the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology. See 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)(1).
    FRA believes that soliciting public comment may reduce the 
administrative and paperwork burdens associated with the collection of 
information that Federal regulations mandate. In summary, comments 
received will advance three objectives: (1) reduce reporting burdens; 
(2) organize 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.
    The summary below describes the ICR that FRA will submit for OMB 
clearance as the PRA requires:
    Title: Qualification and Certification of Locomotive Engineers.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0533.
    Abstract: Section 4 of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 1988, 
Public Law 100-342, 102 Stat. 624 (June 22, 1988), later amended and 
re-codified by Public Law 103-272, 108 Stat. 874 (July 5, 1994), 
required FRA to issue regulations to establish any necessary program 
for certifying or licensing locomotive engineers. The collection of 
information is used by FRA to ensure that railroads employ and properly 
train qualified individuals as locomotive engineers and designated 
supervisors of locomotive engineers (DSLEs).
    The collection of information is used by FRA to verify that 
railroads have established required certification programs for 
locomotive engineers and that these programs fully conform to the 
standards specified in the regulation.
    In this 60-day notice, FRA makes adjustments that increased the 
burden hours from 23,964 to 23,969 hours. This increase is a result of 
a correction of rounding errors from the previous submission and in the 
number of estimated qualified DSLEs and locomotive engineers as 
required under 49 CFR 240.201 and 240.221.
    Type of Request: Extension without change (with changes in 
estimates) of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses (Railroads).
    Form(s): N/A.
    Respondent Universe: 784 Railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion; annually; triennially.

                                                                    Reporting Burden
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                                                                                                                                           Total cost
            CFR section              Respondent universe       Total annual        Average time per     Total annual      Wage rate      equivalent in
                                                                 responses             response         burden hours                      U.S. dollars
                                                           (A).................  (B).................     (C = A * B)                      (D = C * wage
                                                                                                                                              rates) \1\
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240.9--Waivers....................  784 railroads........  2 waiver petitions..  1.00 hour...........            2.00          $85.93            $171.86
240.101/103--Certification          784 railroads........  25 material           5.00 minutes........            2.08           85.93             178.73
 Program: written program for                               modifications.
 certifying qualifications of
 locomotive engineers--material
 modifications.
--Certification programs for new    5 new railroads......  5 programs..........  1.00 hour...........            5.00           85.93             429.65
 railroads.
--New railroads final review and    5 new railroads......  5 reviews...........  1.00 hour...........            5.00           85.93             429.65
 submission of certification
 program.
--(b)(1)--RR provision of copy of   62 railroads.........  62 copies...........  5.00 minutes........            5.17           85.93             444.26
 certification program submission
 or resubmission to president of
 labor unions representing
 employees simultaneously with
 filing with FRA.
--(b)(2)--RR affirmative statement  62 railroads.........  62 copies...........  5.00 minutes........            5.17           85.93             444.26
 that it has served certification
 program copy to labor unions.
--(c)--RR employee comment on       62 railroads.........  62 comments.........  8.00 hours..........          496.00           85.93          42,621.28
 submission, resubmission, or
 material modification of RR
 certification program.
--(h)--RR material modifications    784 railroads........  10 modified programs  10.00 minutes.......            1.67           85.93             143.50
 to program after initial FRA
 approval (formerly under (e)).
240.105(c) Written reports/         784 railroads........  10 written reports..  30.00 minutes.......            5.00          123.41             617.05
 determinations of DSLE
 performance skills.
240.109/App. C--Prior safety        17,667 candidates....  25 responses........  5.00 minutes........            2.08           63.07             131.19
 conduct data.
240.111/App C--Driver's license     17,667 candidates....  17,667 requests.....  10.00 minutes.......        2,944.50           85.93         253,020.89
 data requests from chief of
 driver licensing agency of any
 jurisdiction, including foreign
 countries.
--NDR match--notifications and      784 railroads........  177 notices +177      5 + 5 minutes.......       29.50 \2\           85.93           2,197.75
 requests for data.                                         requests.                                                           63.07
--Written response from candidate   784 railroads........  20 cases/comments...  10.00 minutes.......            3.33           63.07             210.02
 on driver's license data.
240.111(g)--Notice to RR of         53,000 candidates....  4 letters...........  5.00 minutes........            0.33           63.07              20.81
 absence of license.
240.111(h)--Duty to furnish data    784 railroads........  100 communications..  5.00 minutes........            8.33           63.07             525.37
 on prior safety conduct as motor
 vehicle operator.
240.113--Notice to RR furnishing    17,667 candidates....  353 requests + 353    5 + 5 minutes.......       58.84 \3\           85.93           4,383.58
 data on prior safety conduct--                             responses.                                                          63.07
 different RR.
240.115(d)--RR temporary            784 railroads........  25 recertifications.  5.00 minutes........            2.08           85.93             178.73
 certification or recertification
 of locomotive engineer for 60
 days after having requested the
 motor vehicle information
 specified in paragraph (h) of
 this section.

[[Page 89019]]

 
--(i)(2)--RR drug and alcohol       17,667 candidates....  400 requests........  5.00 minutes........           33.33           63.07           2,102.12
 counselor request of employee's
 record of prior counseling or
 treatment.
--(i)(3)--Conditional               17,667 candidates....  100 conditional       1.00 hour...........          100.00           63.07           6,307.00
 certification based on                                     certifications/DAC
 recommendation by drug and                                 recommendations.
 alcohol counselor (DAC) of
 employee aftercare and/or follow-
 up testing for alcohol/drugs.
--(i)(4)--RR employee is evaluated  17,667 candidates....  100 DAC evaluations.  1.00 hour...........          100.00           63.07           6,307.00
 by DAC as having an active
 substance abuse disorder.
240.117(i)(4)--RR employee          53,000 locomotive      400 trained/          5.00 minutes........           33.33           63.07           2,102.12
 completion of training/retraining   engineers.             retrained records.
 prior to return to service--
 records.
240.119(c)--Written records         784 railroads........  400 records.........  5.00 minutes........           33.33           63.07           2,102.12
 indicating dates that the
 engineer stopped performing or
 returned to certification service
 + compliance/observation test.
240.119(d)--Self-referral re:       53,000 locomotive      150 self-referrals..  5.00 minutes........           12.50           63.07             788.38
 active substance abuse disorder.    engineers.
                                   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
240.119(e)(3)(i)--RR determination             The estimated paperwork burden for this requirement is included above under Sec.   240.119(c).
 that the most recent incident
 occurred.
                                   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
240.119(e)(3)(ii)--RR notification  784 railroads........  200 notifications...  30.00 minutes.......          100.00           63.07           6,307.00
 to person that recertification
 has been denied or revoked.
240.119(e)(4)(iii)--Locomotive      53,000 locomotive      200 waivers.........  2.00 minutes........            6.67           63.07             420.68
 engineer waiver of investigation    engineers.
 in case of one violation of
 section 219.101.
240.121--Criteria--vision/hearing   5 railroads..........  5 copies............  5.00 minutes........            0.42           85.93              36.09
 acuity data--new railroads.
240.121--Criteria--vision/hearing   784 railroads........  5 reports...........  5.00 minutes........            0.42          123.41              51.83
 acuity data--condition
 certification.
240.121--Criteria--vision/hearing   784 railroads........  10 notifications....  5.00 minutes........            0.83           63.07              52.35
 acuity data--not meeting
 standards--notice by employee.
240.129(b)--RR documents on file    53,000 locomotive      1,000 records.......  5.00 minutes........           83.33           85.93           7,160.55
 regarding determination made        engineers.
 regarding operational fitness.
240.201/221--List of qualified      784 railroads........  784 updates.........  5.00 minutes........           65.33           85.93           5,613.81
 DSLEs.
240.201/221--List of qualified      784 railroads........  784 updated lists...  5.00 minutes........           65.33           85.93           5,613.81
 locomotive engineers.
240.201/223/301--Locomotive         53,000 candidates....  17,667 certificates.  5.00 minutes........        1,472.25           85.93         126,510.44
 engineers certificate.
240.207--Medical certificate        53,000 candidates....  17,667 certificates.  30.00 minutes.......        8,833.50          123.41       1,090,142.24
 showing hearing/vision standards
 are met.
--Written determinations waiving    784 railroads........  30 determinations...  5.00 minutes........            2.50          123.41             308.53
 use of corrective device.
240.219(a)--RR notification letter  17,667 candidates....  90 letters and        30.00 minutes.......           45.00           85.93           3,866.85
 to employee of certification                               responses.
 denial + employee written
 rebuttal.
--RR Notice/written documents/      784 railroads........  45 documents/records  2.00 minutes........            1.50           85.93             128.90
 records to candidate that support
 its pending denial decision.
240.229(3)(ii)--Joint operations--  321 railroads........  184 employee calls..  5.00 minutes........           15.33           63.07             966.86
 notice--not qualified.
240.301(b)--Temporary replacement   784 railroads........  600 replacement       30.00 minutes.......          300.00           85.93          25,779.00
 certificates valid for no more                             certificates.
 than 30 days.
240.305(c)--Engineer's notice of    53,000 engineers or    100 notifications...  5.00 minutes........            8.33           63.07             525.37
 non-qualification to RR.            candidates.
--(d)--Relaying certification       1,060 engineers......  2 letters...........  15.00 minutes.......            0.50           63.07              31.54
 denial or revocation status to
 other certifying railroad.
240.307(a-b)--Notice to engineer    784 railroads........  550 + 550 letters...  1 + 1 hour..........    1,100.00 \4\           85.93          81,950.00
 of disqualification.                                                                                                           63.07
240.307(b)(4)--RR provision to      784 railroads........  690 copies/list.....  5.00 minutes........           57.50           85.93           4,940.98
 employee of copy of written
 information and list of witnesses
 that it will present at hearing.
240.307(b)(5)--RR determination on  784 railroads........  690 hearing           1.00 hour...........          690.00           85.93          59,291.70
 hearing record whether person no                           determination.
 longer meets certification
 requirements of this CFR part.
240.307(c)(11)(i)(ii)--RR written   784 railroads........  690 written           30.00 minutes.......          345.00           85.93          29,645.85
 decision after close of hearing                            decisions.
 containing findings of fact &
 whether a revocable event
 occurred.

[[Page 89020]]

 
240.307(c)(11)(iii)--RR service of  784 railroads........  690 copies..........  5.00 minutes........           57.50           85.93           4,940.98
 written decision on employee and
 employee's representative.
240.307(f)--Personal waiver of      784 railroads........  750 written waivers.  5.00 minutes........           62.50           63.07           3,941.88
 right to hearing under this
 section.
240.307(j)--RR update of record     784 railroads........  50 updated records..  10.00 minutes.......            8.33           85.93             715.80
 with relevant information.
240.309--RR oversight               15 railroads.........  6 annotations.......  15.00 minutes.......            1.50           63.07              94.61
 responsibilities: detected poor
 safety conduct--annotation.
--Railroad annual review..........  51 railroads.........  51 reviews..........  3.00 hours..........          153.00           85.93          13,147.29
240.205--Data to DAC Counselor....  784 railroads........  177 records.........  5.00 minutes........           14.75          123.41           1,820.30
240.209/213--Written documentation  53,000 candidates....  17,667 testing        1.00 minute.........          294.45           85.93          25,302.09
 of tests.                                                  records.
240.211/213--Written documentation  53,000 candidates....  17,667 testing        1.00 minute.........          294.45           85.93          25,302.09
 of performance tests.                                      records.
240.215--Retaining information      784 railroads........  17,667 records......  5.00 minutes........        1,472.25           85.93         126,510.44
 supporting determination.
240.303--Annual operational         53,000 candidates....  53,000 testing        1.00 minute.........          883.33           85.93          75,904.55
 monitoring observation.                                    records.
240.303--Annual operating rules     53,000 candidates....  53,000 testing        1.00 minute.........          883.33           85.93          75,904.55
 compliance test.                                           records.
240.307(b)(4)--RR hearings/hearing  784 railroads........  690 hearings/records  4.00 hours..........        2,760.00           85.93         237,166.80
 records.
    Total \5\.....................  784 railroads........  224,652 responses...  N/A.................          23,969             N/A          2,365,953
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    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 224,652.
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    \1\ Throughout the tables in this document, the dollar 
equivalent cost is derived from the 2022 Surface Transportation 
Board Full Year Wage A & B data series using the appropriate 
employee group to calculate the average hourly rate that includes 75 
percent overhead.
    \2\ Total burden hours are divided equally for each requirement 
14.75 + 14.75 = 84.84 hours.
    \3\ Total burden hours are divided equally for each requirement 
29.42 + 29.42 = 84.84 hours.
    \4\ Total burden hours are divided equally for each requirement 
550 + 550 = 84.84 hours.
    \5\ Totals may not add up due to rounding.
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    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 23,969.
    Total Estimated Annual Dollar Cost Equivalent: $2,365,953.
    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 that does not display a currently valid OMB control 
number.
    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.

Allison Ishihara Fultz,
Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2023-28382 Filed 12-22-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P