[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 16, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 2710]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00620]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2023-0002-N-44]


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, this notice announces that FRA is forwarding 
the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR 
describes the information collection and its expected burden. On 
November 2, 2023, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for 
public comment on the ICR. FRA received no comments related to the 
proposed collection of information.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
February 15, 2024.

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 the particular ICR by selecting 
``Currently under Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the 
search function.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520, and its 
implementing regulations, 5 CFR part 1320, require Federal agencies to 
issue 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 November 2, 2023, FRA 
published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on 
the ICR for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 88 FR 75368. FRA 
received no comments related to the proposed collection of information.
    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 1320.12(d); 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 summary below describes 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 policies and standards to ensure that 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. FRA uses this information collection to survey a select 
group of railroad industry personnel to gain insight into the current 
workforce development strategies.
    Type of Request: Extension without change (with changes in 
estimates) of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Class I freight and passenger railroads, short 
line and regional railroads, labor unions, railroad associations, 
academia, and specialty experts.
    Form(s): FRA F240.
    Respondent Universe: 818.\1\
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    \1\ The respondent universe in the published 60-day FR notice 
reflected 967. In this 30-day notice the respondent universe is 818. 
The change reflects the current number of short-line and regional 
railroads.
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    Frequency of Submission: One-time.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 258.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 107 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $4,924.
    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.

Christopher S. Van Nostrand,
Acting Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2024-00620 Filed 1-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P