[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22767-22768]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06890]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2024-0005]


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 will seek 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 
June 3, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR 
should be submitted on regulations.gov to the docket, Docket No. FRA-
2024-0005. 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-NEW) in any correspondence 
submitted. FRA will summarize comments received in response to this 
notice in a subsequent notice, made available to the public, and 
include them in its information collection submission to OMB for 
approval.

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 1320.8-1320.12. 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 
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: FRA Workforce Development (WFD) Study on Performance 
Management Systems and Organizational Culture and Diversity.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-NEW.
    Abstract: This project is being conducted in response to a Broad 
Agency Announcement (BAA) topic released in 2020 entitled ``Research in 
Response to Railroad Systems Issues Strategic Priorities.'' FRA has 
released BAAs aimed at workforce training and development, developing 
educational and vocational pipelines, and addressing issues around 
equity and inclusivity within the rail industry. Existing research on 
demographics, organizational practices, and policies, as well as 
industry culture need to be updated to account for the profound changes 
in employment practices and workforce dynamics in the last few years, 
including inflation and supply chain issues. This data collection 
effort will improve the understanding of the current state of the 
industry and establish a baseline against which to measure future 
impacts.
    The team conducting this research will survey and interview a 
cross-section of stakeholders familiar with the current culture in 
rail, about barriers to entry they see and experience as impacting 
minority populations. Part of the data analysis will examine findings 
by employment position to determine if the views at the executive or 
managerial levels are similar or shared by individuals and staff in 
more entry-level positions. The research team will also review source 
documents and artifacts which show how the stakeholder's performance 
management system was designed and how it is intended to work. Data 
will be collected and compiled from interviews and focus groups about 
how well the performance management system functions in practice, 
whether the intended use differs from actual use, and whether observed 
differences in use benefit or

[[Page 22768]]

hinder efficacy in recruiting and retaining diverse talent.
    The study focuses on performance management systems because there 
is evidence that organizational culture plays a significant role in 
shaping industry demographics. The findings from this research will 
provide a better understanding of how employees at various levels are 
affected by performance management systems and how these systems 
contribute to organizational culture. The project team will provide FRA 
with data and best practices that could be used to recommend workforce 
development initiatives, that may affect organizational culture, for 
rail organizations and other related industries. Therefore, the 
research will offer novel, actionable solutions for diversifying the 
rail workforce.
    The main objectives in this study are to: (1) expand on research 
done to date and to gain a better understanding of the organizational 
culture and challenges in recruiting and retaining underrepresented 
individuals in the rail industry; (2) understand how employees at 
various levels are affected by performance management systems and 
organizational culture; and (3) examine and identify best practices for 
the use of performance management systems as a tool for equitable and 
diverse recruitment, development, retention, and promotion.
    Primary users of this information will be those in the rail 
industry. The findings of this study will provide qualitative data on 
the current workforce culture in rail and how performance management 
systems may affect organizational culture. Industry stakeholders, FRA, 
and DOT may use this data to identify gaps, develop approaches, and 
create interventions/solutions to enhance workforce development 
initiatives for underrepresented groups.
    FRA will publish the results of this study. A summary of the 
results may also be presented at technical meetings, such as the annual 
meeting of the Transportation Research Board, or at conferences/talks 
with professional associations such as the Women's Transportation 
Seminar and the American Public Transportation Association.
    Type of Request: Approval of a new collection of information.
    Affected Public: Rail stakeholders including those in labor 
positions, carrier management, research/academia, professional 
association staff, HR personnel, regulators, executive level staff, 
etc.
    Form(s): FRA F 6180.278 and FRA F 6180.279.
    Respondent Universe: Rail stakeholders including those in labor 
positions, carrier management, research/academia, professional 
association staff, human resources (HR) personnel, regulators, 
executive level staff, etc.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
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    \1\ The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the 2022 
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Occupational 
Employment Statistics, classified with NAICS 482100, Rail 
Transportation. See http://www.bls.gov/oes/currrent/naics4_482100.htm#00-000. The total burden wage rate (Straight time 
plus 31%) used in the table is $45.26 (34.55 +10.71 = $45.26).
    \2\ A semi-structured interview is a qualitative research method 
that utilizes some structured questions that will prompt discussion 
with the opportunity for unstructured exploration (additional 
questions or clarification of responses) of themes as they engage 
during the discussion.
    \3\ Totals may not add up due to rounding.
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    Reporting Burden:

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                                                                                                    Total cost
         Description             Respondent      Total annual     Average time     Total annual    equivalent in
                                  universe        responses       per response     burden hours     U.S. dollar
                                               (A)............  (B)............  (C = A * B)....    (D = C* Wage
                                                                                                      Rates) \1\
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Email notification for on-    150 rail         50 Participants  10 minutes.....  8.33 hours.....         $377.02
 line survey. This             stakeholders.
 notification includes
 confidentiality statement
 to potential participants
 (before the survey).
FRA F 6180-279--WFD on-line   150 rail         30 Participants  20 minutes.....  10.00 hours....         $452.60
 survey on Organizational      stakeholders.
 Culture & Performance
 Management in Rail. (New
 form).
Email notification for        30 rail          10 Participants  10 minutes.....  1.67 hours.....          $75.58
 Performance Management        stakeholders.
 Systems interview/focus
 group. This notification
 includes confidentiality
 statement to potential
 focus group and interview
 respondents (before the
 interview).
FRA F 6180.278--WFD           30 rail          5 Participants.  1 hour.........  5.00 hours.....         $226.30
 Interview Questions. Semi-    stakeholders.
 structured \2\ interview
 questions/focus groups on
 experiences with workforce
 culture & performance
 Management systems (New
 form).
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    Totals \3\..............  150 rail         95 responses...  N/A............  25 hours.......          $1,132
                               holders.
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    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 95.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 25 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $1,132.
    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. 2024-06890 Filed 4-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P