[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 28, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46298-46302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-11539]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2024-0010]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

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

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 
July 29, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR 
should be submitted on regulations.gov to the docket, Docket No. FRA-
2024-0010. All comments received will be posted without change to the 
docket, including any personal information provided. Please refer to 
the assigned OMB control number (2130-0596) 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 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 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 statutes and 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: Conductor Certification.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0596.
    Abstract: FRA's conductor certification regulation (49 CFR part 
242) requires railroads to have a formal program for certifying any 
person as a conductor. As part of that program, railroads are required 
to have a process for determining competency to serve as a conductor 
through training, testing, and qualifying prospective conductors and 
existing conductors before issuing each person certification or 
recertification. The regulation is intended 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, and territorial 
qualifications.
    In this 60-day notice, FRA made adjustments that decreased the 
previously approved burden hours from 49,761 hours to 46,858 hours. The 
decrease in burden is a result of the reduced amount of time per 
response for Sec.  242.115(e) certification review for prior alcohol/
drug conduct. The average time was reduced from 10 minutes to 5 
minutes, providing a more accurate analysis of the time needed to 
complete the review.
    Additionally, upon a detailed review of part 242, FRA made several 
adjustments to its estimated paperwork burdens in this ICR 
extension.\1\ FRA determined that fewer employees were changing 
employers, therefore reducing the number of prior safety records being 
reviewed. FRA also found that the associated burdens related to 
substance abuse and medical conditions have decreased as fewer 
employees have medical conditions that require further evaluation or 
positive drug and alcohol tests. As a result of these decreased 
burdens, the number of certification denials due to medical conditions 
and substance abuse has also decreased.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The public can view all estimate adjustments to FRA's active 
ICRs in the Supporting Statements published at https://www.reginfo.gov/public/. The Supporting Statement for this ICR will 
be available after the 30-day Federal Register notice is published 
in reginfo.gov.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Type of Request: Extension without change (with changes in 
estimates) of a currently approved information collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Respondent Universe: 784 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.

[[Page 46299]]



                                                                    Reporting Burden
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                            Total cost
            CFR section               Respondent universe        Total annual         Average time per     Total annual      Wage rate      equivalent
                                                                  responses               response         burden hours                    U.S. dollars
                                     .....................  (A)..................  (B)..................     (C = A * B)             (E)     (D = C * E)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
242.9--Waivers--Petitions..........  784 railroads........  1 waiver petition....  3.00 hours...........            3.00           85.93          257.79
242.103(b)-(c)(2)--Approval of       784 new railroads....  3 new conductor        8.00 hours...........           24.00          123.41        2,961.84
 design of individual railroad                               certification
 programs by FRA--Certification                              programs.
 programs for new railroads.
    --(c)(1) Conductor               784 railroads........  6 certification        15.00 minutes........            1.50           85.93          128.90
     certification submission--                              program submission
     Copies to rail labor                                    copies.
     organizations (RLOs).
    --(c)(2) Affirmative statements  784 railroads........  6 affirmative          15.00 minutes........            1.50           85.93          128.90
     that copies of submissions                              statements.
     were sent to RLOs.
    --(d) RLOs submit comments on    784 railroads........  6 certified comments.  4.00 hours...........           24.00           85.93        2,062.32
     RR programs.
    --(g) Non-conforming program     784 railroads........  15 revised programs..  3.00 hours...........           45.00           85.93        3,866.85
     revised and resubmitted to FRA.
    --(h)(2) Resubmitted             784 railroads........  3 resubmitted          2.00 hours...........            6.00           85.93          515.58
     certification programs still                            certification
     not conforming and then                                 programs.
     resubmitted.
    --(i)(1)-(2) Certification       784 railroads........  96 certificate         2.00 hours...........          192.00           85.93       16,498.56
     programs materially modified                            program material
     after initial FRA approval.                             modifications.
    --(i)(3) Materially modified     784 railroads........  20 modified            2.00 hours...........           40.00           85.93        3,437.20
     programs disapproved by FRA                             certification
     and then revised.                                       programs.
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    --Revised programs disapproved   The estimated paperwork burden for this requirement is included under Sec.   242.103(i)(3).
     and then re-submitted.
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
242.107(c)--Types of service--       35 railroads.........  400 records of         2.00 minutes.........           13.00           63.07          840.72
 emergency training for                                      trainings.
 reclassification to different type
 of certification.
242.109--Determinations by RRs       784 railroads........  300 records + 300      30 minutes + 10                   225           85.93       19,334.25
 before certification or                                     comments.              minutes.
 recertification and the
 opportunity for candidates to
 comment on their prior safety
 conduct record.
242.111(b)--Prior Safety Conduct as  784 railroads........  16,200 eligibility     10.00 minutes........        2,700.00           85.93      232,011.00
 Motor Vehicle Operator--                                    determinations.
 Eligibility determinations.
    --(c) Initial certification for  784 railroads........  150 initial            10.00 minutes........           25.00           85.93        2,148.25
     60 days.                                                certifications.
    --(d) Recertification for 60     784 railroads........  125 re-certifications  10.00 minutes........           21.00           85.93        1,804.53
     days.
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    --(f) Driver info not provided   FRA anticipates that there will be zero waiver requests during this three-year collection period.
     and request for waiver by
     persons/railroad.
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    --(h) Request to obtain          41,000 conductors....  16,200 written         15.00 minutes........        4,050.00           63.07      255,433.50
     driver's license information                            requests.
     from licensing agency.
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    --(j) Requests for additional    The estimated paperwork burden for this requirement is included under Sec.   242.111(h).
     information from driver
     licensing agency.
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    --(k) Notification to RR by      41,000 conductors....  10 notices...........  10.00 minutes........            2.00           63.07          126.14
     persons of never having a
     license.
    --(l) Report of Motor Vehicle    41,000 conductors....  400 self-reporting...  10.00 minutes........              68           63.07        4,288.76
     Incidents.
    --(m)-(n) Evaluation of driving  41,000 conductors....  16,200.00 motor        5.00 minutes.........        1,350.00           63.07       85,144.50
     record.                                                 vehicle record
                                                             evaluations.
    --(o)(1) DAC referral by RR      784 railroads........  200 DAC referrals....  5.00 minutes.........           16.00          123.41        1,974.56
     after report of driving drug/
     alcohol incident.
    --(o)(2) DAC requests person     784 railroads........  20 DAC requests......  30.00 minutes........           10.00          123.41        1,234.10
     supply records of prior
     counseling or treatment and
     the person must provide the
     records requested.
    --(o)(3) Condition               784 railroads........  40 conditional         4.00 hours...........          160.00          123.41       19,745.60
     certifications based upon                               certification
     participation in aftercare or                           recommendations.
     follow-up testing recommended
     by DAC.
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
242.113--Prior safety conduct as     The estimated paperwork burden for this requirement is included above in Sec.   242.109.
 employee of a different railroad.
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
242.115(b)--Determination that       41,000 conductors....  16,200 determinations  2.00 minutes.........          540.00           63.07       34,057.80
 person meets eligibility
 requirements.
    --(c) Written documents from     41,000 conductors....  250 filed documents..  30.00 minutes........          125.00          123.41       15,426.25
     DAC that person is not
     affected by a substance abuse
     disorder.

[[Page 46300]]

 
    --(d)(3) RR treats self-         784 railroads........  30 self-referrals....  5.00 minutes.........             2.5          123.41          308.53
     referral for substance abuse
     counseling by employee as
     confidential except with
     respect to ineligibility for
     certification.
    --(e) Certification reviews for  784 railroads........  16,200 certification   5.00 minutes.........        1,350.00          123.41      166,603.50
     occurrence/documentation of                             reviews.
     prior alcohol/drug conduct by
     persons/conductors.
    --(e)(3)(i) Written              784 railroads........  75 written             1.00 hour............           75.00          123.41        9,255.75
     determination that person not                           determinations.
     currently certified is
     ineligible and the conditions
     for the ineligibility period.
    --(e)(3)(ii) Notification to     784 railroads........  75 notifications.....  30.00 minutes........           37.50           85.93        3,222.38
     current conductor that
     recertification has been
     denied or certification has
     been revoked and the
     conditions for the
     ineligibility period.
    --(e)(4) Persons/conductors      41,000 conductors....  150 waived             10.00 minutes........           25.50           63.07        1,608.29
     waiving investigation/de-                               investigations.
     certifications.
242.117(b)--Vision and hearing       784 railroads........  16,200 records.......  2.00 minutes.........          540.00          123.41       66,641.40
 acuity--Determination vision
 standards met.
    --(b) Determination hearing      784 railroads........  16,200 records.......  2.00 minutes.........          540.00          123.41       66,641.40
     standards met.
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    --Additional gap hearing tests.  The estimated paperwork burden for this requirement is included under Sec.   242.117(b).
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    --(c)(1) Medical examiner        784 railroads........  16,200 file medical    10.00 minutes........        2,700.00          123.41      333,207.00
     certificate that person has                             examiners.
     been examined/passed test.
    --(c)(2)(i) Document standards   784 railroads........  25 written documents.  30.00 minutes........           12.50          123.41        1,542.63
     can be met with conditions
     attached.
    --(c)(2)(ii) Document standards  784 railroads........  25 written documents.  30.00 minutes........           12.50          123.41        1,542.63
     cannot be met even with
     conditions attached.
    --(e) Notation person needs      784 railroads........  5,000 certificate      10.00 minutes........          833.33          123.41      102,841.26
     corrective device (glasses or                           notifications.
     hearing aid, or both).
    --(j) Person not meeting         784 railroads........  50 requests + 50       30 minutes + 10             \2\ 33.50           63.07        2,625.73
     hearing or vision thresholds                            determination.         minutes.                                      123.41
     requests further medical
     evaluation for new
     determination.
    --(j) Consultations by medical   784 railroads........  15 consults + 15       30 minutes + 10             \3\ 10.05          123.41        1,144.69
     examiners with railroad                                 certifications.        minutes.                                       85.93
     officer and issue of
     conditional certification.
    --(k) Notification by certified  784 railroads........  20 notifications.....  10.00 minutes........            3.00           63.07          189.21
     conductor of deterioration of
     vision/hearing.
242.119(a)--Training--New            3 new railroads......  3 training programs..  3.00 hours...........            9.00          123.41        1,110.69
 railroads--Training program.
    --(a) Modification to training   783 railroads........  75 programs..........  30.00 minutes........           38.00           85.93        3,265.34
     program.
    --(c) Written documentation      783 railroads........  50 written documents.  30.00 minutes........           25.00           85.93        2,148.25
     showing each person completed
     training for certification or
     recertification.
    --(d)(5) Modified training       784 railroads........  24 modified training   2.00 hours...........           48.00           85.93        4,124.64
     programs due to new laws,                               programs.
     regulations, orders,
     technologies, procedures, or
     equipment.
    --(f) Employee consultation      784 railroads........  1,000 consultations..  15.00 minutes........          250.00           63.07       15,767.50
     with qualified supervisory
     employee if given written test
     to demonstrate knowledge of
     physical characteristics of
     any assigned territory.
    --(i) Familiarization training   784 railroads........  20 training records..  15.00 minutes........            5.00           63.07          315.35
     for conductor of acquiring
     railroad from selling company/
     railroad prior to commencement
     of new operation.
    --(l) RR continuous education/   784 railroads........  16,200 training        15.00 minutes........        4,050.00           63.07      255,433.50
     training of conductors.                                 records.
242.121(a)-(f)--Knowledge testing--  784 railroads........  16,200 examination     15.00 minutes........        4,050.00           63.07      255,433.50
 Determining eligibility.                                    records.
    --(g) Retests/re-examinations..  784 railroads........  1,000 retests or       15.00 minutes........          250.00           63.07       15,767.50
                                                             reexamination
                                                             records.
242.123(a)-(e)--Monitoring           784 railroads........  16,200 operational     10.00 minutes........        2,700.00           85.93      232,011.00
 operational Performance.                                    compliance test
                                                             records.

[[Page 46301]]

 
    --(f) Return to service that     784 railroads........  1,000 unannounced      10.00 minutes........             167           85.93       14,350.31
     requires unannounced                                    compliance test
     compliance test/record.                                 records.
242.125--Determination made by       784 railroads........  100 determinations...  30.00 minutes........           50.00           63.07        3,153.50
 railroad relying on another
 railroad's certification.
242.127--Reliance on qualification   784 railroads........  20 determinations....  30.00 minutes........           10.00           63.07          630.70
 requirements of other countries.
242.203(b)--Retaining information    784 railroads........  16,200 record          15.00 minutes........        4,050.00           85.93      348,016.50
 supporting determination--Records.                          retentions.
    --(c) Amended electronic         784 railroads........  20 amended records...  30.00 minutes........           10.00           85.93          859.30
     records.
242.205--Identification of           784 railroads........  784 lists............  5.00 minutes.........           63.00           85.93        5,413.59
 certified persons and
 recordkeeping. List of certified
 persons.
242.209(a)--Maintenance of           784 railroads........  2,000 displayed        2.00 minutes.........           67.00           63.07        4,225.69
 Certificates--Request to display                            certificates.
 certificate.
    --(b) Notification by            784 railroads........  1,000 notifications..  10.00 minutes........             167           63.07       10,532.69
     conductors that RR request to
     serve exceeds certification.
242.211--Replacement of              784 railroads........  500 temporary          5.00 minutes.........           42.00           85.93        3,609.06
 certificates.                                               replacement
                                                             certificates.
242.213(e)--Multiple certificates--  35 railroads.........  5 locomotive engineer  10.00 minutes........       1.00 hour           85.93           85.93
 Notification to engineer that no                            notifications.
 conductor is on train.
    --(f) Notification of denial of  784 railroads........  10 notifications.....  10.00 minutes........            2.00           63.07          126.14
     certification by individuals
     holding certifications from
     more than one railroad.
242.215(a)--Railroad oversight       53 railroads.........  53 reviews and         40.00 hours..........        2,120.00           85.93      182,171.60
 responsibilities--Review and                                analyses.
 analysis of administration of
 certification program.
    --(d)-(i) Upon FRA's request,    784 railroads........  53 reports...........  4.00 hours...........          212.00           85.93       18,217.16
     railroad provides a report of
     findings and conclusions.
242.301(a)--Determinations--Territo  320 railroads........  1,000 determinations.  15.00 minutes........          250.00           63.07       15,767.50
 rial qualification and joint
 operations.
    --(b) Notification by persons    320 railroads........  300 notifications....  10.00 minutes........           50.00           63.07        3,153.50
     who do not meet territorial
     qualification.
242.401(a)--Denial of                784 railroads........  80 notices + 40        1 hour + 1 hour......      \4\ 120.00          123.41       12,395.60
 certification--Notification to                              responses.                                                            63.07
 candidate of information that
 forms basis for denying
 certification and candidate
 response.
    --(c) Written notification of    784 railroads........  40 notifications.....  1.00 hour............           40.00           85.93        3,437.20
     denial of certification.
242.403--Criteria for revoking       784 railroads........  1,000 certification    15.00 minutes........          250.00           63.07       15,767.50
 certification--Review of                                    reviews.
 compliance conduct.
242.407(a)--Process for revoking     784 railroads........  1,000 revoked          8.00 hours...........        8,000.00          123.41      987,280.00
 certification--Revocation for                               certifications.
 violations of section 242.115(e)
 and 242.403(e).
    --(b)(1) and (2) Immediate       784 railroads........  1,000 suspended        1.00 hour............        1,000.00           85.93       85,930.00
     suspension of certificate.                              certification
                                                             letters.
    --(b)(7) Hearing record........  784 railroads........  1,000 records........  5.00 minutes.........          250.00           85.93       21,482.50
    --(c) Written decisions by       784 railroads........  1,000 written          2.00 hours...........        2,000.00          123.41      246,820.00
     railroad official.                                      decisions.
    --(c) Service of written         784 railroads........  1,000 served written   10 minutes + 5                 250.00           85.93       21,482.50
     decision on employee by RR +                            decisions + 1,000      minutes.
     RR service proof.                                       service proofs.
    --(f) Written waiver of right    41,000 conductors....  700 written waivers..  10.00 minutes........          117.00           63.07        7,379.19
     to hearing.
    --(g) Revocation of              784 railroads........  15 revoked             10.00 minutes........            3.00          123.41          370.23
     certification based on                                  certifications.
     information that another
     railroad has done so.
    --(j) Placing relevant           784 railroads........  100 updated records..  1.00 hour............          100.00           85.93        8,593.00
     information in record prior to
     suspending certification/
     convening hearing.
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Totals \5\.................  784 railroads........  220,123 responses....  N/A..................          46,858  ..............       4,281,590
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 220,123.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Breakdown of total burden hours is 25 hours x $63.07 = 
$1,576.75, and 8.5 hours x 123.41 = $1,048.98 for a total of 33.50 
hours and $2,625.73 total cost equivalent.
    \3\ Breakdown of total burden hours is 7.5 hours x $123.41 = 
$925.57, and 2.55 hours x 85.93 = $219.12 for a total of 10.05 hours 
and $1,144.69 total cost equivalent.
    \4\ Breakdown of total burden hours is 80 hours x $123.41 = 
$9,872.80, and 40 hours x 63.07 = $2,522.80 for a total of 120 hours 
and $12,395.60 total cost equivalent.
    \5\ Totals may not add up due to rounding.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 47,858 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: 
$4,344,660.

[[Page 46302]]

    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,
Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2024-11539 Filed 5-24-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P