[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 163 (Thursday, August 22, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68026-68027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18855]



[[Page 68026]]

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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, 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 April 
2, 2024, 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 
September 23, 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. 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 
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 April 2, 2024, FRA 
published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting public 
comment on the ICR for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 89 FR 
22767. FRA has received no comments related to the proposed collection 
of information.
    Before OMB decides whether to approve this proposed collection of 
information, it must provide 30-days' notice 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: 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 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.

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    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.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 95.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 25 hours.
    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. 2024-18855 Filed 8-21-24; 8:45 am]
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