Notice2023-24200
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 2, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Abstract
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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 211 (Thursday, November 2, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 211 (Thursday, November 2, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75368-75369]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24200]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2023-0002-N-13]
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
January 2, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR
should be submitted on <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> 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 (2130-0621) 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.
[[Page 75369]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Arlette Mussington, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6706150b02131302490a1214140e09001308092703081349000811"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a5c4d7c9c0d1d1c08bc8d0d6d6cccbc2d1cacbe5c1cad18bc2cad3">[email protected]</span></a> or
telephone: (571) 609-1285 or Ms. Joanne Swafford, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#452f2a242b2b206b36322423232a372105212a316b222a33"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a0cacfc1cecec58ed3d7c1c6c6cfd2c4e0c4cfd48ec7cfd6">[email protected]</span></a> 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 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: 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.
In this 60-day notice, FRA adjusted the respondent universe from
847 to 967 to reflect the current number of passenger railroads, Class
I Freight, and short line railroads, labor unions, railroads
Associations, and railroad learning institutions. Additionally, FRA
adjusted the estimated total annual burden hours from 89 hours to 107
hours and increased the estimated total annual responses from 213 to
258. This increase is a result of expanded outreach and engagement to
obtain a more robust view of the industry.
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 F 240.
Respondent Universe: 967.
Frequency of Submission: One-time.
Reporting Burden:
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Average time per Total cost
Workforce development professionals Respondent universe Total annual responses Total annual equivalent in U.S
responses (minutes) burden hours dollar
(A) (B) (C = A * B) (D = C * wage
rates) \1\
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Passenger Railroads......................... 34 railroads.................. 14 25 5.83 $267.07
Class 1 Freight Railroads................... 6 railroads................... 50 25 20.83 954.22
Short Line & Regional Railroads............. 752 railroads................. 150 25 62.50 2,863.13
Labor Unions (with specific focus on 45 labor unions............... 12 25 5.00 229.05
workforce membership and railroad programs).
Associations (with focus on railroad 30 railroad associations...... 12 25 5.00 229.05
workforce membership and the rail industry).
Academia (Learning institutions with 100 learning institutions..... 20 25 8.33 381.60
dedicated curriculum and training programs
for railroad industry).
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Total \2\............................... 967........................... 258 N/A 107 4,924
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Total Estimated Annual Responses: 258.
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\1\ The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the Department of
Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Occupational Employment
Statistics (OES), May 22, Management Analyst 13-1111 estimated
median hourly wage of 45.81. The wage rate used in the table is
45.81.
\2\ Totals may not add up due to rounding.
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Total Estimated Annual Burden: 107.
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. 2023-24200 Filed 11-1-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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