Notice2024-11536
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
May 28, 2024
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 89 Issue 103 (Tuesday, May 28, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 28, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46296-46298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-11536]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2024-0011]
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
July 29, 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-
2024-0011. All comments received will be posted without change to the
docket, including any personal information provided. Please refer to
the assigned OMB control number (2130-0571) 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: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4627342a23323223682b3335352f28213229280622293268212930"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9effecf2fbeaeafbb0f3ebededf7f0f9eaf1f0defaf1eab0f9f1e8">[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#bad0d5dbd4d4df94c9cddbdcdcd5c8defaded5ce94ddd5cc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="701a1f111e1e155e03071116161f021430141f045e171f06">[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: Occupational Noise Exposure for Railroad Operating
Employees.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0571.
Abstract: Title 49 CFR part 227 contains requirements for
occupational noise exposure. FRA uses the collection of information to
ensure that railroads covered by this rule establish and implement
noise monitoring, hearing conservation, and audiometric testing
programs to protect their employees against the harmful effects of
excessive noise in the workplace.
Additionally, railroads must maintain testing and training records
on noise and hearing conservation. Further, railroads must make
exposure measurement records for specific locations available to
regional or national labor representatives upon request.
In this 60-day notice, FRA has made minor adjustments to correct
rounding from the previous submission, resulting in a decrease in
burden of 6 hours. The estimated paperwork burden for this submission
is 3,974 hours.
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\1\ The total respondent universe is taken from the 2022
railroad classification data. The total of 531 represents all Class
I, II and III (751) less the small railroads such as tourist, steam,
historic, and excursion (220).
\2\ Throughout the tables in this document, the dollar
equivalent cost is derived from the 2022 Surface Transportation
Board Full Year Wage A & B data series using the appropriate
employee group to calculate the average hourly rate that includes 75
percent overhead.
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Type of Request: Extension without change (with changes in
estimates) of a currently approved information collection.
Affected Public: Businesses (Railroads, railroads equipment
manufacturers).
Form(s): N/A.
Respondent Universe: 531 railroads.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
Reporting Burden
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Total cost
CFR section Respondent universe Total annual Average time per Total annual Wage Rate \2\ equivalent in
\1\ responses response burden hours U.S. dollars
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(A) (B) (C = A * B) (E) (D = C * E)
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227.13--Waivers.................... 531 railroads........ 0.30 petitions (1 1.00 hour............ 0.30 hours $85.93 $25.78
petition over 3-year
period.
[[Page 46297]]
227.103(a)-(f)--Noise monitoring 531 railroads........ 5.00 programs........ 30.00 hours.......... 150.00 123.41 18,511.50
program--development and
implementation.
--(g) Reporting of monitoring 531 railroads........ 5.00 lists........... 0.50 hours........... 2.50 85.93 214.83
results--notification of
employee of monitoring.
227.107(a)--Hearing Conservation 531 railroads........ 3.00 HCPs............ 31.00 hours.......... 93.00 123.41 11,477.13
Program (HCP)--development of
programs.
--Revised hearing conservation 531 railroads........ 3.00 HCPs............ 1.75 hours........... 5.25 85.93 451.13
programs (HCPs).
227.109(e)--Audiometric testing 76,244 employees..... 6,862.00 records of 30 seconds........... 56.95 85.93 4,894.71
program--baseline audiograms--New tests.
and existing employees.
--(f) Periodic audiograms 76,244 employees..... 25,415.00 records of 30 seconds........... 210.94 85.93 18,126.07
includes retests. tests.
--(g)(1)-(2) Evaluation of 76,244 employees..... 2,330 ratings + 93 6 minutes + 30 233.77 85.93 20,087.86
audiograms. records of retests. seconds.
--(g)(3) Review of problem 8,000 employees...... 45.00 documents...... 10.00 minutes........ 7.52 85.93 646.19
audiograms.
--(h)(1) Follow-up procedures-- 8,000 employees...... 93.00 notices........ 5.00 minutes......... 7.72 85.93 663.38
notifications.
--(h)(2)(i)-(ii) Fitting/ 240 employees........ 240.00 documented 5.00 minutes......... 19.92 85.93 1,711.73
training of employees: hearing training sessions.
protectors.
--(h)(2)(iii) Referrals for 240 employees........ 20.00 referrals...... 1.00 hour............ 20.00 85.93 1,718.60
clinical/otological exam.
--(h)(2)(iv) Notification to 240 employees........ 20.00 notices........ 5.00 minutes......... 1.66 85.93 142.64
employee of need for
otological examination.
--(h)(3) New audiometric 240 employees........ 20.00 notices........ 5.00 minutes......... 1.66 85.93 142.64
interpretation.
227.111--Audiometric test 1,000 mobile vans.... 1,000.00 30 seconds........... 8.30 85.93 713.22
requirements. recalibration test
records.
227.117 (a)--Hearing protection 531 railroads........ 50.00 evaluations.... 0.50 hours........... 25.00 85.93 2,148.25
attenuation--evaluation.
--(d) Reevaluations of adequacy 531 railroads........ 10.00 re-evaluations. 0.50 hours........... 5.00 85.93 429.65
of hearing protection
attenuation when employee
noise exposure increases.
227.119--Hearing Conservation 531 railroads........ 3.00 training program 1.00 hour............ 3.00 85.93 257.79
Training Program--development. modifications.
--Employee HCP training........ 531 railroads........ 26,000.00 records of 2.00 minutes......... 866.58 85.93 74,465.22
training.
--Periodic training............ 531 railroads........ 6,862.00 records of 2.00 minutes......... 228.71 85.93 19,653.05
training.
227.121(a)(1)(i)-(ii)--Recordkeepin 531 railroads........ 30 requests + 30 10 minutes + 15 12.60 85.93 1,082.72
g--availability of records upon responses. minutes.
request.
--(a)(1)(iv) Availability of 531 railroads........ 150 requests + 150 21 minutes + 45 165.00 85.93 14,178.45
exposure measurement records responses. minutes.
to regional or national labor
representatives upon request.
--(a)(2)-(3) Electronic 531 railroads........ 10.00 records........ 24.00 minutes........ 4.00 85.93 343.72
records--maintenance and
transfer of records.
--(c) Audiometric test records. 531 railroads........ 26,000.00 records.... 2.00 minutes......... 866.58 85.93 74,465.22
--(d) Positions and person 531 railroads........ 54,000.00 records.... 45 seconds........... 675.00 85.93 58,002.75
designated records.
229.121(a)--Locomotive cab noise-- 3 equipment 610 records + 90 5 minutes + 40 110.93 85.93 9,532.21
performance standards for manufacturers. certifications. minutes.
locomotives--records and
certification.
--(b)(3) Maintenance of 514 railroads........ 3,000 reports + 3,000 1 minute + 1 minute.. 100.00 85.93 8,593.00
locomotives--Excessive noise records.
reports.
--(b)(4) Recordkeeping--written 514 railroads........ 3,750.00 records..... 1.00 minutes......... 62.63 85.93 5,381.80
or electronic records.
--(b)(4)(iii) Internal 514 railroads........ 22 systems + 2 36 mins + 8.25 hours. 29.70 85.93 2,552.12
auditable monitoring systems-- systems.
records.
Appendix H(IV)--Static noise test 500 locomotives...... 2.00 retest records.. 5.00 minutes......... 0.17 85.93 14.61
protocols--records for retest.
Total \3\.................. 531 railroads........ 159,925 responses.... N/A.................. 3,974 hours N/A 350,627
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Total Estimated Annual Responses: 159,925.
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\3\ Totals may not add up due to rounding.
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Total Estimated Annual Burden: 3,974 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent:
$350,627.
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. 2024-11536 Filed 5-24-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on May 28, 2024.
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