Notice2024-25565
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 4, 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 213 (Monday, November 4, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 213 (Monday, November 4, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 87718-87720]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25565]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2024-0015]
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
December 31, 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-
2024-0015. All comments received will be posted without change to the
docket, including any personal information provided. Please refer to
the assigned OMB control number (2130-0005) 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Arlette Mussington, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fe9f8c929b8a8a9bd0938b8d8d9790998a9190be9a918ad0999188"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="14756678716060713a796167677d7a73607b7a54707b603a737b62">[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#53393c323d3d367d20243235353c213713373c277d343c25"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bdd7d2dcd3d3d893cecadcdbdbd2cfd9fdd9d2c993dad2cb">[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: Hours of Service Regulations.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0005.
Abstract: FRA's hours of service recordkeeping regulations (49 CFR
part 228), amended as mandated by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of
2008, include substantive hours of service requirements for train
employees (i.e., locomotive engineers and conductors) providing
commuter and intercity rail passenger transportation (e.g., maximum on-
duty periods, minimum off-duty periods, and other limitations). The
regulations also require railroads to evaluate passenger train employee
work schedules for risk of employee fatigue and implement measures to
mitigate the risk, and to submit to FRA for approval certain schedules
and mitigation plans. Finally, the regulations include recordkeeping
and reporting provisions requiring railroads to keep hours of service
records, and report excess service, for train employees, signal
employees, and dispatching service employees on both freight and
passenger railroads. FRA uses the information collected to verify that
railroads do not require or allow their employees to exceed maximum on-
duty periods and ensure that they abide by minimum off-duty periods,
and adhere to other limitations, to enhance rail safety and reduce the
risk of accidents/incidents caused, or contributed to, by train
employee fatigue.
In this 60-day notice, FRA is updating existing form FRA F 6180.3
Hours of Service Report to make the following edits:
<bullet> The term ``Division'' has been changed to ``Place of
Excess Service (City/State)''.
<bullet> Changing ``Train or Engine Number (if train or engine
crew)'' to ``Train ID/Job ID''.
<bullet> ``Type of Service'' has been updated by adding the
following check boxes: ``TEY''; ``Signal''; ``Dispatch'' (respondent
will check one box to reflect the type of service being performed at
the time of excess service).
[[Page 87719]]
<bullet> The column, ``Conservative Time Off Duty in Preceding 23-
Hour Period'' has been updated to ``Previous Time Off''.
<bullet> Changing the term ``Cause'' to ``Brief Description of
Excess Service''.
Additionally, FRA made multiple adjustments that increased the
previously approved burden hours from 1,283,507 to 1,284,832 hours.
This increase, after a thorough review, is the result of the changes
described in the following sections summarized below:
<bullet> Under Sec. 228.19, Monthly reports of excess service, FRA
determined that the annual submissions of form FRA F 6180.3, Exception
Report, would increase the burden hours by 567 hours and 567 responses.
<bullet> Under Sec. Sec. 228.103 and 228.107, Construction of
employees' sleeping quarters--Petition request, FRA anticipates
receiving zero petitions over the next three-year collection period.
Accordingly, the burden hours were reduced by 48 hours.
<bullet> Under Sec. 228.207, Refresher training, and Sec.
228.411, Training programs on fatigue and related topics, FRA made
burden estimate adjustments that more accurately reflect the number of
responses and estimated average time required by each section,
increasing the burden by 6 hours.
<bullet> Under Sec. 228.407(f), Consultation with directly
affected employees, FRA has determined that this requirement is not
covered under the System Safety Program (SSP). Therefore, an estimated
800 burden hours has been added to this section.
Overall, the adjustments increased the total burden by 1,325 hours.
Type of Request: Extension without change (with changes in
estimates) of a currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Businesses (railroads and signal contractors).
Form(s): FRA F 6180.3.
Respondent Universe: 797 railroads, signal contractors and
subcontractors.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
Reporting Burden
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Average time per response Total annual Total cost
CFR Part 228 section Respondent universe Total annual responses (hours) burden hours equivalent U.S.D
(A)........................ (B)........................ (A * B = C) (D = C * wage
rate) \1\
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SUBPART B--Records and Reporting
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228.9--Railroad records; The burden for this requirement is accounted for under Sec. 228.11.
general.
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228.11--Hours of duty records 797 Railroads signal 17,448,669 electronic...... 3 minutes.................. 872,433.45 $77,759,993.40
(electronic and paper). contractors &
subcontractors.
918,351 paper.............. 8 minutes.................. 122,446.80 10,913,683.28
228.17--Dispatchers record of 63 dispatch offices........ 285,000 cumulative train- 1.......................... 285,000 25,402,050.00
train movements. movement tracking
(records).
228.19(g) through (h)--Monthly 797 Railroads signal 2,317 reports.............. 1.......................... 2,317 206,514.21
reports of excess service-- contractors &
Exception (FRA F 6180.3). subcontractors.
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SUBPART C--Construction of Railroad-Provided Sleeping Quarters
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228.103 and 228.107-- FRA anticipates zero petition submissions over the next three-year period.
Construction of employees'
sleeping quarters--Petition
request to FRA to allow
construction near work areas.
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SUBPART D--Electronic Recordkeeping System and Automated Recordkeeping system
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228.207(b)--Training--Initial 671 railroads.............. 250 training records....... 2 minutes.................. 8 713.04
training--New employees and
supervisors.
--(c) Refresher training-- 797 railroads/signal 797 audits and records..... 2.......................... 1,594 142,073.22
System audits for contractors &
irregularities by subcontractors.
railroads and contractors.
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SUBPART F--Substantive Hours of Service Requirements for Train Employees Engaged in Commuter or Intercity Rail Passenger Transportation
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228.407(a)--Analysis of work 36 railroads............... 3 analyses................. 2.......................... 6 534.78
schedules--Railroads'
analysis of one cycle of work
schedules of employees
engaged in commuter or
intercity passenger
transportation.
--(b) Submissions of 36 railroads............... 3 fatigue mitigation plans. 20......................... 60 5,347.80
certain work schedules
and any fatigue
mitigation plans, (FMP)
and determinations of
operational necessity or
declarations.
--(b) Submissions to FRA 36 railroads............... 1 submission............... 1.......................... 1 89.13
for review and approval.
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--(c) Submission of models FRA anticipates zero submissions under this requirement over the next three-year period.
for FRA approval;
validated models already
accepted by FRA.
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--(d) Analysis of certain 36 railroads............... 1 analysis or plan......... 1.......................... 1 89.13
later changes in work
schedules--Analyses and
mitigation plans--
Resubmission to FRA for
approval.
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--(e) Fatigue mitigation The paperwork burden for this requirement has been fulfilled by railroads or included under Sec. 228.407(b)-(d).
plans.
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[[Page 87720]]
--(f) RR Consultation with 36 railroads............... 20......................... 40......................... 800.00 71,304.00
directly affected
employees on: (i) RR Work
schedules at risk for
fatigue level possibly
compromising safety; and
(ii) Railroad's selection
of fatigue mitigation
tools; and (iii) All RR
Submissions required by
this section seeking FRA
approval.
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228.409--Requirements for The paperwork burden for requirement is included underSec. 228.407(f).
railroad-provided employee
sleeping quarters during
interim releases and other
periods available for rest
within a duty tour.
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228.411--Training programs on 36 railroads............... 36......................... 2.......................... 72 6,417.36
fatigue and related topics
(e.g., rest, alertness,
changes in rest cycles,
etc.)..
--(e) Records of training 36 railroads............... 5,539...................... 1 minute................... 92 8,199.96
on fatigue and related
topics.
228.411(f)--Conditional 93 railroads............... 1.......................... 1.......................... 1 89.13
exclusion--Written
declaration to FRA by
tourist, scenic, historic, or
excursion railroads seeking
exclusion.
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Totals \2\............ 797 railroads signal 18,660,988................. N/A........................ 1,284,832 114,517,098
contractors &
subcontractors.
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Total Estimated Annual Responses: 18,660,988.
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\1\ The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the 2023 Surface
Transportation Board Full Year Wage A&B data series using employee
group 200 (Professional Administrative Staff) hourly wage rate of
$50.93. The total burden wage rate (straight time plus 75%) used in
the table is $89.13 ($50.93 x 1.75 = $89.13).
\2\ Totals may not add up due to rounding.
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Total Estimated Annual Burden: 1,284,832 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent:
$114,517,098.
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. 2024-25565 Filed 11-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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