Notice2024-25597
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 87720-87722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25597]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2024-0006]
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 3, 2025.
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-
2024-0006. 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-NEW) 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#c4a5b6a8a1b0b0a1eaa9b1b7b7adaaa3b0abaa84a0abb0eaa3abb2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a2c3d0cec7d6d6c78ccfd7d1d1cbccc5d6cdcce2c6cdd68cc5cdd4">[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#c8a2a7a9a6a6ade6bbbfa9aeaea7baac88aca7bce6afa7be"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4a20252b24242f64393d2b2c2c25382e0a2e253e642d253c">[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
[[Page 87721]]
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: Women of Rail (WoR) Gender Diversity Survey.
OMB Control Number: 2130-NEW.
Abstract: This project is being conducted as a one-time effort to
administer research that will inform development of resources to
improve gender diversity outcomes for the rail industry. The
information collected in this study will be used to develop a richer
understanding of effective practices for promoting gender diversity at
all levels of the rail industry and to obtain greater insight into
challenges and barriers that currently exist to attracting and
retaining a more gender diverse workforce.
The study will also be used to address research needs as identified
in FRA Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) RSI-003 Workforce Recruitment:
Attracting and Retaining Women of Rail and to inform development of a
resource toolkit to support the rail industry in attracting and
retaining a more gender-diverse workforce. The data collection effort
will consist of surveys, interviews, and focus groups that are designed
to (1) identify the current attitudes, gender-specific barriers,
cultural norms, and beliefs (written and unwritten) regarding women in
traditionally male-dominated positions and (2) identify lessons
learned, strategies, and practices that organizations are implementing
to attract more women in the workplace.
A digital outreach strategy will be employed to solicit volunteer
participants. Eligible participants include all rail industry workers,
leaders in similar industries, middle and high school teachers and
students, and college faculty and students. Surveys will be conducted
via an online platform. The only data that will be collected through
the survey is attitude and opinion data. Following the survey,
interviews and focus groups will be conducted via established
conferences, organization meetings, and through conference calls.
Participants will only be asked to share opinions on the research
topics. No personally identifying data will be collected with either
the survey or interview/focus group activities.
The results of this study will be published in an FRA research
report and will be used to inform development of a resource toolkit to
support the rail industry in attracting and retaining a more gender-
diverse workforce.
Type of Request: Approval of a new collection of information.
Affected Public: Businesses. Rail stakeholders including those in
labor positions, carrier management, research/academia, professional
association staff, Human Resource personnel, regulators, executive
level staff, students, and faculty.
Form(s): FRA F 6180.280; FRA F 6180.285; FRA F 6180.286; FRA F
618.287.
Respondent Universe: Rail Employees, Rail Leaders, Education Focus
Groups, Industry Focus Groups.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
Reporting Burden:
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\1\ Unless otherwise stated, the dollar cost equivalent
throughout the burden table was derived using the wage rates from
the May 2023 Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS),
classified within the NAICS 482000, Rail Transportation. This data
source was also used to determine the respondent universe for all
rail occupations. All benefit costs are calculated using the BLS
June 2023 Employer Costs for Employee Compensation. Student wage
rates were calculated using SALARY TABLE 2023-GS (<a href="http://opm.gov">opm.gov</a>). Benefit
rates were not applied to student cost burdens.
\2\ In order to get a representative sample of 181,210 employees
FRA must contact approximately 5.65% of the respondent universe,
which equates to approximately 10,245 persons.
\3\ Totals may not add up due to rounding.
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Estimated #
contacted (* using
20% response rate
Respondent for online surveys Total annual Average time per Total annual Wage Total cost
Survey methods universe and industry responses response burden hours \1\ equivalent
interviews; 5% for rates U.S. D
education focus
groups)
(A)................. (B)............. (C) = A * B...... (D) (E) = C * D
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FRA Rail Workers Form FRA F All rail industry 10,245............ 2,049............... 12 minutes...... 410 hours........ 46.26 $18,966.60
6180.280 Survey #1 \2\. employees (N =
181,210).
Senior Leadership & Human Rail Companies (N 654............... 131................. 10 minutes...... 22 hours......... 81.16 1,785.52
Resources Form FRA F 6180.287 = 654 (approx.)
Survey #2-. Class I-III,
commuter, Amtrak).
Interviews Form FRA F 6180.285 Non-managerial (N 250............... 50.................. 30 minutes...... 25 hours......... 46.26 1,156.50
Survey #3. = 174,430).
Managerial (N = 250............... 50.................. 30 minutes...... 25 hours......... 81.16 2,029.00
7,780).
Similar Industry 125............... 25.................. 30 minutes...... 12.5 hours....... 81.16 1,014.50
Managerial (N >>
7,780).
FRA Focus Groups Form FRA F Middle and High 1,500 students 75 responses........ 1 hour.......... 75.00 hours...... 15.50 1,162.50
6180.286 Survey #4. school students (min. 10 schools
(N = 30 schools). to ensure
demographic
diversity.
College students 1,000 Students 50 responses........ 1 hour.......... 50.00 hours...... 16.54 827.00
(N = 40 (min. 5 IHEs to
institutes of ensure
higher education demographic
(IHE)). diversity).
Middle and High 400 faculty (min. 20 responses........ 1 hour.......... 20.00 hours...... 62.60 1,252.00
school faculty (N 10 schools to
= 40 schools). ensure
demographic
diversity).
College faculty (N 400 faculty (min. 20 responses........ 1 hour.......... 20.00 hours...... 94.48 1,889.60
= 40 institutes 5 IHEs to ensure
of higher demographic
education (IHE)). diversity).
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Total \3\.................. .................. .................. 2,470 responses..... N/A............. 659.50 hours..... N/A 30,083.22
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Total Estimated Annual Responses: 2,470.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 659.50 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent:
$30,083.22.
[[Page 87722]]
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. 2024-25597 Filed 11-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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