Railroad companies and the Federal
Railroad Administration (FRA) use this information to evaluate the
qualifications and fitness of individuals to be certified as
locomotive engineers, remote control operators, and train service
engineers.
The total burden for this
information collection submission reflects an increase of 4,144
burden hours from the last approved submission. The burden increase
is due to two program changes and three adjustments. The two
program changes are as follows: (1 & 2.) Under §
240.127(e)(f)/§ 240.129(f)(g) of the final rule, railroads are now
required to describe the scoring systems they use for a skills test
administered in accordance § 240.211 and the scoring system they
used during an operational monitoring observation or unannounced
compliance test administered in accordance with the procedures
required under § 240.303. The new requirements increased the burden
by 3,710 hours (733 amended certification programs @ approx 5 hrs.
ea.). Program changes then increased the burden by a total of 3,710
hours. There were also three adjustments, which increased the
burden. They are as follows: (1.) Under §
240.127(e)(f)/240.129(f)(g) of the final rule, FRA revised its
estimates based on both the number of railroads and size of the
railroad. Of the 733 railroads now in the FRA database, 46 are
large/medium railroads and 687 are small railroads. The total
number of railroads affected and the corresponding number of
amended certification programs changed then (from 718 to 733) and
the burden time estimate changed (from five (5) hours for all 718
railroads to 48 hours for the 46 large/medium railroads and eight
(8) hours for the small railroads. These changes in estimate
increased the burden by 404 hours (from 3,590 hours to 3,994
hours). (2.) Under § 240.201/221, FRA revised the total number of
railroads affected and the corresponding number of updated
lists/records of designated supervisors of locomotive engineers
(from 718 to 733). This change in estimate increased the burden by
15 hours (from 718 hours to 733 hours). (3.) Under § 240.201/221,
FRA revised the total number of railroads affected and the
corresponding number of updated lists/records of qualified
locomotive engineers (from 718 to 733). This change in estimate
increased the burden by 15 hours (from 718 hours to 733 hours).
Thus, adjustments increased the burden by 434 hours. The current
burden inventory exhibits a total of 274,528 hours, while the
current submission shows a total of 278,682 hours. Hence, there is
an increase of 4,144 hours. There is no change in costs to
respondents from the last submission.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.