Occupational Noise Exposure for Railroad Operating Employees

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
OccNoise0571RIII.doc Supporting Statement A	2018-02-20
Feb . 20, 2018, FR Notice (30-Day; Occ. Noise).pdf Supplementary Document	2018-02-20
Oct. 12, 2017, FR Notice (60-Day).pdf Supplementary Document	2018-02-20
49 CFR 229.121 and App. H.doc Supplementary Document	2008-12-11
49 CFR 227.doc Supplementary Document	2008-12-10
49USC20701.doc Supplementary Document	2006-10-27
49USC20702.doc Supplementary Document	2006-10-27
49USC20703.doc Supplementary Document	2006-10-27
49 U.S.C. 20103.doc Supplementary Document	2006-10-27
PL 102-365b.doc Supplementary Document	2006-10-27
49 CFR 1.49a.doc Supplementary Document	2006-10-27

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
45829	Occupational Noise Exposure for Railroad Operating Employees	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 2130-0571	ICR Reference No: 201802-2130-004
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201412-2130-005
Agency/Subagency: DOT/FRA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Occupational Noise Exposure for Railroad Operating Employees
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 05/23/2018
	Date Received in OIRA: 03/29/2018
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	05/31/2021	36 Months From Approved	05/31/2018
Responses	164,734	0	164,277
Time Burden (Hours)	28,311	0	30,331
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: *** The collection of information is used by FRA to ensure that covered railroads establish and implement noise monitoring, hearing conservation, and audiometric testing programs to protect their employees against the damaging and potentially dangerous effects of excessive noise in the workplace. It should be noted that this collection of information is mandatory under 49 CFR Part 227. This collection of information affects Class I, Class II, and Class III railroads. The frequency of the information collected occurs on an annual basis as well as an occasional basis. Reporting information collected by FRA includes waiver requests to the Administrator to be exempted from all or part of the Part 227 requirements; information on affected railroads' Noise Monitoring and Hearing Conservation Programs; testing/retesting results for baseline and periodic audiograms of affected railroad employees; and hearing protection attenuation evaluations for specific noise environments in which hearing protection will be used. FRA Recordkeeping information under this information collection includes employee occupational noise and hearing conservation training records. Additionally, railroads must make exposure measurement records for specific locations available to regional or national labor representatives upon request. Further, railroads must maintain audiometric test records and must keep locomotive cab noise testing/certification records. The purpose of this information collection is to protect the health and safety of railroad employees and to mitigate as much as possible the harmful effects of excessive noise in the railroad environment.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 102 - 365 10 Name of Law: Rail Safety Enforcement and Review Act
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	82 FR 47595	10/12/2017
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	83 FR 7293	02/20/2018
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Occupational Noise Exposure for Railroad Operating Employees

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	164,734	164,277	0	0	457	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	28,311	30,331	0	0	-2,020	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The total burden for this information collection renewal has decreased by a total 2,020 hours from the last approved submission. The decrease in burden results solely from adjustments, which are listed the table provided in the answer to question number 15 of the attached Supporting Justification. ***Adjustments shown in the table provided decreased the burden by 2,020 hours, and increased the number of responses by 457 from the last approved submission. The current inventory for this submission shows a total of 30,331 hours and 164,277 responses, while the present submission exhibits a total of 28,311 hours and 164,734 responses. Hence, there is a burden decrease of 2,020 hours and an increase of 457 responses. There is no change in cost to respondents from the previous submission.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $12,028

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 03/29/2018

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