May 28, 2024, FR Notice (60-Day)

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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 103 / Tuesday, May 28, 2024 / Notices

clarity of the collected information; and
(4) ways that the burden could be
minimized, including the use of
electronic technology, without reducing
the quality of the collected information.
The agency will summarize and/or
include your comments in the request
for OMB’s clearance of this information
collection.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as
amended; and 49 CFR 1.48.
Issued on: May 21, 2024.
Jazmyne Lewis,
Information Collection Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024–11585 Filed 5–24–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–22–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA–2024–0011]

Proposed Agency Information
Collection Activities; Comment
Request
Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
request for comment.
AGENCY:

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 regulations.gov
to the docket, Docket No. FRA–2024–
0011. All comments received will be
SUMMARY:

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:
[email protected] or
telephone: (571) 609–1285 or Ms.
Joanne Swafford, Information Collection
Clearance Officer, at email:
[email protected] 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.
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
Respondent universe 1

khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES

CFR section

227.13—Waivers .................................

531 railroads ..............

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

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Total annual
responses

Average time per
response

Total annual
burden hours

Wage Rate 2

Total cost
equivalent in
U.S. dollars

(A)

(B)

(C = A * B)

(E)

(D = C * E)

0.30 petitions (1 petition over 3-year period.

1.00 hour ....................

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

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0.30 hours

$85.93

$25.78

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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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 103 / Tuesday, May 28, 2024 / Notices
REPORTING BURDEN—Continued
Respondent universe 1

khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES

CFR section

Total annual
responses

Average time per
response

Total annual
burden hours

Wage Rate 2

Total cost
equivalent in
U.S. dollars

(A)

(B)

(C = A * B)

(E)

(D = C * E)

227.103(a)–(f)—Noise monitoring program—development and implementation.
—(g) Reporting of monitoring results—notification of employee
of monitoring.
227.107(a)—Hearing Conservation
Program (HCP)—development of
programs.
—Revised hearing conservation
programs (HCPs).
227.109(e)—Audiometric testing program—baseline audiograms—New
and existing employees.
—(f) Periodic audiograms includes retests.
—(g)(1)–(2) Evaluation of
audiograms.
—(g)(3) Review of problem
audiograms.
—(h)(1) Follow-up procedures—
notifications.
—(h)(2)(i)–(ii) Fitting/training of
employees: hearing protectors.
—(h)(2)(iii) Referrals for clinical/
otological exam.
—(h)(2)(iv) Notification to employee of need for otological
examination.
—(h)(3) New audiometric interpretation.
227.111—Audiometric test requirements.
227.117 (a)—Hearing protection attenuation—evaluation.
—(d) Reevaluations of adequacy
of hearing protection attenuation when employee noise exposure increases.
227.119—Hearing Conservation
Training Program—development.
—Employee HCP training ............

531 railroads ..............

5.00 programs ............

30.00 hours ................

150.00

123.41

18,511.50

531 railroads ..............

5.00 lists .....................

0.50 hours ..................

2.50

85.93

214.83

531 railroads ..............

3.00 HCPs ..................

31.00 hours ................

93.00

123.41

11,477.13

531 railroads ..............

3.00 HCPs ..................

1.75 hours ..................

5.25

85.93

451.13

76,244 employees ......

6,862.00 records of
tests.

30 seconds .................

56.95

85.93

4,894.71

76,244 employees ......

30 seconds .................

210.94

85.93

18,126.07

6 minutes + 30 seconds.
10.00 minutes ............

233.77

85.93

20,087.86

8,000 employees ........

25,415.00 records of
tests.
2,330 ratings + 93
records of retests.
45.00 documents .......

7.52

85.93

646.19

8,000 employees ........

93.00 notices ..............

5.00 minutes ..............

7.72

85.93

663.38

240 employees ...........

5.00 minutes ..............

19.92

85.93

1,711.73

240 employees ...........

240.00 documented
training sessions.
20.00 referrals ............

1.00 hour ....................

20.00

85.93

1,718.60

240 employees ...........

20.00 notices ..............

5.00 minutes ..............

1.66

85.93

142.64

240 employees ...........

20.00 notices ..............

5.00 minutes ..............

1.66

85.93

142.64

1,000 mobile vans ......

30 seconds .................

8.30

85.93

713.22

531 railroads ..............

1,000.00 recalibration
test records.
50.00 evaluations .......

0.50 hours ..................

25.00

85.93

2,148.25

531 railroads ..............

10.00 re-evaluations ..

0.50 hours ..................

5.00

85.93

429.65

531 railroads ..............

1.00 hour ....................

3.00

85.93

257.79

2.00 minutes ..............

866.58

85.93

74,465.22

—Periodic training .......................

531 railroads ..............

2.00 minutes ..............

228.71

85.93

19,653.05

227.121(a)(1)(i)–(ii)—Recordkeeping—availability of records
upon request.
—(a)(1)(iv) Availability of exposure measurement records to
regional or national labor representatives upon request.
—(a)(2)–(3) Electronic records—
maintenance and transfer of
records.
—(c) Audiometric test records .....
—(d) Positions and person designated records.
229.121(a)—Locomotive cab noise—
performance standards for locomotives—records and certification.
—(b)(3) Maintenance of locomotives—Excessive noise reports.
—(b)(4) Recordkeeping—written
or electronic records.
—(b)(4)(iii) Internal auditable
monitoring systems—records.
Appendix H(IV)—Static noise test protocols—records for retest.
Total 3 ....................................

531 railroads ..............

3.00 training program
modifications.
26,000.00 records of
training.
6,862.00 records of
training.
30 requests + 30 responses.

10 minutes + 15 minutes.

12.60

85.93

1,082.72

531 railroads ..............

150 requests + 150
responses.

21 minutes + 45 minutes.

165.00

85.93

14,178.45

531 railroads ..............

10.00 records .............

24.00 minutes ............

4.00

85.93

343.72

531 railroads ..............
531 railroads ..............

26,000.00 records ......
54,000.00 records ......

2.00 minutes ..............
45 seconds .................

866.58
675.00

85.93
85.93

74,465.22
58,002.75

3 equipment manufacturers.

610 records + 90 certifications.

5 minutes + 40 minutes.

110.93

85.93

9,532.21

514 railroads ..............

3,000 reports + 3,000
records.

1 minute + 1 minute ...

100.00

85.93

8,593.00

514 railroads ..............

3,750.00 records ........

1.00 minutes ..............

62.63

85.93

5,381.80

514 railroads ..............

36 mins + 8.25 hours

29.70

85.93

2,552.12

500 locomotives .........

22 systems + 2 systems.
2.00 retest records .....

5.00 minutes ..............

0.17

85.93

14.61

531 railroads ..............

159,925 responses ....

N/A .............................

3,974 hours

N/A

350,627

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18:43 May 24, 2024

76,244 employees ......

531 railroads ..............

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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 103 / Tuesday, May 28, 2024 / Notices

Total Estimated Annual Responses:
159,925.
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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA–2024–0010]

Proposed Agency Information
Collection Activities; Comment
Request
Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
request for comment.
AGENCY:

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 regulations.gov
to the docket, Docket No. FRA–2024–
0010. All comments received will be
posted without change to the docket,
including any personal information
provided. Please refer to the assigned
OMB control number (2130–0596) 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.

khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES

SUMMARY:

3 Totals

may not add up due to rounding.

VerDate Sep<11>2014

18:43 May 24, 2024

Jkt 262001

Ms.
Arlette Mussington, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, at email:
[email protected] or
telephone: (571) 609–1285 or Ms.
Joanne Swafford, Information Collection
Clearance Officer, at email:
[email protected] 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 statutes and 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: Conductor Certification.
OMB Control Number: 2130–0596.
Abstract: FRA’s conductor
certification regulation (49 CFR part
242) requires railroads to have a formal
program for certifying any person as a
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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conductor. As part of that program,
railroads are required to have a process
for determining competency to serve as
a conductor through training, testing,
and qualifying prospective conductors
and existing conductors before issuing
each person certification or
recertification. The regulation is
intended to ensure that only those
persons who meet minimum Federal
safety standards serve as conductors.
FRA collects information to ensure
that railroads and their employees fully
comply with all the requirements of part
242, including a conductor certification/
recertification program, fitness
requirements, initial and periodic
testing, and territorial qualifications.
In this 60-day notice, FRA made
adjustments that decreased the
previously approved burden hours from
49,761 hours to 46,858 hours. The
decrease in burden is a result of the
reduced amount of time per response for
§ 242.115(e) certification review for
prior alcohol/drug conduct. The average
time was reduced from 10 minutes to 5
minutes, providing a more accurate
analysis of the time needed to complete
the review.
Additionally, upon a detailed review
of part 242, FRA made several
adjustments to its estimated paperwork
burdens in this ICR extension.1 FRA
determined that fewer employees were
changing employers, therefore reducing
the number of prior safety records being
reviewed. FRA also found that the
associated burdens related to substance
abuse and medical conditions have
decreased as fewer employees have
medical conditions that require further
evaluation or positive drug and alcohol
tests. As a result of these decreased
burdens, the number of certification
denials due to medical conditions and
substance abuse has also decreased.
Type of Request: Extension without
change (with changes in estimates) of a
currently approved information
collection.
Affected Public: Businesses.
Form(s): N/A.
Respondent Universe: 784 railroads.
Frequency of Submission: On
occasion.
1 The public can view all estimate adjustments to
FRA’s active ICRs in the Supporting Statements
published at https://www.reginfo.gov/public/. The
Supporting Statement for this ICR will be available
after the 30-day Federal Register notice is
published in reginfo.gov.

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