April 2, 2024, FR Notice (60-Day)

Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 64 / Tuesday, April 2, 2024 / Notices
requirements in the Statewide
Implementation Plan (SIP) for the South
Coast Air Basin. In addition, the
Project’s emissions can be
accommodated in the SIP, based on
localized CO modeling showing that
construction-phase CO emissions will
not result in an exceedance of the
NAAQS. Operation of the Project is
expected to result in an overall
reduction of regional emissions of all
applicable air pollutants and would not
cause a localized exceedance of the
applicable regulatory requirements. FRA
concludes that the Project, as designed,
will conform to the SIP, based on a
commitment from the CHSRA that
construction-phase NOX emissions will
be offset consistent with the applicable
federal regulations in the South Coast
Air Basin, and based on localized CO
modeling, which demonstrates that
construction-phase CO emissions will
not cause or contribute to a violation of
the NAAQS.
Next Steps: The draft General
Conformity Determination for the
Project is being issued for public review
and comment for 30 days at Docket No.
FRA–2024–0045. Comments related to
Docket No. FRA–2024–0045 may be
submitted by going to https://
www.regulations.gov and following the
online instructions for submitting
comments. Although CHSRA is assisting
FRA by disseminating notice of the
availability of the draft General
Conformity Determination through its
usual outreach methods, CHSRA is not
accepting comments on behalf of FRA.
FRA cannot ensure consideration of any
comment that is not submitted via
https://www.regulations.gov. FRA will
consider all relevant comments it
receives before issuing a Final General
Conformity Determination.
Issued in Washington, DC.
Marlys Ann Osterhues,
Director, Office of Environmental Program
Management.
[FR Doc. 2024–06960 Filed 4–1–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration

khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES

[Docket No. FRA–2024–0005]

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

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17:06 Apr 01, 2024

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Under the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its
implementing regulations, FRA will
seek 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 June 3,
2024.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed ICR
should be submitted on regulations.gov
to the docket, Docket No. FRA–2024–
0005. 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.
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 1320.8–1320.12.
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).
SUMMARY:

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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: FRA Workforce Development
(WFD) Study on Performance
Management Systems and
Organizational Culture and Diversity.
OMB Control Number: 2130–NEW.
Abstract: This project is being
conducted in response to a Broad
Agency Announcement (BAA) topic
released in 2020 entitled ‘‘Research in
Response to Railroad Systems Issues
Strategic Priorities.’’ FRA has released
BAAs aimed at workforce training and
development, developing educational
and vocational pipelines, and
addressing issues around equity and
inclusivity within the rail industry.
Existing research on demographics,
organizational practices, and policies, as
well as industry culture need to be
updated to account for the profound
changes in employment practices and
workforce dynamics in the last few
years, including inflation and supply
chain issues. This data collection effort
will improve the understanding of the
current state of the industry and
establish a baseline against which to
measure future impacts.
The team conducting this research
will survey and interview a crosssection of stakeholders familiar with the
current culture in rail, about barriers to
entry they see and experience as
impacting minority populations. Part of
the data analysis will examine findings
by employment position to determine if
the views at the executive or managerial
levels are similar or shared by
individuals and staff in more entry-level
positions. The research team will also
review source documents and artifacts
which show how the stakeholder’s
performance management system was
designed and how it is intended to
work. Data will be collected and
compiled from interviews and focus
groups about how well the performance
management system functions in
practice, whether the intended use
differs from actual use, and whether
observed differences in use benefit or

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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 64 / Tuesday, April 2, 2024 / Notices

hinder efficacy in recruiting and
retaining diverse talent.
The study focuses on performance
management systems because there is
evidence that organizational culture
plays a significant role in shaping
industry demographics. The findings
from this research will provide a better
understanding of how employees at
various levels are affected by
performance management systems and
how these systems contribute to
organizational culture. The project team
will provide FRA with data and best
practices that could be used to
recommend workforce development
initiatives, that may affect
organizational culture, for rail
organizations and other related
industries. Therefore, the research will
offer novel, actionable solutions for
diversifying the rail workforce.
The main objectives in this study are
to: (1) expand on research done to date
and to gain a better understanding of the
organizational culture and challenges in
recruiting and retaining

Average
time per
response

Total annual
burden hours

Total cost
equivalent in
U.S. dollar

(A)

(B)

(C = A * B)

(D = C* Wage
Rates) 1

150 rail stakeholders .............

50 Participants ........

10 minutes ...............

8.33 hours ...............

$377.02

150 rail stakeholders .............

30 Participants ........

20 minutes ...............

10.00 hours .............

$452.60

30 rail stakeholders ...............

10 Participants ........

10 minutes ...............

1.67 hours ...............

$75.58

30 rail stakeholders ...............

5 Participants ..........

1 hour ......................

5.00 hours ...............

$226.30

150 rail holders ......................

95 responses ...........

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

25 hours ..................

$1,132

Respondent universe

Email notification for on-line survey. This notification includes confidentiality statement to
potential participants (before the survey).
FRA F 6180–279—WFD on-line survey on
Organizational Culture & Performance
Management in Rail. (New form).
Email notification for Performance Management Systems interview/focus group. This
notification includes confidentiality statement to potential focus group and interview
respondents (before the interview).
FRA F 6180.278—WFD Interview Questions.
Semi-structured 2 interview questions/focus
groups on experiences with workforce culture & performance Management systems
(New form).

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Totals 3 .....................................................

Total Estimated Annual Responses:
95.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 25
hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour
Dollar Cost Equivalent: $1,132.
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.
1 The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the
2022 Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS), Occupational Employment
Statistics, classified with NAICS 482100, Rail
Transportation. See http://www.bls.gov/oes/

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Transportation Research Board, or at
conferences/talks with professional
associations such as the Women’s
Transportation Seminar and the
American Public Transportation
Association.
Type of Request: Approval of a new
collection of information.
Affected Public: Rail stakeholders
including those in labor positions,
carrier management, research/academia,
professional association staff, HR
personnel, regulators, executive level
staff, etc.
Form(s): FRA F 6180.278 and FRA F
6180.279.
Respondent Universe: Rail
stakeholders including those in labor
positions, carrier management, research/
academia, professional association staff,
human resources (HR) personnel,
regulators, executive level staff, etc.
Frequency of Submission: On
occasion.
Reporting Burden:

Total annual
responses

Description

VerDate Sep<11>2014

underrepresented individuals in the rail
industry; (2) understand how employees
at various levels are affected by
performance management systems and
organizational culture; and (3) examine
and identify best practices for the use of
performance management systems as a
tool for equitable and diverse
recruitment, development, retention,
and promotion.
Primary users of this information will
be those in the rail industry. The
findings of this study will provide
qualitative data on the current
workforce culture in rail and how
performance management systems may
affect organizational culture. Industry
stakeholders, FRA, and DOT may use
this data to identify gaps, develop
approaches, and create interventions/
solutions to enhance workforce
development initiatives for
underrepresented groups.
FRA will publish the results of this
study. A summary of the results may
also be presented at technical meetings,
such as the annual meeting of the

Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501–3520.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Christopher S. Van Nostrand,
Acting Deputy Chief Counsel.

Maritime Administration

[FR Doc. 2024–06890 Filed 4–1–24; 8:45 am]

MARAD Mariner Workforce Strategic
Plan for Fiscal Years 2023–2027

BILLING CODE 4910–06–P

Maritime Administration,
Department of Transportation.

AGENCY:
ACTION:

Notice.

In accordance with the
requirements of the Fiscal Year (FY)
2021 National Defense Authorization

SUMMARY:

currrent/naics4_482100.htm#00-000. The total
burden wage rate (Straight time plus 31%) used in
the table is $45.26 (34.55 +10.71 = $45.26).
2 A semi-structured interview is a qualitative
research method that utilizes some structured

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questions that will prompt discussion with the
opportunity for unstructured exploration
(additional questions or clarification of responses)
of themes as they engage during the discussion.
3 Totals may not add up due to rounding.

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