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 Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration [Docket No. FRA-2017-0002-N-23]
 AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), U.S. Department of Transportation.
 ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
 SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, FRA seeks renewed approval of the proposed information collection activities listed below. Before submitting these information collection requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities, which are identified in this notice.
 DATES: Comments must be received no later than December 11, 2017.
 ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on any or all of the following proposed activities by mail to either: Mr. Robert Brogan, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Railroad Safety, Regulatory Analysis Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 20590; or Ms. Kim Toone, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590. Commenters requesting FRA to acknowledge receipt of their respective comments must include a self-addressed stamped postcard stating, “Comments on OMB Control Number 2130-0571” or “Comments on OMB Control Number 2130-0596,” and should also include the title of the collection of information. Alternatively, comments may be faxed to (202) 493-6216 or (202) 493-6497, or emailed to Mr. Brogan at 
                        *Robert.Brogan@dot.gov,*
                         or Ms. Toone at 
                        *Kim.Toone@dot.gov*. Please refer to the assigned OMB control number in any correspondence submitted. FRA will summarize comments received in response to this notice in a subsequent notice and include them in its information collection submission to OMB for approval.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Brogan, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Railroad Safety, Safety Regulatory Analysis Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6292) or Ms. Kim Toone, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6132).


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 to implement them. 
                    *See*44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), 1320.10(e)(1), 1320.12(a). FRA invites interested respondents to comment on the following summary of proposed information collection activities 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 by automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques and other forms of information technology (
                    *e.g.,*
                     permitting electronic submission of responses). 
                    *See*44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1). FRA believes that soliciting public comment will promote its efforts to reduce the administrative and paperwork burdens associated with the collection of information that Federal regulations mandate. In summary, FRA reasons that comments received will advance three objectives: (1) Reduce 
                    ( print page 47596)
                    reporting burdens; (2) ensure that it organizes 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. Below is a brief summary of currently approved information collection activities that FRA will submit for renewed clearance by OMB as required under the PRA: *Title:*
                     Occupational Noise Exposure for Railroad Operating Employees. *OMB Control Number:*
                     2130-0571. *Abstract:*
                     FRA uses the collection of information to ensure railroads covered by this rule establish and implement noise monitoring, hearing conservation, and audiometric testing programs. This collection also includes hearing conservation training programs that protect railroad employees from the damaging and potentially dangerous effects of excessive noise in the everyday rail environment. *Form Number(s):*
                     N/A. *Affected Public:*
                     Businesses. *Respondent Universe:*
                     755 railroads. *Frequency of Submission:*
                     On occasion. *Affected Public:*
                     Businesses (Railroads, railroads equipment manufacturers). *Reporting Burden:* CFR section
Respondent universe
Total annual 
                             responses
Average time per 
                             response
Total annual burden hours227.13—Waivers
502 railroads
2 petitions
60 minutes
2 hours.227.103—Noise monitoring program: development and implementation
502 railroads
5 programs
30 hours
150 hours.—Notification of employee of monitoring
502 railroads
5 lists
30 minutes
3 hours.227.107—Hearing Conservation Program (HCP)—Development of programs
502 railroads
5 HCPs
31 hours
155 hours.—Revised hearing conservation programs (HCPs)
502 railroads
5 HCPs
1.75 hours
9 hours.227.109—Audiometric Testing Program—Existing employees—baseline audiograms
85,600 employees
7,704 tests
25 minutes
3,210 hours.—Periodic audiograms
85,600 employees
28,530 tests
10 minutes
4,755 hours.—Evaluation of audiograms
85,600 employees
2,330 ratings + 93 retests
6 min./+ 30 min.
280 hours.—Problem audiograms/& provision of required documents to medical professional
8,000 employees
45 documents
10 minutes
8 hours.—Follow-up procedures—notifications
8,000 employees
93 notices
5 minutes
8 hours.—Fitting/training of employees: hearing protectors
240 employees
240 tr. session
5 minutes
20 hours.—Referrals for clinical/otological exam
240 employees
20 referrals
2 hours
40 hours.—Notification to employee of need for otological examination
240 employees
20 notices
5 minutes
2 hours.—New audiometric interpretation
240 employees
20 notices
5 minutes
2 hours.227.111—Audiometric test requirements
1,000 mobile vans
1,000 tests
45 minutes
750 hours.227.117—Hearing protection attenuation—evaluation
502 railroads
50 evaluations
30 minutes
25 hours.—Re-evaluations of adequacy of hearing protection attenuation when employee noise exposure increases
502 railroads
10 re-evaluations
30 minutes
5 hours.227.119—Hearing Conservation Training Program—development
502 railroads
5 programs
60 minutes
5 hours.—Employee HCP Training
502 railroads
26,000 tr. employees
30 minutes
13,000 hours.—Periodic Training
502 railroads
7,704 tr. employees
30 minutes
3,852 hours.227.121—Recordkeeping—authorization: records
502 railroads
30 requests + 30 responses
10 minutes + 15 minutes
13 hours.—Request for copies of reports
502 railroads
150 requests + 150 responses
21 minutes + 45 minutes
166 hours.—Records transfer when carrier becomes defunct
502 railroads
10 records
24 minutes
4 hours.—Railroad audiometric test records
502 railroads
26,000 records
2 minutes
867 hours.—Hearing Conservation Program (HCP): Records
502 railroads
54,000 records
45 seconds
675 hours.229.121—Locomotive Cab Noise—tests/records and certification
3 equipment manufacturers
610 records + 90 certs
5 minutes + 40 minutes
111 hours.—Equipment maintenance: excessive noise reports
484 railroads
3,000 reports + 3,000 record
1 minute + 1 minute
100 hours.—Maintenance records
484 railroads
3,750 records
1 minute
63 hours.—Internal auditable monitoring systems
484 railroads
22 systems + 2 systems
36 min. + 8.25 hours
30 hours.Appendix H—Static test protocols/records
700 locomotives
2 retests + 2 records
10 minutes + 5 minutes
1 hour.
 *Total Estimated Annual Responses:*
                     164,734. *Total Estimated Annual Burden:*
                     28,311 hours. *Type of Request:*
                     Extension of a Currently Approved Collection. *Title:*
                     Conductor Certification.
                    ( print page 47597) *OMB Control Number:*
                     2130-0596. *Abstract:*
                     FRA's conductor certification regulation (49 CFR part 242) requires railroads to have a formal program for certifying conductors. As part of that program, railroads are required to have a formal process for training prospective conductors and determining that all persons are competent before permitting them to serve as a conductor. FRA intended the regulation 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 of conductors, territorial qualifications, etc. *Form Number(s):*
                     N/A. *Affected Public:*
                     Businesses. *Respondent Universe:*
                     704 railroads. *Frequency of Submission:*
                     On occasion; annually. *Reporting Burden:* CFR section/subject
Respondent universe
Total annual 
                             responses
Average time per 
                             response
Total annual burden hours242.9—Waivers—Petitions
704 railroads
3 petitions
3 hours
9 hours.242.101/103—Certification programs for new railroads
704 railroads
5 new programs
15.5 hours
78 hours.—Conductor certification submission: Copies to rail labor organizations—RLO
704 railroads
40 copies
15 minutes
10 hours.—Affirmative statements that copies of submissions were sent to RLOs
704 railroads
40 avowals
15 minutes
10 hours.—Certified comments on submissions
704 railroads
15 comments
4 hours
60 hours.—Certification programs disapproved by FRA and then revised
704 railroads
10 programs
3 hours
30 hours.—Revised certification programs still not conforming and then resubmitted
704 railroads
3 programs
2 hours
6 hours.—Certification programs materially modified after initial FRA approval
704 railroads
15 programs
2 hours
30 hours.—Materially modified programs disapproved by FRA & then revised
704 railroads
3 programs
2 hours
6 hours.—Revised programs disapproved and then re-submitted
704 railroads
1 program
2 hours
2 hours.242.105—Implementation Schedule—Issued certificates (
                            1/3
                             each year)
704 railroads
16,200 certif
30 minutes
8,100 hours.—Issued certificates (
                            1/3
                             each year)
704 railroads
1,800 certif.
30 minutes
900 hours.—Requests for delayed certification
704 railroads
200 requests
30 minutes
100 hours.—Testing/evaluation to certify persons
704 railroads
1,000 tests
560 hours
560,000 hours.—Testing/evaluation to certify conductors (Class III)
704 railroads
100 tests
400 hours
40,000 hours.242.107—Types of service—Reclassification to diff. type of cert
704 railroads
25 conductor tests/ratings
8 hours
200 hours.242.109—Opportunity by RRs for certification candidates to review and comment on prior safety record
704 Railroads
200 records + 200 comment
30 minutes + 10 minutes
133 hours.242.111—Prior Safety Conduct as Motor Vehicle Operator—Eligibility determinations
704 Railroads
1,100 ratings
10 minutes
183 hours.—Initial certification for 60 days
704 Railroads
75 certif
10 minutes
13 hours.—Recertification for 60 days
704 Railroads
125 re-certif
10 minutes
21 hours.—Driver info. not provided and request for waiver by persons/railroad
704 Railroads
5 requests
2 hours
10 hours.—Request to obtain driver's license information from licensing agency
54,000 Conductors/Persons
18,000 requests
15 minutes
4,500 hours.—Requests for additional information from licensing agency
54,000 Conductors/Persons
25 requests
10 minutes
4 hours.—Notification to RR by persons of never having a license
54,000 Conductors/Persons
25 notices
10 minutes
4 hours.—Report of Motor Vehicle Incidents
54,000 Conductors
200 reports
10 minutes
33 hours.—Evaluation of driving record
54,000 Conductors
18,000 rating
15 minutes
4,500 hours.—DAC referral by RR after report of driving drug/alcohol incident
704 Railroads
180 referrals
5 minutes
15 hours.—DAC request and supply by persons of prior counseling or treatment
704 Railroads
5 requests/records
30 minutes
3 hours.—Conditional certifications recommended by DAC
704 Railroads
50 certificate endorsements
4 hours
200 hours.242.113—Prior safety conduct as employee of a different railroad
54,000 conductors
360 requests/360 records
15 minutes + 30 minutes
270 hours.242.115—Determination that person meets eligibility requirements
54,000 conductors
18,000 determination
2 minutes
600 hours.—Written documents from DAC that person is not affected by a disorder
54,000 conductors
400 docs
30 minutes
200 hours.—Self-referral by conductors for substance abuse counseling
704 railroads
30 self-referrals
10 minutes
5 hours.( print page 47598)—Certification reviews for occurrence/documentation of prior alcohol/drug conduct by persons/conductors
704 railroads
18,000 cert. reviews
10 minutes
3,000 hours.—Written determination that most recent incident has occurred
704 railroads
150 decision.
60 minutes
150 hours.—Notification to person that recertification has been denied
704 railroads
300 notices
10 minutes
50 hours.—Persons/conductors waiving investigation/de-certifications
54,000 conductors
300 waivers/de-certs
10 minutes
50 hours.242.117—Vision and Hearing Acuity—Determination vision standards met
704 railroads
18,000 deter
20 minutes
6,000 hours.—Determination hearing standards met
704 railroads
18,000 deter
20 minutes
6,000 hours.—Additional gap hearing tests
704 railroads
200 deter
20 minutes
67 hours.—Medical examiner certificate that person has been examined/passed test
704 railroads
18,000 certif
2 hours
36,000 hours.—Document standards met with conditions
704 railroads
100 docs
30 minutes
50 hours.—Document standards not met
704 railroads
100 docs
30 minutes
50 hours.—Notation person needs corrective device (glasses/hearing aid)
704 railroads
10,000 notes
10 minutes
1,667 hours.—Request for further medical evaluation for new determination
704 railroads
100 requests + 100 ratings
60 minutes + 2 hours
300 hours.—Request for second retest and another medical evaluation
704 railroads
25 requests + 25 ratings
60 minutes + 2 hours
75 hours.—Consultations by medical examiners with railroad officer and issue of conditional certification
704 railroads
100 consults + 100 certif
2 hours + 10 minutes
217 hours.—Notification by certified conductor of deterioration of vision/hearing
704 railroads
10 notices
10 minutes
2 hours.242.119—Training—New RRs—Training program
5 railroads
5 programs
3 hours
15 hours.—Modification to training program
704 railroads
5 program
30 minutes
3 hours.—Completion of training program by conductors/persons—documents
704 railroads
100 docs
60 minutes
100 hours.—Conductor refresher training
704 railroads
100 retrained conductors
2 hours
200 hours.—Modified training programs due to new laws, regulations, orders, technologies, procedures, or equipment
704 railroads
24 modified programs
4 hours
96 hours.—Employee consultation with qualified supervisory employee if given written test to demonstrate knowledge of physical characteristics of any assigned territory
704 railroads
1,000 consult
15 minutes
250 hours.—Familiarization training for conductor of acquiring railroad from selling company/railroad prior to commencement of new operation
704 railroads
10 trained conductors
8 hours
80 hours.—RR Continuous education/training of conductors
704 railroads
18,000 tr. Conductors
8 hours
144,000 hours.242.121—Knowledge Testing—Determining eligibility
704 railroads
18,000 deter
30 minutes
9,000 hours.—Retests/re-examinations
704 railroads
500 re-tests
8 hours
4,000 hours.242.123—Monitoring Operational Performance—Unannounced compliance tests and records
704 railroads
18,000 tests + 18,000 records
10 minutes + 5 minutes
4,500 hours.—Return to service that requires unannounced compliance test/record
704 railroads
1,000 tests + 1,000 records
10 minutes + 5 minutes
250 hours.242.125/127—Determination made by RR relying on another railroad's certification
704 railroads
100 decisions
30 minutes
50 hours.—Determination by Another Country
704 railroads
100 decisions
30 minutes
50 hours.242.203—Retaining information supporting determination: Records
704 railroads
18,000 records
15 minutes
4,500 hours.—Amended electronic records
704 railroads
20 records
60 minutes
20 hours.242.209—Maintenance of Certificates—Request to display certificate
704 railroads
2,000 request/displays
2 minutes
67 hours.—Notification by conductors that RR request to serve exceeds certification
704 railroads
1,000 notices
10 minutes
167 hours.242.211—Replacement of certificates
704 railroads
500 replaced certifications
5 minutes
42 hours.242.213—Multiple Certificates( print page 47599)—Notification to engineer that no conductor is on train
704 railroads
5 notifications
10 minutes
1 hour.—Notification of denial of certification by individuals holding multiple certifications
704 railroads
10 notices
10 minutes
2 hours.242.215—RR Oversight Responsibility—RR review and analysis of administration of certification program
704 railroads
44 reviews/analyses
40 hours
1,760 hours.—Report of findings by RR to FRA
704 railroads
36 reports
4 hours
144 hours.242.301—Determinations—Territorial qualification and joint operations
320 railroads
1,080 deter
15 minutes
270 hours.—Notification by persons who do not meet territorial qualification
320 railroads
500 notices
10 minutes
83 hours.242.401—Notification to candidate of information that forms basis for denying certification and candidate response
704 railroads
40 notices + 40 responses
60 minutes/60 minutes
80 hours.—Written notification of denial of certification
704 railroads
80 notices
60 minutes
80 hours.242.403/405—Criteria for revoking certification; periods of ineligibility—Review of compliance conduct
704 railroads
950 reviews
10 minutes
158 hours.—Written determination that the most recent incident has occurred
704 railroads
950 written determination
60 minutes
950 hours.242.407—Process for Revoking Certification—Revocation for violations of section 242.115(e)
704 railroads
950 revoked certificates
8 hours
7,600 hours.—Immediate suspension of certificate
704 railroads
950 suspend certificates
1 hour
950 hours.—Determinations based on RR hearing record
704 railroads
950 decisions
15 minutes
238 hours.—Hearing record
704 railroads
950 records
30 minutes
475 hours.—Written decisions by RR official
704 railroads
950 decisions
2 hours
1,900 hours.—Service of written decision on employee by RR + RR service proof
704 railroads
950 decisions + 950 proofs
10 minutes + 5 minutes
238 hours.—Written waiver of right to hearing
54,000 Conductors
425 waivers
10 minutes
71 hours.—Revocation of certification based on information that another railroad has done so
704 railroads
15 revoked certifications
10 minutes
3 hours.—Placing relevant information in record prior to suspending certification/convening hearing
704 railroads
100 updated Records
1 hour
100 hours.
 *Total Estimated Responses:*
                     268,799. *Total Estimated Total Annual Burden:*
                     856,406 hours. *Type of Request:*
                     Extension of a Currently Approved Collection. Under 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 CFR 1320.5(b) and 1320.8(b)(3)(vi), 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 unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Authority:
                    44 U.S.C. 3501-3520. Brett Jortland, Acting Deputy Chief Counsel.


[FR Doc. 2017-22044 Filed 10-11-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-06-P