*** 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.
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.
$12,028
No
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
MIchael Watson 202 493-1388
michael.watson@dot.gov
No
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.