Conductor Certification

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
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
Conductor Certification 0596R2.doc Supporting Statement A	2018-02-20
49 CFR 242.doc Supplementary Document	2015-01-08
P.L. 110-432 (Sec. 402.doc; 49 U.S.C. 20163).doc Supplementary Document	2015-01-08
49 CFR 1.49 (4-10).doc Supplementary Document	2010-11-10
P.L. 110-432 (Sec. 401.doc; 49 U.S.C. 20162).doc Supplementary Document	2010-11-10

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
195244	Conductor Certification	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 2130-0596	ICR Reference No: 201802-2130-005
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201501-2130-002
Agency/Subagency: DOT/FRA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Conductor Certification
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	268,799	0	270,335
Time Burden (Hours)	856,406	0	866,317
Cost Burden (Dollars)	1,409,665	0	1,410,055

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Abstract: The information collected is used by FRA to ensure that railroads adopt and implement a formal program for certifying conductors so that only qualified persons serve as railroad conductors and passenger conductors in order to enhance the safety of daily railroad operations throughout the nation and to reduce the rate, severity, and number of train accidents/incidents that occur each year. The information collected will also be used to verify that railroads establish a formal program for training prospective and experienced conductors in order to determine that these individuals are competent before permitting them to serve in these safety-sensitive positions. ****It should be pointed that this collection of information is mandatory under 49 CFR Part 242. Entities required to respond include Class I, Class II, Class III, and commuter railroads. Respondents also include train conductors/train conductor candidates. Information collection requirements include both reporting and record keeping as well as training requirements. Information collected by FRA is on occasional as well as an annual basis.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 110 - 443 402 Name of Law: Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: PL: Pub.L. 110 - 432 402 Name of Law: Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008

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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
Conductor Certification

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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	268,799	270,335	0	0	-1,536	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	856,406	866,317	0	0	-9,911	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	1,409,665	1,410,055	0	0	-390	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: This is a request for an extension with change to the previously approved collection of information associated with 49 CFR Part 242. The burden for this information collection has decreased by 9,911 hours and by 1,536 responses from the last approved submission. The decrease in burden is due solely to adjustments, which are delineated in the table provided in the answer to question number 15 of the attached Supporting Justification. Total adjustments shown in the table provided decreased the burden by 9,911 hours and decreased the number of responses by 1,536. The current OMB inventory for this information collection shows a total burden of 866,317 hours and 270,335 responses, while the present submission exhibits a total burden of 856,406 hours and 268,799 responses. Hence, there is a total burden decrease of 9,911 hours and 1,536 responses. Based on the revised estimates, the cost to respondents from the previous submission has decreased by $390 (from $1,410,055 to $1,409,665). The change in cost to respondents is due to the following adjustments: (1) Certification Program Submissions to FRA (§ 242.101/103) (estimate went from six (6) to five (5) submissions @$10 each for postage/handling, and the cost decreased by $10 (from $60 to $50). (2) Certification Program Copies to Rail Labor Organizations (§ 242.101/103) (estimate went from 48 copies to 40 copies @$10 each for postage/handling), and thus decreased the cost by $80 (from $480 to $400). (3) Comments to FRA on Modified Certification Program Submissions to FRA and copy of comments to Railroads (§ 242.101/103) (estimate went from 35 to 15 @$5 each for postage/handling), and thus decreased the cost by $200 (from $350 to $150). (4) Railroad Material Modification Submissions to FRA on Conductor Certification Program) (§ 242.101/103 (estimate went from 25 material modification program submissions @ $10 ea. to 15 comments material modification program submissions @$10 each for postage/handling), and thus the cost decreased by $100 (from $250 to $1

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $624,500

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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