Extension without change of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
09/27/2021
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
10/31/2021
18,660,400
27,796,044
1,283,507
3,421,290
247,500
588,500
The collection of information is
mandatory, and is associated with FRA's rule 49 CFR part 228.
Entities required to respond include Class I, Class II, and Class
III railroads as well as 40 signal employee contractors. The
collection of information includes occasional reporting and
recordkeeping requirements. Covered employers are required to keep
Hours of Duty records of their employees, and must produce them
upon request to FRA representatives. The Hours of Service Act
specifies the maximum hours and conditions of proper rest for
employees engaged in one or more critical categories of work. FRA
uses the information collected to both monitor compliance with and
to enforce these safety regulations. Reporting and recordkeeping
Information is collected on occasion, monthly, and annually.
Besides Hours of Duty data, railroads must also provide reports of
excess service to FRA and employee training information.
Overall, the burden for this
submission has decreased by 2,137,783 hours and decreased by
9,135,644 responses. There is no change in the method of the
collection. The decrease in burden is solely the result of
adjustments. FRA determined some of the prior estimates were
fulfilled, outdated, or were not derived from PRA requirements,
thus leading to the increased figures in the current inventory,
which were decreased accordingly. Additionally, the number of
responses (number of employees) declined by a third while the
number of railroads using electronic records increased from 80
percent to 95 percent thus substantially reducing the average time
per record under section 228.11 from 2.7 million hours to about 1
million hours. Additionally, the cost to respondents decreased by
$341,000 from the previously approved submission of $588,500. For
instance, the initial cost to automation ($430,000) was removed
because the larger commuter railroads have implemented their
automated systems. Question 15 of the supporting justification
provides specific information on any burden estimates that have
changed from the previous submission.
$77,636
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
William Smith 202
385-2228
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.