Qualification and Certification of Locomotive Engineers

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
drfLocoEngineersNPRM.doc Supporting Statement A	2019-06-19
2130-AC40 NPRM Pt 240 4.8.2019.doc Supplementary Document	2019-05-09
49 CFR 240a.doc Supplementary Document	2013-05-07
49 CFR 1.49a.doc Supplementary Document	2008-12-31
49 USC 20135.doc Supplementary Document	2008-12-31

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
26448	Qualification for Locomotive Engineers	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 2130-0533	ICR Reference No: 201905-2130-002
Status: Historical Inactive	Previous ICR Reference No: 201606-2130-002
Agency/Subagency: DOT/FRA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Qualification and Certification of Locomotive Engineers
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Comment filed on proposed rule and continue	Conclusion Date: 07/09/2019
	Date Received in OIRA: 06/20/2019
Terms of Clearance: Terms of the previous clearance remain in effect. OMB files this comment in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.11(c). This OMB action is not an approval to conduct or sponsor an information collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This action has no effect on any current approvals. When and if the agency submits the ICR associated with the final rule, the agency is reminded to follow the procedures in 5 CFR 1320 regarding collections associated with rules.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	07/31/2019	36 Months From Approved	10/31/2019
Responses	216,863	0	216,863
Time Burden (Hours)	272,672	0	272,672
Cost Burden (Dollars)	200,670	0	200,670

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Abstract: FRA is proposing to revise its regulation governing the qualification and certification of locomotive engineers to make it consistent with its regulation for the qualification and certification of conductors. The proposed changes include: amending the program submission process; handling engineer and conductor petitions for review with a single FRA review board (Operating Crew Review Board or OCRB); and revising the filing requirements for petitions to the OCRB. The proposed revisions would result in cost savings and benefits for railroads and locomotive engineers by adopting the conductor certification regulation’s streamlined processes developed twenty years after the engineer certification regulation. Consistent with Executive Order 13771, the proposed rule would reduce the overall regulatory burden and the paperwork and reporting burden under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 on railroads and locomotive engineers.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 49 USC 20135 Name of Law: Rail Safety Improvement Act (RSIA) of 1988
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
2130-AC40	Proposed rulemaking	84 FR 20472	05/09/2019

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

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
Qualification for Locomotive Engineers

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Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Changing Regulations

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This information collection request is a revision. As noted in the Summary on page 1, FRA is requesting a total burden of 93,408 hours and 352,054 responses. The total burden for this information collection submission reflects a decrease of 179,264 hours and an increase of 135,191 responses from the last approved submission. The burden increase is due both to adjustments and program changes, which are completely delineated in the tables provided in the answer to question number 15 of the attached Supporting Justification. Adjustments shown in the provided table decreased above the burden by 189,050 hours and increased the number of responses by 104,832. Program changes shown in the provided table increased the burden by 9,736 hours and 30,529 responses. The current OMB agency inventory exhibits a total burden of 272,672 hours, while the present submission reflects a total burden of 93,408 hours. Hence, there is a total decrease in burden of 179,264 hours and an increase of 135,191 responses. The estimated cost to respondents listed above amounts to $284,000, which is an increase of $83,330 from the last approved submission. The increase is due solely to adjustments, which result from the change in the number of requests for notary service (from 17,667 notary requests at $5 per request to 26,000 notary requests at $5 per request and the number of requests for NDR data 17,667 notary requests at $5 per request to 26,000 NDR requests at $5 per request). This raised the total cost from $200,670 to $284,000. Hence, the difference of $83,330 results.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $409,548

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: 06/20/2019

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