Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request, 11873-11876 [2025-03920]

Agencies

• Federal Railroad Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 12, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11873-11876]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-03920]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2025-0012]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its 
implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the Information 
Collection Request (ICR) summarized below. Before submitting this ICR 
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is 
soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities 
identified in the ICR.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
May 12, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR 
should be submitted on www.regulations.gov to the docket, Docket No. 
FRA-2025-0012. All comments received will be posted without change to 
the docket, including any personal information provided. Please refer 
to the assigned OMB control number (2130-0526) in any correspondence 
submitted. FRA will summarize comments received in a subsequent 30-day 
notice and include them in its information collection submission to 
OMB.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Arlette Mussington, Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: [email protected] or 
telephone: (571) 609-1285 or Ms. Joanne Swafford, Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: [email protected] or 
telephone: (757) 897-9908.

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 of the activities. 
See 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.8 through 1320.12. Specifically, 
FRA invites interested parties to comment on the following ICR 
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, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. See 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 
CFR 1320.8(d)(1).
    FRA believes that soliciting public comment may reduce the 
administrative and paperwork burdens associated with the collection of 
information that Federal regulations mandate. In summary, comments 
received will advance three objectives: (1) reduce reporting burdens; 
(2) organize information collection requirements in a ``user-friendly'' 
format to improve the use of such information; and (3) accurately 
assess the resources

[[Page 11874]]

expended to retrieve and produce information requested. See 44 U.S.C. 
3501.
    The summary below describes the ICR that FRA will submit for OMB 
clearance as the PRA requires:
    Title: Control of Alcohol and Drug use in Railroad Operations.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0526
    Abstract: This ICR covers information collected pursuant to FRA 
regulations at 49 CFR part 219--Control of Alcohol and Drug Use. FRA 
and the railroad industry use the information collected to improve 
railroad safety through the detection and deterrence of alcohol and 
illicit drug use by railroad or contractor employees who meet the 
definition of ``regulated employee'' in Sec.  219.5.\1\ For example, 
FRA uses the information collected to ensure that regulated employees 
are subject to a random alcohol and drug testing program in which each 
employee has a reasonable expectation of being tested at any time while 
on-duty. This information collection also covers on-duty railroad or 
contractor employees involved in a train incident who die within 12 
hours of the incident due to the operation of on-track equipment, 
regardless of whether the employee was performing regulated service at 
the time. Information is also collected regarding foreign-railroads' 
foreign-based employees who perform train or dispatching service in the 
United States.
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    \1\ On February 2, 2022, as mandated by the Substance Use-
Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for 
Patients and Communities Act, FRA published a final rule that 
revised the definition of ``regulated employee'' to include a ``MECH 
employee'', thereby expanding the scope of its alcohol and drug 
regulation to cover ``all employees of railroad carriers who perform 
mechanical activities.'' 87 FR 5719 and 5724. The definition of 
``regulated employee'' also includes railroad and contractor 
employees who are ``roadway workers'' (as defined in 49 CFR 214.7) 
or who perform covered services under the hours of service laws (49 
U.S.C. 21101, 21104, or 21105).
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    In this 60-day notice, FRA has made multiple adjustments to the 
previously approved burden hours. While some reported burden hours have 
been increased, the overall number of burden hours has decreased from 
the previously approved 4,830 hours to 2,674 hours. For instance:
     Under Sec.  219.4, Recognition of a foreign railroad's 
workplace testing program, the estimated burden associated with 
comments received on petitions pursuant to paragraph (e) was removed. 
Comments received from the public, in response to general solicitations 
published in the Federal Register, are not considered information under 
the PRA.\2\
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    \2\ 5 CFR 1320.3(h)(4).
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     Under Sec.  219.23, Railroad policies, FRA reviewed 
paragraph (a) and determined the previously reported burden was 
underestimated as it reflected the average time of 3 seconds needed for 
a verbal notice rather than the 30 seconds needed for a written notice 
of testing. The burden hours in this submission have been adjusted 
accordingly.
     Under Sec.  219.23(c), railroads must develop and publish 
educational materials, specifically designed for regulated employees, 
that clearly explain the requirements of part 219. Generally, railroads 
have already developed these materials and will not incur substantial 
additional burdens due to this regulatory requirement. FRA has reduced 
the estimated burden to reflect only the time spent by those railroads 
that choose to revise the required educational materials. It is 
estimated that only 10 percent of the 654 railroads provided hardcopy 
educational materials to employees. Some railroads post brochures in 
the breakroom, but the majority share these materials electronically, 
as exemplified by Class I railroads who refer employees to the 
company's intranet.
     Under Sec.  219.203, Responsibilities of railroads and 
employees, FRA reviewed paragraph (g), Obtaining cooperation of 
facility, and determined that this regulatory requirement does not 
create any additional paperwork burden. Rather, Sec.  219.203(g) 
requires a railroad to reference the requirements of subpart C and the 
instructions in FRA's post-accident toxicological shipping kit as the 
applicable regulatory authority when obtaining specimens from an 
uncooperative medical facility in a post-accident testing event.
     FRA found that the burdens associated with Sec.  219.25, 
Previous employer drug and alcohol checks, and Sec.  219.800, Annual 
reports, are covered under OMB control number 2105-0529, Procedures for 
Transportation Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. Thus, FRA has removed 
the previously reported burden hours associated with these 
requirements.
    Type of Request: Extension without change (with changes in 
estimates) of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Railroads.
    Forms(s): FRA F 6180.73; 6180.74; 6180.75.
    Respondent Universe: 654 railroads (includes 2 foreign-based 
railroads); 2,600 regulated contractors; and 160,822 regulated 
employees.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
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    \3\ The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the 2023 Surface 
Transportation Board Full Year Wage A&B data series using employee 
group 200 (Professional Administrative Staff) hourly wage rate of 
$50.93. The total burden wage rate (straight time plus 75%) used in 
the table is $89.13 ($50.93 x 1.75 = $89.13).

                                                                    Reporting Burden
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                                                                        Total                                                               Total cost
              CFR section                    Respondent universe       annual      Average time per response     Total annual     Wage      equivalent
                                                                      responses             (hours)             burden (hours)  rate \3\      U.S.D.
                                                                            (A)  (B)..........................     (C = A * B)       (D)     (E = C * D)
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219.4 Recognition of foreign railroad's
 workplace testing program:
    --Petition submissions to FRA......  FRA anticipates zero petitions for the next three-year collection period.
                                        ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
219.7 Waivers:
    --Waiver submissions to FRA........  654 railroads, 2,600                 3  90 minutes...................            4.50    $89.13         $401.09
                                          regulated contractors.
219.12 Hours-of-service laws
 implications:
    --(d) Employees placed on duty for   654 railroads, 160,822               6  30 minutes...................               3     89.13          267.39
     follow up testing documentation..    regulated employees.
219.23 Railroad policies:
    --(a) Written notification of        160,822 regulated               71,978  30 seconds...................          599.82     89.13       53,461.96
     testing provided to employees.       employees.
    --(c) Revised educational materials  654 railroads, 160,822              73  1 hour.......................              73     89.13        6,506.49
     and copies made available to         regulated employees.
     employees.
    --Hard copies to employees.........  654 railroads.............          64  2 minutes....................            2.13     89.13          189.85

[[Page 11875]]

 
219.104 Responsive action:
    --(b) Written notice of removal      160,822 regulated                  530  2 minutes....................           17.67     89.13        1,574.93
     from regulated service.              employees.
219.105 Railroad's duty to prevent
 violations:
    --(c) Documents provided to FRA      654 railroads.............           3  5 minutes....................            0.25     89.13           22.29
     upon request regarding RR's
     alcohol and/or drug use education/
     prevention program.
    --(d) RR supervisor Rule G           654 railroads, 160,822         321,644  2 seconds....................          178.69     89.13       15,926.64
     observations and records of          regulated employees.
     regulated employees.
219.201 Events for which testing is
 required:
    --(c) Good faith determinations \4\  654 railroads.............         500  5 minutes....................           41.67     89.13        3,714.05
    --(c)(iii) Report by RR concerning   654 railroads, 160,822               2  30 minutes...................               1     89.13           89.13
     decision by person other than RR     regulated employees.
     representative about whether an
     accident/incident qualifies for
     testing.
219.203 Responsibilities of railroads
 and employees:
    --(d)(1) Notification of failure to  654 railroads, 160,822              80  2 minutes....................            2.67     89.13          237.98
     collect urine/blood specimens        regulated employees.
     within four hours.
    --(e)(5) Documentation and report    654 railroads, 160,822               4  30 minutes...................               2     89.13          178.26
     of employees subject to recall for   regulated employees.
     testing.
    --(g)(2) RR notification to          654 railroads, 160,822               2  10 minutes...................            0.33     89.13           29.42
     National Response Center of          regulated employees.
     injured employee unconscious or
     otherwise unable to give testing
     consent.
219.205 Specimen collection and
 handling:
    --Post Accident Toxicological        654 railroads, 160,822             103  10 minutes...................           17.17     89.13        1,530.37
     Testing Forms-FRA F 6180.73.         regulated employees.
    --Specimen handling/collection--     160,822 regulated                  219  15 minutes...................           54.75     89.13        4,879.87
     Form FRA F 6180.74 by train crew     employees.
     members after accident.
    --(b) Collection of Post-Mortem      654 railroads, 160,822               7  20 minutes...................            2.33     89.13          207.68
     Toxicology Samples-FRA F 6180.75.    regulated employees.
    --(d) Records of shipment chain of   654 railroads, 160,822             103  2 minutes....................            3.43     89.13          305.72
     custody.                             regulated employees.
    --(e) Specimen security--            654 railroads, 160,822              10  2 minutes....................            0.33     89.13           29.42
     Contemporaneous written record of    regulated employees.
     kit error.
219.206 FRA access to breath test
 results:
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    FRA anticipates zero submissions under this requirement over the next three-year period.............................................................
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219.207 Fatality:
    --(a) RR notification to local       654 railroads, 160,822               5  10 minutes...................            0.83     89.13           73.98
     authority.                           regulated employees.
219.209 Reports of tests and refusals:
    --(a) Telephonic notification to     654 railroads, 160,822             103  2 minutes....................            3.43     89.13          305.72
     National Response Center (NRC) and   regulated employees.
     FRA of accident/incident where
     samples were obtained.
219.211 Analysis and follow-up:
    --(b) Results of post-accident       654 railroads, 160,822               7  15 minutes...................            1.75     89.13          155.98
     toxicological testing to Railroad    regulated employees.
     Medical Review Officer (MRO)
     employee.
    --(c) MRO report to FRA of positive  654 railroads, 160,822               6  15 minutes...................            1.50     89.13          133.70
     test for alcohol/drugs of            regulated employees.
     surviving employee.
                                        ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    --(e) E-email or written response    FRA anticipates zero submissions under this requirement over the next three-years.
     from employee to FRA regarding
     results of the toxicological
     analysis.
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    --(h) Recordkeeping--post-accident   Laboratories maintain records of specimens following an accident or incident. Consequently, there is no burden
     toxicology tests.                    associated with this requirement.
                                        ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    --(i) Employee's request for a       FRA estimates that it will receive zero (0) letters requesting that a sample be retested.
     retest of split blood and urine
     samples.
                                        ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
219.213 Unlawful refusals;
 consequences:
    --(a) Notice of disqualification...  FRA estimates that there will be zero (0) employees who refuse to cooperate in providing blood or urine samples
                                          follow a PAT testing qualifying event.
                                        ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    --(b) Written notice for employee    FRA anticipates zero (0) submissions under this requirement over the next three-years.
     withdrawal from regulated service.
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219.303 Reasonable suspicion
 observations:
    --(d) Railroad maintenance of        654 railroads, 160,822              33  5 minutes....................            2.75     89.13          245.11
     written documentation of             regulated employees.
     reasonable suspicion determination.
219.305 Prompt specimen collection;
 time limitations:
    --(b) Railroad written record        654 railroads, 160,822              11  2 minutes....................            0.37     89.13           32.98
     stating reasons test was not         regulated employees.
     promptly administered.
219.405 Documentation requirements:
    --(a) Written documentation          654 railroads, 160,822           2,314  5 minutes....................          192.83     89.13       17,186.94
     describing basis for reasonable      regulated employees.
     cause test.
219.407 Prompt specimen collection;
 time limitations:

[[Page 11876]]

 
    --(b) Record of prompt specimen      654 railroads, 160,822              17  15 minutes...................            4.25     89.13          378.81
     collection time limitation           regulated employees.
     exceeded.
219.501 Pre-employment drug testing:
    --(b) Railroad documentation of      654 railroads, 64,000            6,400  30 seconds...................           53.33     89.13        4,753.31
     negative pre-employment drug tests   contractor employees.
     for employees of contractors.
219.605 Submission and approval of
 random testing plans:
    --(a)(1) New railroads' submission   12 railroads..............          12  1 hour.......................           12.00     89.13        1,069.56
     of random testing plan.
    --(a)(2) Amendments to currently-    654 railroads, 160,822             450  1 hour.......................          450.00     89.13       40,108.50
     approved FRA random testing plan.    regulated employees.
    --(b) Plan approval notification--   654 railroads, 160,822              56  30 minutes...................           28.00     89.13        2,495.64
     Resubmitted random testing plans     regulated employees.
     after non-approval by FRA.
    --(d)(2) Non-substantive amendment   654 railroads, 160,822             300  15 minutes...................           75.00     89.13        6,684.75
     to an approved plan.                 regulated employees.
219.615 Random testing collections:
    --(f) Documentation of incomplete    654 railroads, 160,822           2,250  30 seconds...................           18.75     89.13        1,671.19
     random testing collections.          regulated employees.
219.617 Participation in random alcohol
 and drug testing:
    --(a)(3) Documentation supporting    654 railroads, 160,822               6  1 hour.......................               6     89.13          534.78
     employee exclusion from random       regulated employees.
     alcohol/drug testing due to a
     substantiated medical emergency.
219.623 Records:
    --(a) Random testing records.......  654 railroads, 160,822          48,977  1 minute.....................          816.28     89.13       72,755.04
                                          regulated employees.
219.1001 Requirement for referral
 programs:
    --Co-worker referral of employee     654 railroads, 160,822              24  5 minutes....................               2     89.13          178.26
     who is unsafe to work or in          regulated employees.
     violation of part 219.
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        Total \5\......................  654 railroads, 160,822         456,302  N/A..........................           2,674  ........         238,317
                                          regulated employees,
                                          2,600 regulated
                                          contractors.
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    Estimated Annual Responses: 456,302.
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    \4\ The burden for this section is based on the estimated time 
it takes for a railroad representative to make a good faith 
determination using FRA's Post-Accident Determination App. FRA 
developed this app to help railroads make correct post-accident 
toxicological testing determinations and has made it available to 
download for free. See https://railroads.dot.gov/railroad-safety/divisions/drug-and-alcohol/post-accident-determination-app.
    \5\ Totals may not add up due to rounding.
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    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 2,674 Hours.
    Total Estimated Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $238,317.
    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 that does not display a currently valid OMB control 
number.
    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.

Christopher S. Van Nostrand,
Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2025-03920 Filed 3-11-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P