Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
| Published date | 02 April 2024 |
| Record Number | 2024-06890 |
| Citation | 89 FR 22767 |
| Court | Federal Railroad Administration,Transportation Department |
| Section | Notices |
Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 64 (Tuesday, April 2, 2024)
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22767-22768]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06890]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2024-0005]
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 will seek 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
June 3, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR
should be submitted on regulations.gov to the docket, Docket No. FRA-
2024-0005. 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-NEW) in any correspondence
submitted. FRA will summarize comments received in response to this
notice in a subsequent notice, made available to the public, and
include them in its information collection submission to OMB for
approval.
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 1320.8-1320.12. 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 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: FRA Workforce Development (WFD) Study on Performance
Management Systems and Organizational Culture and Diversity.
OMB Control Number: 2130-NEW.
Abstract: This project is being conducted in response to a Broad
Agency Announcement (BAA) topic released in 2020 entitled ``Research in
Response to Railroad Systems Issues Strategic Priorities.'' FRA has
released BAAs aimed at workforce training and development, developing
educational and vocational pipelines, and addressing issues around
equity and inclusivity within the rail industry. Existing research on
demographics, organizational practices, and policies, as well as
industry culture need to be updated to account for the profound changes
in employment practices and workforce dynamics in the last few years,
including inflation and supply chain issues. This data collection
effort will improve the understanding of the current state of the
industry and establish a baseline against which to measure future
impacts.
The team conducting this research will survey and interview a
cross-section of stakeholders familiar with the current culture in
rail, about barriers to entry they see and experience as impacting
minority populations. Part of the data analysis will examine findings
by employment position to determine if the views at the executive or
managerial levels are similar or shared by individuals and staff in
more entry-level positions. The research team will also review source
documents and artifacts which show how the stakeholder's performance
management system was designed and how it is intended to work. Data
will be collected and compiled from interviews and focus groups about
how well the performance management system functions in practice,
whether the intended use differs from actual use, and whether observed
differences in use benefit or
[[Page 22768]]
hinder efficacy in recruiting and retaining diverse talent.
The study focuses on performance management systems because there
is evidence that organizational culture plays a significant role in
shaping industry demographics. The findings from this research will
provide a better understanding of how employees at various levels are
affected by performance management systems and how these systems
contribute to organizational culture. The project team will provide FRA
with data and best practices that could be used to recommend workforce
development initiatives, that may affect organizational culture, for
rail organizations and other related industries. Therefore, the
research will offer novel, actionable solutions for diversifying the
rail workforce.
The main objectives in this study are to: (1) expand on research
done to date and to gain a better understanding of the organizational
culture and challenges in recruiting and retaining underrepresented
individuals in the rail industry; (2) understand how employees at
various levels are affected by performance management systems and
organizational culture; and (3) examine and identify best practices for
the use of performance management systems as a tool for equitable and
diverse recruitment, development, retention, and promotion.
Primary users of this information will be those in the rail
industry. The findings of this study will provide qualitative data on
the current workforce culture in rail and how performance management
systems may affect organizational culture. Industry stakeholders, FRA,
and DOT may use this data to identify gaps, develop approaches, and
create interventions/solutions to enhance workforce development
initiatives for underrepresented groups.
FRA will publish the results of this study. A summary of the
results may also be presented at technical meetings, such as the annual
meeting of the Transportation Research Board, or at conferences/talks
with professional associations such as the Women's Transportation
Seminar and the American Public Transportation Association.
Type of Request: Approval of a new collection of information.
Affected Public: Rail stakeholders including those in labor
positions, carrier management, research/academia, professional
association staff, HR personnel, regulators, executive level staff,
etc.
Form(s): FRA F 6180.278 and FRA F 6180.279.
Respondent Universe: Rail stakeholders including those in labor
positions, carrier management, research/academia, professional
association staff, human resources (HR) personnel, regulators,
executive level staff, etc.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
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\1\ The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the 2022
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Occupational
Employment Statistics, classified with NAICS 482100, Rail
Transportation. See http://www.bls.gov/oes/currrent/naics4_482100.htm#00-000. The total burden wage rate (Straight time
plus 31%) used in the table is $45.26 (34.55 +10.71 = $45.26).
\2\ A semi-structured interview is a qualitative research method
that utilizes some structured questions that will prompt discussion
with the opportunity for unstructured exploration (additional
questions or clarification of responses) of themes as they engage
during the discussion.
\3\ Totals may not add up due to rounding.
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Reporting Burden:
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Total cost
Description Respondent Total annual Average time Total annual equivalent in
universe responses per response burden hours U.S. dollar
(A)............ (B)............ (C = A * B).... (D = C* Wage
Rates) \1\
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Email notification for on- 150 rail 50 Participants 10 minutes..... 8.33 hours..... $377.02
line survey. This stakeholders.
notification includes
confidentiality statement
to potential participants
(before the survey).
FRA F 6180-279--WFD on-line 150 rail 30 Participants 20 minutes..... 10.00 hours.... $452.60
survey on Organizational stakeholders.
Culture & Performance
Management in Rail. (New
form).
Email notification for 30 rail 10 Participants 10 minutes..... 1.67 hours..... $75.58
Performance Management stakeholders.
Systems interview/focus
group. This notification
includes confidentiality
statement to potential
focus group and interview
respondents (before the
interview).
FRA F 6180.278--WFD 30 rail 5 Participants. 1 hour......... 5.00 hours..... $226.30
Interview Questions. Semi- stakeholders.
structured \2\ interview
questions/focus groups on
experiences with workforce
culture & performance
Management systems (New
form).
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Totals \3\.............. 150 rail 95 responses... N/A............ 25 hours....... $1,132
holders.
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Total Estimated Annual Responses: 95.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 25 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $1,132.
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,
Acting Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2024-06890 Filed 4-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
