Notice2025-04893
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
March 21, 2025
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Abstract
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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 54 (Friday, March 21, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 54 (Friday, March 21, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13401-13405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-04893]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2025-0011]
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 20, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR
should be submitted on <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> to the docket, Docket No.
FRA-2025-0011. All comments received will be posted without change to
the docket, including any personal information provided. Please refer
to the assigned OMB control number (2130-0544) in any correspondence
submitted. FRA will summarize comments received in response to this
notice in a subsequent 30-day notice, made available to the public, and
include them in its information collection submission to OMB for
approval.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Arlette Mussington, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#aacbd8c6cfdedecf84c7dfd9d9c3c4cddec5c4eacec5de84cdc5dc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="19786b757c6d6d7c37746c6a6a70777e6d7677597d766d377e766f">[email protected]</span></a> or
telephone: (571) 609-1285 or Ms. Joanne Swafford, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b6dcd9d7d8d8d398c5c1d7d0d0d9c4d2f6d2d9c298d1d9c0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="264c49474848430855514740404954426642495208414950">[email protected]</span></a> 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 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: Passenger Equipment Safety Standards.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0544.
Abstract: FRA's Passenger Equipment Safety Standards (49 CFR part
238) are used by FRA to promote passenger train safety by ensuring
requirements are met for structural design and performance, fire
safety, emergency systems, inspection, testing, and maintenance, and
other provisions for the safe operation of railroad passenger
equipment. For instance, the information collected from daily
inspections is used to detect and correct equipment problems in order
to prevent, to the extent that they can be prevented, collisions,
derailments, and other occurrences involving railroad passenger
equipment that cause injury or death to railroad employees, railroad
passengers, or to the general public.
In this 60-day notice, FRA has adjusted the estimated paperwork
burden. FRA's estimate of the burden hours under this ICR has increased
from 95,946 hours to 95,947 hours.
Under Sec. Sec. 238.133(c), En route failure safety briefing and
238.21(f), Comment on petitions, after further review, FRA determined
that these requirements are not considered information collection under
5 CFR 1320.3(b) and (c). Therefore, the burden hour estimates
associated with these requirements were removed.
A small increase in the estimated number of submissions under Sec.
238.111, Pre-revenue service acceptance testing plans for Tier III
resulted in the overall increase in burden of one (1) hour.
Type of Request: Extension without change (with changes in
estimates) of a currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Businesses.
Form(s): N/A.
Respondent Universe: 35 Railroads.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
Reporting Burden
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Total annual
CFR section Respondent universe Total annual responses Average time per burden in Wage Total cost
response hours rate \1\ equivalent
(A)..................... (B)..................... (C) = A * B (D) (E) = C * D
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229.47 Emergency brake valve:
--(a) through (b) FRA anticipates zero submissions for this regulatory requirement over the next three-years.
``Emergency Brake Valve''
shall be legibly stenciled
or marked near each valve
or shall be shown on an
adjacent badge plate.
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238.7 Waivers:
--(a) through (c) Petition 34 railroads............. 12...................... 6 hours................. 72 $89.13 $6,417.36
for waiver of compliance
under this section.
[[Page 13402]]
238.15 Movement of passenger
equipment with power brake
defects: \2\
--(b)(1)(iii) Passenger 34 railroads............. 1,000................... 3 minutes............... 50 89.13 4,456.50
equipment with a power
brake defect at the time a
Class I or IA brake test
is performed must be
tagged before it is moved.
--(c)(2) Limitations on 34 railroads............. 288..................... 3 minutes............... 14.40 89.13 1,283.48
movement of passenger
equipment in passenger
service that becomes
defective en route after a
Class I or IA brake test--
Tagging of defective
equipment.
238.17 Movement of passenger
equipment with other than
power brake defects:
--(c)(4) and (e)(3) Tagging 34 railroads............. 200..................... 3 minutes............... 10 89.13 891.30
of defective equipment.
238.19 Reporting and tracking
of repairs to defective
passenger equipment:
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238.19(b) and (c) Retention For Tier I trainsets, FRA determined that since the 1990s railroads retain and make available records for reporting and
or availability of records. tracking defective passenger equipment as part of their normal business operations.
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--(d) List of repair FRA anticipates zero submissions under this paperwork requirement over the next three years.
points--Railroads
operating long-distance
intercity and long-
distance Tier II passenger
equipment.
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238.21 Special approval
procedure:
--(b) Petitions for special 34 railroads............. 1....................... 16 hours................ 16 89.13 1,426.08
approval of alternative
standard.
--(c) Petitions for special 34 railroads............. 1....................... 40 hours................ 40 89.13 3,565.20
approval of alternative
compliance.
238.103 Fire safety:
--(c) Fire safety analysis 1 new railroad........... 1....................... 150 hours............... 150 89.13 13,369.50
for procuring new
passenger cars and
locomotives.
--(d)(4) New fire safety 34 railroads............. 1....................... 10 hours................ 10 89.13 891.30
analysis prior to
transferring existing
passenger cars and
locomotives to a new
category of rail service.
238.105 Train electronic
hardware and software safety:
Train electronic hardware 1 new railroad........... 1....................... 150 hours............... 150 89.13 13,369.50
and software safety
program plans.
238.107 Inspection, testing and
maintenance plan (ITM):
--(b) Development of ITM 1 new railroad........... 1....................... 150 hours............... 150 89.13 13,369.50
plan for new railroads.
--(d) ITM plan annual 34 railroads............. 34...................... 20 hours................ 680 89.13 60,608.40
review.
238.109 Training,
qualification, and designation
program:
--(a) Development of 1 new railroad........... 1....................... 160 hours............... 160 89.13 14,260.80
training program/
curriculum for new
railroads.
--(b)(13) Recordkeeping-- 34 railroads............. 488..................... 3 minutes............... 24.40 89.13 2,174.78
Employees and trainers--
Training qualifications.
238.111 Pre-revenue service
acceptance testing plan: \3\
--(a) Passenger equipment 35 railroads............. 1.33.................... 16 hours................ 21.28 89.13 1,896.69
that has previously been
used in service in the
U.S.--New and modified
plans.
--(b)(1) and (2) Passenger 35 railroads............. 1....................... 192 hours............... 192 89.13 17,112.96
equipment that has not
been previously used in
revenue service in the U.S.
--(b)(4) Documenting in 35 railroads............. 1 letter................ 4 hours................. 4 89.13 356.52
writing the results of the
tests.
--(b)(7) and (c) Plan 1 railroad............... 0.33.................... 3 hours................. 1 89.13 89.13
submitted to FRA for Tier
II or Tier III equipment
before being placed in
service.
238.131 Exterior side door
safety systems--new passenger
cars and locomotives used in
passenger service:
--(a)(2)--Failure Modes, 1 new railroad........... 1....................... 80 hours................ 80 89.13 7,130.40
Effects, Criticality
Analysis (FMECA).
238.133 Exterior side door
safety systems--all passenger
cars and locomotives used in a
passenger service:
--(a)(2) Functional test 1 new railroad........... 1....................... 4 hours................. 4 89.13 356.52
plans.
--(d) Records of door by- 34 railroads............. 100..................... 2 minutes............... 3.33 89.13 296.81
pass activation,
unintended opening, and
exterior side door safety
system inspections.
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[[Page 13403]]
238.135 Operating practices for
exterior side door safety
systems:
--(c) Railroads' request to The estimated paperwork burden for this regulatory requirement is covered above under Sec. 238.7 or Sec. 238.21.
FRA for special
consideration to operate
passenger trains with
exterior side doors or
trap doors, or both, open
between stations.
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--(c)(4) Railroads' The estimated paperwork burden for this regulatory requirement is covered above under Sec. 238.7 or Sec. 238.21.
response to FRA request
for additional information
concerning special
consideration request.
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--(d) Operating rules on 1 new railroad........... 1....................... 8 hours................. 8 89.13 713.04
how to safely override a
door summary circuit or no-
motion system, or both, in
the event of an en route
exterior side door failure
or malfunction on a
passenger train (Note:
Includes burden under Sec.
238.137).
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--(e) Railroads' training The estimated paperwork burden associated with training recordkeeping for crewmembers per this requirement is covered
of train crewmembers on under Sec. 238.109 and under OMB control numbers, 2130-0596 Conductor Certification and 2130-0533, Locomotive
requirements of this Engineer Certification.
section.
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238.229 Safety appliances--
general:
--(c) Welded safety 1 new railroad........... 1....................... 1 hour.................. 1 89.13 89.13
appliances--Written lists
submitted to FRA by the
railroads.
--(d) Defective welded 34 railroads............. 4....................... 3 minutes............... 0.20 69.60 13.92
safety appliance or welded
safety appliance bracket
or support--Tagging.
--(d) Notification to 34 railroads............. 2....................... 1 minute................ 0.03 89.13 2.68
crewmembers about non-
compliant equipment.
--(g) Inspection plans..... 1 new railroad........... 1....................... 16 hours................ 16 89.13 1,426.08
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--(k) Records of the The estimated paperwork burden for this requirement is covered under OMB control number 2130-0004 (Sec. 229.21).
inspection and repair of
the welded safety
appliance brackets.
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238.230 Safety appliances--new
equipment:
--(b)(1)(ix) Inspection FRA estimates zero submissions for this paperwork requirement for this 3-year ICR period.
record of welded equipment
by qualified employee.
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--(b)(3) Welded safety FRA estimates zero submissions for this paperwork requirement for this 3-year ICR period.
appliances: Documentation
for equipment
impractically designed to
mechanically fasten safety
appliance support.
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238.231 Brake System:
--(h)(3) Inspection and The estimated paperwork burden for this requirement is covered under Sec. 238.303(g) and under OMB control number
repair of hand/parking 2130-0004.
brake: Records (under FRA
Form 6180.49A).
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--(h)(4)(iv) Procedures 1 new railroad........... 1....................... 2 hours................. 2 89.13 178.26
verifying hold of hand/
parking brakes.
238.237 Automated monitoring:
--(b) Documentation for 1 new railroad........... 1....................... 2 hours................. 2 89.13 178.26
alerter/deadman control
timing.
--(d)(2)(i) Defective 34 railroads............. 25...................... 3 minutes............... 1.25 69.60 87.00
alerter/deadman control:
Tagging.
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238.303 Exterior calendar day
mechanical inspection of
passenger equipment:
--(b)(2) Notice of previous FRA anticipates zero railroad submissions for this 3-year ICR period.
inspection.
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--(e)(15)(i)(A) & (ii)(A) 34 railroads............. 50.00 tags.............. 3 minutes............... 2.50 69.60 174.00
Tagging of inoperative
dynamic brakes.
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--(e)(17) Multiple unit FRA anticipates zero railroad submissions for this 3-year ICR period.
(MU) passenger equipment
found with inoperative/
ineffective air
compressors at exterior
calendar day inspection:
Documents.
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--(e)(17)(v) Written notice The estimated paperwork burden for this regulatory requirement is covered above under Sec. 238.303(e)(15).
to train crew about
inoperative/ineffective
air compressors.
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--(g) Record of exterior 34 railroads............. 1,734,115............... 1 minute................ 28,901.92 89.13 2,576,028.13
calendar daily mechanical
inspections (Other than
locomotives) (* Note:
Includes burden for
records of inoperative air
compressors under Sec.
238.303(e)(18)(iv)).
[[Page 13404]]
238.305 Interior calendar day
mechanical inspection of
passenger cars:
--(c)(10) Tagging of 34 railroads............. 540.00.................. 3 minutes............... 27 89.13 2,406.51
defective end/side doors.
--(f) Records of interior 34 railroads............. 3,102,865............... 1 minute................ 51,714.42 89.13 4,609,306.26
calendar day inspection.
238.307 Periodic mechanical
inspection of passenger cars
and unpowered vehicles used in
passenger trains:
--(a)(2) Alternative 34 railroads............. 2....................... 5 hours................. 10 89.13 891.30
inspection intervals:
Notifications.
--(c)(1) Notice of seats 34 railroads............. 200..................... 2 minutes............... 6.67 69.60 464.24
and seat attachments
broken or loose.
--(e)(1) Records of each 34 railroads............. 5,184................... 1 hour.................. 5,184 69.60 360,806.40
periodic mechanical
inspection.
--(e)(2) Detailed 34 railroads............. 2....................... 100 hours............... 200 89.13 17,826.00
documentation of
reliability assessments as
basis for alternative
inspection interval.
238.311 Single car test:
--(f) Tagging to indicate 34 railroads............. 50.00 tags.............. 3 minutes............... 2.50 69.60 174.00
need for single car test.
238.313 Class I brake test:
--(h) Record for additional 34 railroads............. 15,600.................. 30 minutes.............. 7,800 69.60 542,880.00
inspection for passenger
equipment that does not
comply with Sec.
238.231(b)(1).
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238.321 Out-of-service credit:
Passenger car: Out-of-use The estimated paperwork burden for this regulatory requirement is covered in this ICR under Sec. 238.307 and under
notation. OMB control number 2130-0004 under Sec. 229.23(d) through (g).
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238.703 Quasi-static
compression load requirements:
--(b)(3) Document to FRA on 1 new railroad........... 0.33.................... 40 hours................ 13.20 89.13 1,176.52
Tier III trainset
compliance.
238.705 Dynamic collision
scenario:
--(a)(10) Dynamic collision 1 new railroad........... 0.33.................... 40 hours................ 13.20 89.13 1,176.52
scenario--Model validation
document to FRA for review
and approval.
238.707 Override protection:
--Anti-climbing performance 1 new railroad........... 0.33.................... 40 hours................ 13.20 89.13 1,176.52
evaluation for Tier III
trainsets.
238.709 Fluid entry inhibition:
--(b) Information to 1 new railroad........... 0.33.................... 20 hours................ 6.60 89.13 588.26
demonstrate compliance
with this section of a
Tier III trainset.
238.721 Glazing:
--(3)(i) Cab glazing; end 3 glass manufacturers.... 0.33.................... 60 hours................ 19.80 89.13 1,764.78
facing--Documentation
containing technical
justification.
--(b) Cab glazing; side- 3 glass manufacturers.... 0.33.................... 10 hours................ 3.30 89.13 294.13
facing exterior windows in
Tier III cab--Each end-
facing exterior window in
a cab shall, at a minimum,
provide ballistic
penetration resistance
that meets the
requirements of appendix A
to part 223 (Certification
of Glazing Materials).
--(c) Non-cab glazing; side- 3 glass manufacturers.... 0.33.................... 20 hours................ 6.60 89.13 588.26
facing exterior windows--
Tier III--compliance
document for Type II
glazing.
--(c)(2) Alternative 3 glass manufacturers.... 0.67.................... 5 hours................. 3.35 89.13 298.59
standard to FRA for side-
facing exterior window
intended to be breakable
and serve as an emergency
window exit (option to
comply with an alternative
standard).
238.731 Brake system:
--(d)(1) Tier III 1 new railroad........... 53.33 stenciling........ 1 hour (design) + 2 55.11 69.60 3,835.66
trainsets' passenger brake minutes (marking).
alarm--Legible stenciling/
marking of devices with
words ``Passenger Brake
Alarm'' (including the
design of the sticker).
--(f) Main reservoir test/ 1 new railroad........... 0.33.................... 6 hours................. 1.98 69.60 137.81
certification.
--(h) Main reservoir tests-- 1 railroad............... 0.33.................... 10 hours................ 3.30 89.13 294.13
Inspection, testing and
maintenance program.
--(j) Brake application/ 1 railroad............... 0.33.................... 40 hours................ 13.20 89.13 1,176.52
release--Brake actuator
design with approved brake
cylinder pressure as part
of design review process.
--(o) Train securement-- 1 railroad............... 0.33.................... 8 hours................. 2.64 89.13 235.31
Tier III equipment:
demonstrated securement
procedure.
238.733 Interior fixture
attachment:
--Analysis for FRA approval 1 railroad............... 0.33.................... 20 hours................ 6.60 89.13 588.26
(Tier III).
238.735 Seat crashworthiness
standard (passenger & cab
crew):
--Analysis for FRA approval 1 railroad............... 0.33.................... 40 hours................ 13.20 89.13 1,176.52
(Tier III).
[[Page 13405]]
238.737 Luggage racks:
--Analysis for FRA approval 1 railroad............... 0.33.................... 20 hours................ 6.60 89.13 588.26
(Tier III).
238.741 Emergency window egress
and rescue access:
--Plan to FRA for passenger 1 railroad............... 0.33.................... 60 hours................ 19.80 89.13 1,764.78
cars in Tier III trainsets
not in compliance with
Sec. 238.113 or Sec.
238.114.
238.743 Emergency Lighting:
--Analysis for FRA approval 1 railroad............... 0.33 analysis/test...... 60 hours................ 19.80 89.13 1,764.78
(Tier III).
238.751 Alerters:
--Alternate technology-- 1 railroad............... 0.33 analysis/test...... 40 hours................ 13.20 89.13 1,176.52
Analysis for FRA approval
(Tier III).
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Total \4\.............. 35 railroads............. 4,860,838 Responses..... N/A..................... 95,947 N/A 8,296,770
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\1\ Throughout the tables in this document, the dollar equivalent cost is derived from the 2023 Surface Transportation Board's Full Year Wage A&B data
series using the appropriate employee group hourly wage rate that includes 75-percent overhead charges.
\2\ Paragraph 238.15(c)(4), Conditional requirement, has been removed from this submission. FRA determined that this regulatory requirement does not
create a paperwork burden.
\3\ Paragraph 238.111(b), Subsequent equipment orders have been removed from this submission. After further review, this is not a requirement specified
under this section and therefore there is no associated burden.
\4\ Totals may not add up due to rounding.
Total Estimated Annual Responses: 4,860,838.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 95,947 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent:
$8,296,770.
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. 2025-04893 Filed 3-20-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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