Notice2025-21841
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
December 3, 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 230 (Wednesday, December 3, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 230 (Wednesday, December 3, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55776-55778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-21841]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2025-0063]
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
February 2, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR
should be submitted on <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> to Docket No. FRA-2025-0063.
All comments received will be posted without change to the docket,
including any personal information provided. Please refer to the
assigned OMB control number (2130-0586) 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Arlette Mussington, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3051425c554444551e5d454343595e57445f5e70545f441e575f46"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c7a6b5aba2b3b3a2e9aab2b4b4aea9a0b3a8a987a3a8b3e9a0a8b1">[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#761c19171818135805011710101904123612190258111900"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6c06030d020209421f1b0d0a0a031e082c080318420b031a">[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: Bridge Safety Standards.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0586.\1\
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\1\ The burden associated with Sec. 214.105(c)(4), formerly
covered under OMB Control No. 2130-0535, is now combined with the
burden under OMB Control No. 2130-0586.
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Abstract: Section 11405, ``Bridge Inspection Reports,'' of the
Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) (Pub. L. 114-94,
Dec. 4, 2015) provides a means for a State or a political subdivision
of a State to obtain a public version of a bridge inspection report
generated by a railroad for a bridge located within its respective
jurisdiction. While the FAST Act specifies that requests for such
reports are to be filed with the Secretary of Transportation, the
responsibility for fulfilling these requests is delegated to FRA.\2\
FRA developed a form titled ``Bridge Inspection Report Public Version
Request Form'' (FRA F 6180.167) to facilitate such requests by States
and their political subdivisions.
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\2\ 49 CFR 1.89(a).
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[[Page 55777]]
The collection of information set forth under 49 CFR part 237
normalized and established Federal requirements for railroad
bridges.\3\ In particular, the collection of information is used by FRA
to confirm that track owners adopt and implement bridge management
programs to inspect, maintain, modify, and repair properly all bridges
that carry trains for which they are responsible. Track owners must
conduct annual inspections of railroad bridges, as well as special
inspections that must be carried out if natural or accidental events
cause conditions that warrant such inspections.
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\3\ 75 FR 41281 (July 15, 2010).
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Further, track owners must incorporate provisions for internal
audits into their bridge management programs and must conduct internal
audits of bridge inspection reports. FRA uses the information collected
to ensure that track owners meet Federal standards for bridge safety
and comply with all the requirements of part 237.
In addition, the collection of information set forth under 49 CFR
214.105(c) establishes standards and practices for bridge worker safety
net systems. Safety nets and net installations must be drop-tested at
the job site after initial installation and before being used as a
fall-protection system, after major repairs, and at 6-month intervals
if left at one site. If a drop-test is not feasible and is not
performed, then the railroad or railroad contractor, or a designated
certified person, must provide written certification the net complies
with the safety standards under Sec. 214.105. FRA and State inspectors
use this information to enforce Federal regulations. The information
maintained at the job site promotes safe bridge worker practices while
providing flexibility at bridge work job sites.
In this 60-day notice, FRA makes no changes to the previously
approved burden hours or responses.
Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected Public: Businesses (railroads and track owners), States,
the District of Columbia (DC), and political subdivisions of States.
Form(s): FRA F 6180.167.
Respondent Universe: 784 track owners, 50 States and DC, and 200
political subdivisions of States.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion and annual.
Reporting Burden:
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\4\ 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).
\5\ For State respondents, the dollar equivalent cost is derived
from the May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data for
management occupations, NAICS 99920--State Government, excluding
schools and hospitals, for State government employees. To calculate
the total burdened wage rate, FRA multiplied the hourly mean wage
rate of $58.14 by 75 percent for overhead costs ($58.14 per hour *
1.75 = $101.75).
\6\ Totals may not add due to rounding.
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Total annual
Section Respondent universe Total annual responses Average time per Total annual Wage rate dollar cost
response burden hours \4\ equivalent
(A)................... (B)................... (C) = A * B (D) = C *
wage rates
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FAST Act, Section 11405
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--Written request or filing of Form 50 States and DC and 50 forms.............. 5 minutes............. 4.17 \5\ $424.40
FRA F 6180.167 ``Bridge Inspection 200 State political $101.75
Report Public Version Request subdivisions.
Form'' by State or a political
subdivision of a State.
FAST Act, Section 11405--Submission 754 railroads.......... 47 reports............ 1 hour................ 47 89.13 4,189.11
of public version of bridge
inspection report from railroads to
FRA.
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214.105 Fall protection systems standards and practices
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--(c)(4) Safety net systems 754 railroads.......... 3 certification 5 minutes............. 0.25 89.13 22.28
certification records. records.
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237.3 Responsibility for compliance
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--(b) Notifications to FRA of 784 track owners....... 10 notifications...... 2 hours............... 20 89.13 1,782.60
assignment of bridge responsibility
and signed statement by assignee
concerning bridge responsibility.
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237.9 Waivers
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--Waiver petitions.................. 784 track owners....... 0.33 petitions........ 4 hours............... 1.32 89.13 117.65
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237.31 Adoption of bridge management programs
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--Existing and new track owners 784 track owners....... 15 programs........... 24 hours.............. 360 89.13 32,086.80
bridge management program.
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237.57 Designation of individuals
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--Designation of qualified railroad 784 track owners....... 200 records........... 15 minutes............ 50 89.13 4,456.50
bridge engineers, inspectors, and
supervisors.
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237.73 Protection of bridges from over-weight and over-dimension loads
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237.73--Protection of bridges from 784 track owners....... 100 written 2 hours............... 200 89.13 17,826.00
over-weight and over-dimension instructions.
loads--Issuance of instructions to
railroad personnel by track owner.
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[[Page 55778]]
237.109 Bridge inspection records
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--Bridge inspection reports and 784 track owners....... 100,000 inspection 15 minutes............ 25,000 89.13 2,228,250.00
records, including deficient reports and records.
condition reports.
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237.111 Review of bridge inspection reports
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--Bridge engineer and supervisor 784 track owners....... 100,000 reviews....... 5 minutes............. 8,333.33 89.13 742,749.70
review of bridge inspection reports.
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237.155 Documents and records
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237.155--Documents & records-- 784 track owners....... 5 electronic 80 hours.............. 400 89.13 35,652.00
Establishment of information recordkeeping systems.
technology security systems for
electronic recordkeeping.
--(a)(4) Training of track owner's 784 track owners....... 50 training records... 4 hours............... 200 89.13 17,826.00
employees who use the system on the
proper use of the electronic
recordkeeping system.
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Total \6\....................... 784 track owners, 50 200,480 responses..... ...................... 34,616 ......... 3,085,383.04
States and DC, and 200
political subdivisions.
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Total Estimated Annual Responses: 200,480.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 34,616 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent:
$3,085,383.04.
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. 2025-21841 Filed 12-2-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on December 3, 2025.
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