Notice2026-01854
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
January 30, 2026
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 91 Issue 20 (Friday, January 30, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 20 (Friday, January 30, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4166-4167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01854]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2026-0036]
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
March 31, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR
should be submitted on <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> to Docket No. FRA-
2026-0036. All comments received will be posted without change to the
docket, including any personal information provided. Please refer to
the assigned OMB control number (2130-0523) 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. Joanne Swafford, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#22484d434c4c470c51554344444d504662464d560c454d54"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="13797c727d7d763d60647275757c617753777c673d747c65">[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
[[Page 4167]]
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: Rear End Marking Devices.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0523.
Abstract: 49 CFR part 221 contains requirements for rear end
marking devices, which are subject to FRA approval. Railroads must
provide FRA with a detailed description of the type of marking devices
used for any locomotive operating singly or for cars or locomotives
operating at the end of a train (trailing end) to ensure that they meet
minimum standards for visibility and display. Specifically, part 221
requires railroads to furnish a certification that each device has been
tested in accordance with current ``Guidelines for Testing of Rear End
Marking Devices.'' In addition, part 221 requires railroads to furnish
detailed test records, which include the names of testing
organizations, test descriptions, number of samples tested, and the
test results, to demonstrate compliance with the performance
requirements in this part.
In this 60-day notice, FRA made no changes to the previously
approved burden hours or responses.
Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected Public: Businesses.
Form(s): N/A.
Respondent Universe: 754 railroads and 30 manufacturers.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
Reporting Burden
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Average
time per Total annual Wage rate Total cost equivalent
CFR Respondent universe Total annual responses response burden hours \1\ U.S.D
(hours)
(A).................... (B) (A * B = C) ........... (D = C * wage rate)
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Appendix A to Part 221--Procedures for Approval of Rear End Marking Devices
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--Approval of marking devices in 754 railroads 30 2 submissions & records 1 2 $90.19 $180.38
accordance with appendix procedures. manufacturers.
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Total........................... 754 railroads 30 2 responses............ .......... 2 ........... 180.38
manufacturers.
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\1\ Surface Transportation Board (STB), Quarterly Wage Form A&B Data (2024). Compiled from Class I railroad data reported on Wage Form A&B for year
2024. Calculated as: Wage ($/hour) = sum of compensation for time worked and paid for straight time rates ($) for Class I railroads / sum of service
hours for time worked and paid for straight time rates (hours) for Class I railroads. Available: <a href="https://www.stb.gov/reports-data/economic-data/quarterly-wage-ab-data/">https://www.stb.gov/reports-data/economic-data/quarterly-wage-ab-data/</a>. Using employee group 200 (Professional and Administrative) hourly wage rate of $51.54 multiplied by 1.75 gives a total
burdened wage rate of $90.19.
Total Estimated Annual Responses: 2.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 2 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $180.38.
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. 2026-01854 Filed 1-29-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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