Notice2026-03146
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
February 18, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Abstract
Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, this notice announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the information collection and its expected burden. On December 3, 2025, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICR. FRA received two comments that are not related to the notice.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 32 (Wednesday, February 18, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 18, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7624-7625]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-03146]
[[Page 7624]]
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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, this notice announces that FRA is forwarding
the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR
describes the information collection and its expected burden. On
December 3, 2025, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for
public comment on the ICR. FRA received two comments that are not
related to the notice.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
March 20, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR
should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. Find the particular ICR by selecting
``Currently under Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the
search function.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Joanne Swafford, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2b41444a45454e05585c4a4d4d44594f6b4f445f054c445d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="52383d333c3c377c21253334343d203612363d267c353d24">[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
issue two notices seeking public comment on information collection
activities before OMB may approve paperwork packages. See 44 U.S.C.
3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.8 through 1320.12. On December 3, 2025, FRA
published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting public
comment on the ICR for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 90 FR
55776. FRA received zero comments related to the proposed collection of
information.
Before OMB decides whether to approve this proposed collection of
information, it must provide 30 days' notice for public comment.
Federal law requires OMB to approve or disapprove paperwork packages
between 30 and 60 days after the 30-day notice is published. 44 U.S.C.
3507(b) and (c); 5 CFR 1320.12(d); see also 60 FR 44978, 44983 (Aug.
29, 1995). The 30-day notice informs the regulated community of their
opportunity to file relevant comments and affords the agency adequate
time to consider public comments before it renders a decision. 60 FR
44983 (Aug. 29, 1995). Therefore, respondents should submit their
respective comments to OMB within 30 days of publication to best ensure
having their full effect.
Comments are invited on the following ICR regarding: (1) whether
the information collection activities are necessary for FRA to properly
execute its functions, including whether the information 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 to minimize the burden of information
collection activities on the public, including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
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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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 (BMPs) 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 BMPs 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.
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.
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.
[[Page 7625]]
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.
Christopher S. Van Nostrand,
Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2026-03146 Filed 2-17-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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