Notice2026-07178
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
April 14, 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 January 30, 2026, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICR. FRA received no comments in response to the notice.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19260-19261]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07178]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2026-0035]
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
January 30, 2026, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for
public comment on the ICR. FRA received no comments in response to the
notice.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
May 14, 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#b2d8ddd3dcdcd79cc1c5d3d4d4ddc0d6f2d6ddc69cd5ddc4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="177d78767979723964607671717865735773786339707861">[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 January 30, 2026, 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 91 FR
4165. 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
[[Page 19261]]
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: Bad Order and Home Shop Card and Stenciling Reporting Mark.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0519.
Abstract: Under 49 CFR part 215, railroads are required to inspect
freight cars placed in service and take remedial action when defects
are identified. Under 49 CFR 215.11, a railroad must also maintain a
record for each of the designated persons qualified to inspect railroad
freight cars for part 215 compliance. A railroad freight car with a
part 215 defect may be moved to another location for repair only after
the railroad has complied with the process under 49 CFR 215.9. Section
215.9 requires railroads to affix a ``bad order'' tag (or card)
describing each defect to each side of the freight car. It is
imperative that a defective freight car be tagged ``bad order'' (or
``home shop for repairs'') so it can be readily identified and moved to
another location for repair purposes only, and so that the maximum
speed and other restrictions necessary for safely conducting the
movement are known. At the repair location, the ``bad order'' tag
serves as a notification of the defective condition of the freight car.
Railroads must retain each tag for 90 days to verify that proper
repairs were made at the designated location. When inspecting freight
cars, FRA and State inspectors review all pertinent records to
determine railroads' compliance with the movement restrictions of Sec.
215.9.
In addition, Sec. 215.301 requires railroads and private car
owners to stencil or otherwise display identification marks on freight
cars, including a car number and build date. FRA uses identification
marks to help obtain certain information related to a car's compliance
with Federal safety requirements. The marks are used consistently
across railroad records to identify the car and show: the type of car,
what it is carrying, its movement history, and current maintenance
schedule. Using the marks to identify the car helps FRA determine the
application of Federal safety requirements to that car and who is
responsible for compliance. FRA also uses this information to determine
if the freight car qualifies for dedicated service and is excluded from
the requirements of part 215. Railroads use the required information to
provide identification and control so that dedicated cars remain in the
prescribed service.
Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected Public: Businesses.
Form(s): N/A.
Respondent Universe: 754 railroads.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
Total Estimated Annual Responses: 285,000.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 38,000 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent:
$2,789,580.
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. 2026-07178 Filed 4-13-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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