Notice2026-17776
60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Information Collection Request (ICR) for the Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grant (DIIG) Program
Primary source
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Published
September 1, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentTransportation Statistics Bureau
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, and its implementing regulations, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R) invites the general public and all other interested entities to comment on a new information collection request associated with a new Federal Assistance program entitled "2026 Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grant (DIIG) Program." This program was established under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 to support government entities in deploying and enhancing highly automated drone systems for critical infrastructure safety inspections. OST-R is seeking a new OMB Control Number for this data collection effort.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 168 (Tuesday, September 1, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 168 (Tuesday, September 1, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56283-56284]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17776]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
[Docket No. DOT-OST-2026-3367]
60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Information
Collection Request (ICR) for the Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grant
(DIIG) Program
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
(OST-R), Highly Automated Systems Safety Center of Excellence (HASS
COE), Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Department of Transportation
(DOT).
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, and
its implementing regulations, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Research and Technology (OST-R) invites the general public and all
other interested entities to comment on a new information collection
request associated with a new Federal Assistance program entitled
``2026 Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grant (DIIG) Program.'' This
program was established under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 to
support government entities in deploying and enhancing highly automated
drone systems for critical infrastructure safety inspections.
OST-R is seeking a new OMB Control Number for this data collection
effort.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 27, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. DOT-OST-
2026-3367, using any of the following methods:
Electronic Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> and
follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
[[Page 56284]]
Mail: Dockets Operations, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building 5th Floor, Room W58-213,
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to this
collection, please contact the HASS COE DIIG Program Administration via
email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6b1f031245050c1e120e052b0f041f450c041d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f6829e8fd89891838f9398b6929982d8919980">[email protected]</span></a> or via the HASS COE Engagement Office.
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,
OST-R invites interested parties to comment on the following ICR
regarding:
(1) whether the information collection activities are necessary for
OST-R to properly execute its functions, including whether the
activities will have practical utility.
(2) the accuracy of OST-R'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 OST-R to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of
the information being collected.
(4) ways for OST-R 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).)
OST-R believes that soliciting public comment may reduce the
administrative and paperwork burdens associated with the collection of
information that Federal regulations mandate. In summary, OST-R reasons
that 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.
(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 OST-R will submit for OMB
clearance as the PRA requires:
Program Title: Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grant (DIIG) Program
Application and Reporting Requirements.
Forms: SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, and DIIG Specific Project
Narrative and Budget Templates.
Type of Review: New Information Collection Request (ICR).
Background: The DIIG Program provides competitive federal funding
up to $9,000,000 to state, local, tribal, and territorial government
entities to safely integrate drone technologies into workflow processes
for evaluating bridges, dams, roads, and other essential physical
infrastructures. Collected information will enable the HASS COE
technical evaluation panel to verify applicant eligibility, evaluate
merit according to multi-jurisdictional complexity criteria, and ensure
compliant fiscal oversight throughout the post-award grant lifecycle.
Respondents: State, local, tribal, and territorial government
authorities requesting federal matching grants for drone system
expansion, training, and deployment.
Estimated Burden
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Annual Hours/ Total annual
Collection instrument/activity Respondents Frequency responses response burden hours
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DIIG application narrative 60................ 1 per competition. 60 40 2,400
package.
Optional Federal-share waiver 12................ 1 if requested.... 12 4 48
request under section 912(g).
Periodic performance report.... 5 active Quarterly......... 20 8 160
recipients.
Program evaluation/data 5 active Annual............ 10 8 80
submission. recipients.
Final performance report....... 5 recipients...... Once at closeout.. 5 20 100
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Total...................... .................. .................. 107 80 2,788
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Annualized Respondent Labor Cost
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Estimated annual labor
Annual burden hours Loaded hourly rate Calculation cost
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2,738 $66.41 2,788 x $66.41 $185,151.08
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Note: Total anticipated program awards will be limited to
approximately 5 distinct government recipients ranging from $500,000
to $9,000,000 per award, resulting in a significantly lower overall
post-award compliance burden compared to the initial application
field.
Request for Public Comments
Comments are specifically invited on:
1. Whether the planned information collection is vital for the
proper execution of HASS COE infrastructure validation goals.
2. The accuracy of the agency's technical calculation of the
estimated time and cost burden.
3. Specific avenues to leverage modern technical tools (e.g., cloud
data platform templates) to streamline workflow burden for local
jurisdictions.
Under 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 CFR 1320.5(b) and 1320.8(b)(3)(vi),
OST-R informs all interested parties that a respondent is not required
to respond to, conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB control number.
(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.)
Issued in Washington, DC, on Aug 27th, 2026.
Thy H. Nguyen,
SMART Grants Agreements Officer.
[FR Doc. 2026-17776 Filed 8-31-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P
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