Notice2026-18983
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
September 16, 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 178 (Wednesday, September 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 178 (Wednesday, September 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58743-58745]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18983]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2026-1588]
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
November 16, 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-
2026-1588. All comments received will be posted without change to the
docket, including any personal information provided. Please refer to
the assigned OMB control number (2130-0545) 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#a8c2c7c9c6c6cd86dbdfc9cecec7dacce8ccc7dc86cfc7de"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="741e1b151a1a115a07031512121b061034101b005a131b02">[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 finds 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: Passenger Train Emergency Preparedness.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0545.
[[Page 58744]]
Abstract: The railroad passenger train emergency preparedness
regulations under 49 CFR part 239 set forth FRA's requirements for
railroads to meet Federal standards for the preparation, adoption, and
implementation of emergency preparedness plans connected with the
operation of passenger trains, including freight railroads hosting
passenger rail service operations. Part 239 also requires each affected
railroad to instruct its employees on the provisions of its plan. The
information collected is necessary for compliance with the regulation.
In this 60-day notice, FRA has adjusted the burden hour estimates,
decreasing the previously approved burden from 353 to 181 hours. FRA
has lowered its estimate of waiver petitions and new emergency
preparedness plans from 1 annually to 1 over the next 3-year period of
this information collection.
In addition, FRA determined that the paperwork burden for Sec.
239.101(a)(7), dissemination of emergency instructions, is already
accounted for under OMB Control No. 2130-0544. That ICR includes burden
estimates for requirements under Sec. 238.305(c) (Interior calendar
day mechanical inspection of passenger cars), which include verifying
that all safety-related signage is in place and legible. The ongoing
cost of the seat cards is now correctly being reflected under Question
13 as an additional cost to respondents.
Under Sec. 239.105, which requires records to be kept of debrief
and critique sessions after each passenger train emergency situation or
simulation, FRA increased the annual responses from 34 to 228 to more
accurately reflect the required annual emergency simulation by each
railroad and emergency situations that require a debrief and critique
session.
Type of Request: Extension without change (with changes in
estimates) of a currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Businesses (railroads).
Form(s): N/A.
Respondent Universe: 38 railroads.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
Reporting Burden:
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Respondent
49 CFR section universe Total annual responses Average time per Total annual Wage Total cost
(railroads) response burden hours rate \1\ equivalent U.S.D.
(A)....................... (B).................... (C = A * B) (D = C * wage
rates)
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239.13 Waivers:
--Petition for waiver of compliance.. 38 0.33 waiver petition...... 8 hours................ 2.64 $90.19 $238.10
239.101 Emergency preparedness plan:
--(a) Emergency preparedness plans 38 0.33 new plan............. 80 hours............... 26.40 90.19 2,381.02
for new/start-up railroads.
--(a)(1)(ii) Railroad designation of 38 34 designations........... 5 minutes.............. 2.83 90.19 252.53
employees responsible for
maintaining emergency phone numbers
for use in contacting outside
emergency responders and appropriate
RR officials that a passenger
emergency has occurred.
--Commuter/intercity passenger 38 34 lists/updated records.. 1 hour................. 34 90.19 3,066.46
railroads gathering/keeping
emergency phone numbers.
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--(a)(6)(iii)-(iv) On-board emergency The estimated paperwork burden for this requirement is included under OMB Control No. 2130-0576 with respect to
lighting, maintenance and marking of the requirements in Sec. 238.113(d)(1) through (3) and Sec. 238.112(d)(1) through (2).
emergency exits.
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--(a)(7) Railroad dissemination of The estimated paperwork burden for this requirement is reported under OMB Control No. 2130-0544, with respect
information regarding emergency to the requirements in Sec. 238.305(c), Interior calendar day mechanical inspection of passenger cars, which
procedures/instructions. includes verifying that all safety-related signage is in place and legible. The ongoing cost of the seat cards
is now correctly being reflected under Question 13.
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239.105 Debriefing and critique:
--(d) Debrief and critique session 38 228 records............... 5 minutes.............. 19 90.19 1,713.61
records.
239.201 Emergency preparedness plan;
filing and approval:
--Emergency preparedness plan: Filing 38 6 amended plans........... 16 hours............... 96 90.19 8,658.24
of plan and amendments.
--Non-substantive changes to 38 1 non-sub. change......... 10 minutes............. 0.17 90.19 15.03
emergency preparedness plan.
239.301 Operational tests and
inspections:
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--Requirement to conduct operational The estimated paperwork burden for this requirement is included under OMB Control No. 2130-0035, with respect
tests and inspections. to the record keeping requirements in Sec. 217.9(d)(1).
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Total \2\........................ 38 304 responses............. ....................... 181 ........ 16,324.99
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\1\ The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the 2024 Surface Transportation Board Full Year Wage A&B data series using employee group 200
(Professional & Administrative) hourly wage rate of $51.54. The total burden wage rate (straight time plus 75%) used in the table is $90.19 ($51.54 x
1.75 = $90.19).
\2\ Totals may not add up due to rounding.
[[Page 58745]]
Total Estimated Annual Responses: 304.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 181 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent:
$16,324.99.
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. 2026-18983 Filed 9-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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