Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

Issuing agencies

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

<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 197 (Wednesday, October 14, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 197 (Wednesday, October 14, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65291-65293]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-20995]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2026-1589]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 
December 14, 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-
2026-1589. All comments received will be posted without change to the 
docket, including any personal information provided. Please refer to 
the assigned OMB control number (2130-0010) 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#d6bcb9b7b8b8b3f8a5a1b7b0b0b9a4b296b2b9a2f8b1b9a0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="03696c626d6d662d70746265656c716743676c772d646c75">[email&#160;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: Track Safety Standards.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0010.
    Abstract: The Track Safety Standards regulations under 49 CFR part 
213 prescribe minimum safety requirements for railroad track that is 
part of the general railroad system of transportation. FRA uses this 
information collection to enhance rail safety by monitoring and 
enforcing compliance with regulatory requirements. While the 
requirements prescribed in this part generally apply to specific track 
conditions existing in isolation, a combination of track conditions, 
none of which individually amounts to a deviation from the requirements 
in this part, may require remedial action to provide safe operations 
over that track. Qualified persons inspect track and take action to 
allow safe passage of trains and ensure compliance with the prescribed 
standards.
    In this 60-day notice, FRA has adjusted the previously approved 
burden hours. While some reported burdens have increased, the overall 
burden hours have decreased from the previously approved 234,294 hours 
to

[[Page 65292]]

234,274 hours. In general, the revised estimates reflect that the total 
number of notifications under 49 CFR 213.5, Responsibility for 
compliance, decreased from 15 to 7 notices annually and petitions under 
49 CFR 213.17, Waivers, decreased from 10 to 3 annually.
    In addition, FRA projects zero submissions under Sec.  213.110, 
Gage restraint measurement systems, as no railroads currently use this 
technology to comply with Federal regulations. The burden table has 
been updated accordingly.
    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: 773.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Total annual        Average time per     Total annual                       Total cost
            CFR section              Respondent  universe        responses             response         burden hours    Wage rate \1\  equivalent U.S.D.
                                                           (A).................  (B).................     (C = A * B)                      (D = C * wage
                                                                                                                                                  rates)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
213.4 Excepted track:
    --(f) Notification to FRA 10    773 railroads........  16 notices..........  10 minutes..........            2.67          $94.50            $252.32
     days prior to removal of
     excepted track.
213.5 Responsibility for
 compliance:
    --(c) Notification to FRA of    773 railroads........  7 notices...........  1 hour..............               7           94.50             661.50
     assignment of track to
     another person.
213.7 Designation of qualified
 persons to supervise certain
 renewals and inspect track:
    --(e) Designations............  773 railroads........  2,500 names.........  10 minutes..........          416.67           94.50          39,375.32
213.17 Waivers:
    --(a) Waivers.................  773 railroads........  3 petitions.........  2 hours.............               6           94.50             567.00
213.57 Curves; elevation and speed
 limitations:
    --(e) Request to FRA for        773 railroads........  4 requests..........  8 hours.............              32           94.50           3,024.00
     vehicle type approval.
    --(f) Written notification to   773 railroads........  4notifications......  2 hours.............               8           94.50             756.00
     FRA prior to implementation
     of higher curving speeds.
    --(g) Written consent of track  773 railroads........  4 written consents..  45 minutes..........         3 hours           94.50             283.50
     owners obtained by railroad
     providing service over that
     track.
213.110 Gage restraint measurement
 systems:
                                   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    --(a), (g), (h), (j), and (n)    FRA anticipates zero submissions under Sec.   213.110 for the three-year renewal period as GRMS
     Implementing gage restraint                             is not currently used for regulatory compliance.
     measurement systems (GRMS),
     vehicle output and exception
     reports, data integrity and
     inspection records.
                                   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
213.118 Continuous welded rail
 (CWR); plan review and approval:
    --(a) through (c) Revised       438 railroads........  10 plans............  4 hours.............              40           94.50              3,780
     plans with procedures for CWR.
    --(d) Notification to FRA and   438 railroads........  750 notices.........  15 seconds..........      3.13 hours           94.50             295.79
     railroad employees of CWR
     plan effective date.
    --(e) Written submissions       438 railroads........  5 written             2 hours.............              10           94.50             945.00
     after plan disapproval.                                submissions.
    --(e) Final FRA disapproval     438 railroads........  5 amended plans.....  1 hour..............         5 hours           94.50             472.50
     and plan amendment.
213.234 Automated inspection of
 track constructed with concrete
 crossties:
    --(e) Exception reports         30 railroads.........  125 reports.........  15 minutes..........           31.25           74.13           2,316.56
     listing all exception to Sec.
       213.109(d)(4).
    --(f) Recordkeeping             30 railroads.........  2,000 records.......  30 minutes..........           1,000           94.50          94,500.00
     requirements.
    --(g) Procedure for integrity   30 railroads.........  30 revised            2 hours.............              60          127.05           7,623.00
     of data--Track owners to                               procedures.
     institute procedures for
     maintaining the integrity of
     the data collected by the
     measurement system.
    --(h)(3) Training--Track        30 railroads.........  2,250 records.......  5 minutes...........          187.50           74.13          13,899.38
     owners to provide annual
     training in handling rail
     seat deterioration exceptions
     to all persons designated as
     fully qualified under Sec.
     213.7 and whose territories
     are subject to the
     requirements of Sec.
     213.234..
213.237 Inspection of rail:
    --(b)(2) Detailed request to    65 railroads.........  4 requests..........  15 minutes..........          1 hour           94.50              94.50
     FRA to change designation of
     a rail inspection segment or
     establish a new segment.
    --(b)(3) Notification to FRA    65 railroads.........  16 notices..........  15 minutes..........         4 hours           94.50             378.00
     and all affected employees of
     designation's effective date
     after FRA's approval/
     conditional approval.
    --(d) Notice to FRA that        65 railroads.........  4 notices...........  15 minutes..........          1 hour           94.50              94.50
     service failure rate target
     in paragraph (a) of this
     section is not achieved.
    --(d) Explanation to FRA as to  65 railroads.........  4 letters of          15 minutes..........          1 hour           94.50              94.50
     why performance target was                             explanation/plans.
     not achieved and provision to
     FRA of remedial action plan.

[[Page 65293]]

 
213.238 Qualified operator:
    --Qualified operators--Written  3 railroads + 5        250 records.........  5 minutes...........           20.83           94.50           1,968.44
     or electronic of                testing entities.
     qualification.
213.240 Continuous rail testing:
    --(b) Procedures for            12 railroads.........  4 procedures........  8 hours.............              32           94.50           3,024.00
     conducting continuous testing.
    --(c) Type of rail test         12 railroads.........  25,000 documents/     2 seconds...........           13.89           94.50           1,312.61
     (continuous or stop-and-                               records.
     verify)--Record.
    --(c) Type of rail test         12 railroads.........  100 documents.......  1 minute............            1.67           94.50             157.82
     (continuous or stop-and-
     verify)--Documented changes.
    --(g) Annual reports to FRA...  12 railroads.........  12 reports..........  4 hours.............              48           94.50           4,536.00
213.241 Inspection records:
    --Inspection records..........  773 railroads........  1,375,000 records...  10 minutes..........      229,166.67           94.50      21,656,250.32
Subpart G Train operations at
 track classes 6 and higher:
213.303 Responsibility for
 compliance:
    --(b) Notification of           4 railroads..........  5 notices...........  30 minutes..........            2.50           94.50             236.25
     assignment to FRA.
213.305 Designation of qualified
 individuals; general
 qualifications:
    --(c)(4) Written authorization  4 railroads..........  20 written documents  30 minutes..........              10           94.50             945.00
     for remedial actions.
    --(e) Designation records.....  4 railroads..........  200 records.........  10 minutes..........           33.33           94.50           3,149.69
213.317 Waivers:
    --(a) and (b) Waivers.........  4 railroads..........  2 petitions.........  8 hours.............              16           94.50           1,512.00
213.329 Curves; elevation and
 speed limitations:
    --FRA approval of qualified     4 railroads..........  6 (2 cover letters +  16.75...............           33.50           94.50           3,165.75
     vehicle types based on                                 2 technical reports
     results of testing.                                    + 2 diagrams).
    --(f) Written notification to   4 railroads..........  2 notices...........  2 hours.............               4           94.50             378.00
     FRA 30 days prior to
     implementation of higher
     curving speeds.
    --(g) Written consent of other  4 railroads..........  2 written consents..  45 minutes..........            1.50           94.50             141.75
     affected track owners by
     railroad.
213.333 Automated vehicle-based
 inspection systems:
    --(d) Track Geometry            4 railroads..........  48 reports..........  5 minutes...........               4           94.50             378.00
     Measurement System (TGMS)
     output/exception reports.
213.341 Initial inspection of new
 rail and welds:
    --(b) and (d) Inspection        4 railroads..........  800 records.........  2 minutes...........           26.67           94.50           2,520.32
     records.
213.343 Continuous welded rail
 (CWR):
    --(a) through (e) Procedures    4 railroads..........  4 plans.............  4 hours.............              16           94.50           1,512.00
     for installations and
     adjustments of CWR.
    --(h) Recordkeeping             4 railroads..........  8,000 records.......  2 minutes...........          266.67           94.50          24,050.97
     requirements.
213.345 Vehicle/track system
 qualification:
    --(a) through (c) Vehicle       4 railroads..........  2 program plans.....  120 hours...........             240           94.50          25,200.32
     qualification program for all
     vehicle types operating at
     track Class 6 speeds or above.
    --(d) Previously qualified      4 railroads..........  2 program plans.....  8 hours.............              16           94.50           1,512.00
     vehicle types. Qualification
     programs.
    --(h) Written consent of other  4 railroads..........  4 written consents..  30 minutes..........               2          127.05             254.10
     affected track owners by
     railroad.
213.369 Inspection records:
    --(d) Record of inspection of   4 railroads..........  15,000 record sets..  10 minutes..........           2,500           94.50         236,250.00
     track.
        Total \2\.................  773 railroads........  1,432,204 responses.  ....................         234,274  ..............      22,136,497.69
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the 2024 Surface Transportation Board Full Year Wage A&B data series using the employee groups 100
  (Executives, Officials, and Office Staff Assistants) $72.60, 200 (Professional and Administrative) $54.00, and 400 (Maintenance of Equipment & Stores)
  $42.36. The total burden wage rates (Straight time plus 75%) used in the table are $94.50 ($54 x 1.75 = $94.50), $127.05 (72.60 x 1.75 = $127.05) and
  $74.13 ($42.36 x 1.75 = $74.13).
\2\ Totals may not add up due to rounding.

    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 1,432,204.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 234,274 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: 
$22,136,497.69.
    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. 2026-20995 Filed 10-13-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>