August 08, 2025, FR Notice (60-Day)

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Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 151 / Friday, August 8, 2025 / Notices
Clearance Officer, at email:
[email protected] 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 believes 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: State Safety Participation
Regulations and Reporting of Remedial
Actions.
OMB Control Number: 2130–0509.
Abstract: Title 49 CFR part 212
requires qualified State inspectors to
provide various reports to FRA for
monitoring and enforcement purposes
concerning State investigative,
inspection, and surveillance activities
related to railroad compliance with
Federal railroad safety laws and
regulations. Additionally, under 49 CFR
part 209, subpart E, railroads are
required to report to FRA actions taken
to remedy certain alleged violations of
law.
In this 60-day notice, FRA shows
updated burden estimates for each
information collection requirement
under part 212. FRA previously
combined the burden estimates for
several sections and reported the
combined burden under 49 U.S.C.
20105, the statute that authorizes part
212. Updated estimates are now
provided on a section-by-section basis.
In addition, § 212.109 has been
removed from this ICR because it was
recently repealed by FRA.1 Because it
was obsolete, removing § 212.109 from

this ICR does not affect the overall PRA
burden under part 212. It required no
actual information collection even
before it was repealed.
Estimated burden hours under this
ICR have been reduced from 11,958 to
9,851 hours, and the number of
responses from 24,066 to 23,225. This
decrease, after a thorough review, is the
result of the changes described in the
following sections summarized below:
• FRA reduced the estimated number
of annual violation reports submitted by
State inspectors in various disciplines
from 1,154 to 690 violation reports.
Accordingly, the estimated burden
hours for these reports were decreased
by 1,856.
• Under § 209.405(b), FRA adjusted
the estimated number of violation report
challenges from 240 to 50 annually.
This adjustment more accurately reflects
the estimated number of burden hours,
decreasing the burden by 143.
• Under § 209.407, FRA decreased the
estimated number of delayed reports
from 240 to 50 annually, reducing the
reported burden by 143 hours.
These revised estimates contributed to
an overall reduction of 2,107 burden
hours.
Type of Request: Extension without
change (with changes in estimates) of a
currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Businesses.
Form(s): FRA F 6180.33/61/67/96/
96A/109/110/111/112.
Respondent Universe: States and
railroads.
Frequency of Submission: On
occasion.

REPORTING BURDEN
Respondent
universe

Title 49, CFR section

Total annual
responses

Avg. time per
response

Total annual
burden hours

Wage rate 2

Total cost equivalent U.S.D.

(A)

(B)

(A * B = C)

(D)

(E = C * D)

212.105 Agreements
—Railroad Safety State Participation Agreement
(SPA) Annual updates, technical training plans and
revised schedules to existing agreements.
—New State Participation Agreement, including opinion of counsel and schedule of current participation.
—State Inspector travel planning and reimbursement ..

34 States .........

34 updates ......

1 hour ..............

34

$88.36

$3,004.24

15 States .........

1 agreement ....

32 hours ..........

32

88.36

2,827.52

600 vouchers ...

1.5 hours .........

900

88.36

I

34 States .........

212.107

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—State to file annual certification in the event that
FRA and the State agency do not agree on terms
for the participation under § 212.105.

1 90

FR 28130 (July 1, 2025).
State respondents, the dollar equivalent cost
is derived from the May 2024 Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS) data for management occupations,
NAICS 999100—State Government, excluding
schools and hospitals. https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/
2 For

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I

79,524.00

Certification

FRA anticipates zero submissions for this paperwork requirement over the next three-year period.

industry/999200. To calculate the hourly wage of
$88.36 for this category of workers, FRA included
a 75-percent charge for overhead costs (50.49 × 1.75
= 88.36). The dollar equivalent cost for railroad
respondents is derived from the Surface
Transportation Board’s 2024 Full Year Wage A&B

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data series using employee group 200 (Professional
& Administrative) hourly wage rate $50.93. The
total burden wage rate (straight time plus 75
percent) used in the table is $89.13 ($50.93 × 1.75
= $89.13).
3 Totals may not add up due to rounding.

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Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 151 / Friday, August 8, 2025 / Notices
REPORTING BURDEN—Continued
Respondent
universe

Title 49, CFR section

212.113
—30-day notice provided by State agency of its intent
to terminate its participation.
—FRA F 6180.96 Inspection Report—All disciplines
submitted by State inspectors.
—FRA F 6180.33 Hours of Service Law Violation Report.
—FRA F 6180.61 Accident/Incident Reporting Rules
Violation Report.
—FRA F 6180.67 Operating Practices Regulations
Violation Report.
—FRA F 6180.109 Motive Power and Equipment Regulations Violation Report.
—FRA F 6180.110 Hazardous Materials Regulations
Violation Report.
—FRA F 6180.111 Track Safety Regulations Violation
Report.
—FRA F 6180.112 Signal and Train Control Regulations Violation Report.

Total 3 .....................................................................

Total Estimated Annual Responses:
23,225.
Total Estimated Annual Burden:
9,851 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour
Dollar Cost Equivalent: $871,416.12.
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.)

(A)

(B)

(A * B = C)

(D)

(E = C * D)

34 States .........

19,400 forms ...

15 minutes .......

4,850

88.36

428,546.00

19 States .........

2 reports ..........

4 hours ............

8

88.36

706.88

19 States .........

2 reports ..........

4 hours ............

8

88.36

706.88

19 States .........

194 reports ......

4 hours ............

776

88.36

68,567.36

19 States .........

215 reports ......

4 hours ............

1,440

88.36

75,989.60

17 States .........

171 reports ......

4 hours ............

1,680

88.36

60,438.24

26 States .........

66 reports ........

4 hours ............

440

88.36

23,327.04

14 States .........

40 reports ........

4 hours ............

320

88.36

14,137.60

1,200

89.13

106,956.00

37.50

89.13

Reporting of remedial actions

745 railroads ...

2,400 reports ...

30 minutes .......

745 railroads ...

50 challenges ..

45 minutes .......

I

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA–2025–0007]

Proposed Agency Information
Collection Activities; Comment
Request
Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).

AGENCY:

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3,342.38

I

Delayed Reports

745 railroads ...

50 reports ........

45 minutes .......

37.50

89.13

3,342.88

34 States 745
Railroads.

23,225 responses.

N/A ..................

9,851

........................

871,416.12

Notice of information collection;
request for comment.

ACTION:

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.

SUMMARY:

Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed ICR
should be submitted on
www.regulations.gov to the docket,
Docket No. FRA–2025–0007. All
comments received will be posted
without change to the docket, including
any personal information provided.
Please refer to the assigned OMB control
number (2130–0560) 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

ADDRESSES:

BILLING CODE 4910–06–P

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Total cost equivalent U.S.D.

Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before October
7, 2025

[FR Doc. 2025–15056 Filed 8–7–25; 8:45 am]

22:13 Aug 07, 2025

Wage rate 2

DATES:

Christopher S. Van Nostrand,
Deputy Chief Counsel.

VerDate Sep<11>2014

Total annual
burden hours

Program termination

209.407
—Delayed reports .........................................................

Avg. time per
response

FRA anticipates zero submissions for this paperwork requirement over the next three-year period.

209.405
—(a) Completion of remedial actions report on FRA F
6180.96 after receipt of written notification from an
FRA or State Safety Inspector.
—(b) Violation report challenge by the railroads—Remedial action reports.

Total annual
responses

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collection submission to OMB for
approval.
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Arlette Mussington, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, at email:
[email protected] or
telephone: (571) 609–1285 or Ms.
Joanne Swafford, Information Collection
Clearance Officer, at email:
[email protected] 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

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Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 151 / Friday, August 8, 2025 / Notices
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 believes 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: Use of Locomotive Horns at
Highway-Rail Grade Crossings.
OMB Control Number: 2130–0560.
Abstract: FRA’s locomotive horn use
regulations (49 CFR part 222) prescribe
standards for sounding locomotive
horns when locomotives approach and
pass through public highway-rail grade
crossings. FRA collects information
from railroads and public authorities to
increase safety at public highway-rail
grade crossings nationwide by requiring
that locomotive horns be sounded when
trains approach and pass through these
crossings or by ensuring that a safety
level, at least equivalent to that
provided by routine locomotive horn

Respondent
universe

CFR Section (49 CFR part 222)

222.15

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Total
annual
responses

Average
time per
response

Total
annual
burden
hours

Wage 2
rate

Total cost
equivalent

(A)

(B)

(C) = A * B

(D)

(E) = C * D

754 railroads
645 public
authorities.

2 petitions ....

4 hours ........

8

How can a State agency become a recognized State agency?

—Any State agency responsible for highwayrail grade crossing safety and/or highway
and road safety may become a recognized
State agency by submitting an application
to the Associate Administrator.

1 90

• Under § 222.55(b) and (d), which
describes how interested parties may
apply for approval from the Associate
Administrator to demonstrate proposed
new supplementary or alternative safety
measures (SSMs/ASMs), FRA adjusted
the burden estimates to reflect the
number of hours and estimated average
time required to compose the written
request, increasing the burden by 40
hours. The increased burden hours
reflect additional time needed, after the
demonstration of proposed SSMs or
ASMs, to gather all the necessary
documentation and prepare the written
application with the required
information that must be included
pursuant to § 222.55(d)(1) through (5).
• Lastly, under § 222.57(c), which
establishes procedures for how parties
can seek reconsideration of an Associate
Administrator decision to terminate a
quiet zone, and § 222.57(d), which
establishes procedures for railroads to
request reconsideration of an Associate
Administrator decision to approve an
application for approval of a proposed
quiet zone, FRA determined that the
estimated burden hours were not
included in the previously reported
burden. FRA has corrected the oversight
by adding 9 burden hours.
Overall, program changes and
adjustments decreased the total burden
hours for this submission by 21 hours.
Type of Request: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Businesses.
Form(s): N/A.
Respondent Universe: 754 railroads/
645 public authorities.
Frequency of Submission: On
occasion.
Reporting Burden:

How does one obtain a waiver of a provision of this regulation?

—Petition for waiver .......................................

222.17

sounding, exists for quiet zone corridors
in which such routine horn sounding is
silenced. FRA reviews applications by
public authorities intending to establish
new quiet zones by implementing
alternative safety measures and
approves the effectiveness rate assigned
to them.
In this 60-day notice, FRA has made
program changes and adjustments that
decreased the previously approved
burden hours from 7,253 to 7,232 hours
and decreased the number of responses
from 3,620 to 3,536. This decrease in
burden, after a thorough review, is the
result of the changes described in the
sections summarized below:
• FRA published a final rule on July
1, 2025, titled Administrative Updates
to the Use of Locomotive Horns at
Public Highway-Rail Grade Crossings
Regulations.1 FRA removed certified
mail notification requirements and
allows electronic submittal of
applications and notifications to other
parties and to FRA’s Grade Crossing and
Trespasser Outreach Division. The
estimated burdens for §§ 222.39, 222.43,
222.47 and 222.51 have been updated
accordingly, decreasing burdens by 72
hours.
• Under § 222.51(c), which describes
the process for reviewing the status of
any quiet zone, FRA determined that the
burden previously reported for public
comments should be excluded because
the submission of public comments in
response to a Federal Register notice
falls outside the PRA’s definition of
information under 5 CFR 1320.3(h)(4).
Accordingly, FRA is removing the
burden previously attributed to public
comments from interested parties
during FRA’s review of the status of any
quiet zone.

FRA anticipates zero submissions over the next three-year period.

FR 28150.

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$89.13

$713.04