Title 49 CFR 271 requires each Class I freight railroad and each freight railroad with ISP to develop and implement Risk Reduction Programs (RRPs) to improve the safety of its operations and ensure compliance with the rule. An RRP is a comprehensive, system-oriented approach to safety that determines a railroad operationâs level of risk by identifying and analyzing applicable hazards, and it involves developing plans to mitigate, if not eliminate, that risk. A railroad has flexibility to tailor an RRP to its specific railroad operations. An RRP will be implemented under a written RRP plan submitted to FRA for approval. Under this information collection FRA will be auditing each railroadâs RRP for compliance. Additionally, FRA will use the information collected to improve safety through structured, proactive processes to systematically evaluate railroad safety hazards on their systems and manage the risks associated with those hazards to reduce the number and rates of railroad accidents/incidents, injuries, and fatalities. This information collection is mandatory, submitted as needed, and there is a requirement for record keeping.
US Code:
49 USC 20156
Name of Law: Railroad Safety Improvement Act of 2008
This is a revision to a current information collection request (ICR). The current OMB inventory for this ICR shows a total burden of 60,860 hours and 49,374 responses, while the requesting inventory estimates a total burden of 31,192 hours and 426 responses. Overall, the burden for this submission has decreased by 29,668 hours and increased by 48,948 responses. There is no change in the collection method. The decrease in burden hours is solely the result of adjustments.
FRA has made multiple adjustments to the previously approved burden hours. While some reported burden hours have increased, the overall burden hours have decreased from the previously approved 60,860 hours to 31,192 hours. In general, the revised estimates reflect that the estimated number of ISP rail operations has decreased from 15 to 2, the estimated number of voluntarily compliant railroads has increased from 0 to 8, and that all Class I railroads have RRP plans in place and FRA does not anticipate any new Class I railroads beginning operations in the 3-year period of this information collection.
Furthermore, under § 271.107, which requires a safety outreach program, FRA determined that the previously reported burden was over-estimated. For this submission, the burden hours are therefore reduced from 44,333 hours to 50 hours. This more accurately reflects time spent on managing the safety outreach program and RRP safety communications to railroad personnel.
To more effectively manage its ICRs, FRA is also incorporating into this ICR the burden hours under 49 CFR § 271.609, Requirements for an FRMP Plan, currently reported under 2130-0633 Fatigue Risk Management Program.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
October 29, 2026 FR Notice (30-Day).pdf
2130-0610_RRP-Supporting Justification_Final 10-22-26.docx
49 CFR 1.89.doc
Risk Reduction Program