FRA Asks: Too Much Railroad Paperwork? Comment Now!
Published Date: 3/12/2025
Notice
Summary
The Federal Railroad Administration wants your thoughts on a new paperwork plan to make sure it’s useful and not too much work. This affects anyone who deals with railroad info collection, and they’re asking for comments by May 12, 2025. No big costs are mentioned, but they want to keep things clear and easy for everyone.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Railroad drug-and-alcohol data collection stays in place
FRA is requesting comments by May 12, 2025 on extending its information collection under 49 CFR part 219 that covers alcohol and drug testing. The collection covers 654 railroads, 2,600 regulated contractors, and 160,822 regulated employees, and FRA estimates 456,302 annual responses, 2,674 annual burden hours, and a $238,317 annual burden-hour dollar cost equivalent.
Estimated paperwork burden reduced
FRA adjusted its estimates and reduced the overall estimated burden hours for the collection from a previously approved 4,830 hours to 2,674 hours for the next three-year collection period. The changes reflect removals and time-estimate corrections for specific sections of part 219.
Specific testing and reporting tasks remain required
Railroads must continue to maintain and, in some cases, submit records and forms related to alcohol and drug testing, including FRA forms 6180.73, 6180.74, and 6180.75, random testing plans, written notifications, post-accident toxicology reports, and Medical Review Officer (MRO) reports. FRA's notice lists estimated time-per-response for many items (for example, written notifications, specimen handling, and recordkeeping) used to calculate the 2,674 annual burden hours.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
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Previous: 2025-03919, Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
The Federal Railroad Administration wants your thoughts on a new paperwork plan to make sure it’s useful and not too much work. This affects anyone who deals with railroad info collection, and they’re asking for comments by May 12, 2025. No big costs are expected, but your feedback will help shape smarter, clearer rules.
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