FRA Ditches Dusty Paperwork Approval Mentions
Published Date: 4/28/2026
Rule
Summary
The Federal Railroad Administration is cleaning house by removing 13 outdated paperwork rules that mention old approval steps for collecting info. This change affects railroad workers and companies but won’t cost money or mess with safety. The new rule kicks in on May 28, 2026, making regulations simpler and easier to follow without losing important info.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Thirteen Outdated PRA Sections Removed
The Federal Railroad Administration removed 13 outdated sections across 49 CFR parts that repeated Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) approval and OMB control-number references. The change is effective May 28, 2026, and FRA says it simply reduces regulatory text in the CFR without changing any substantive safety rules.
No New Paperwork Burden Added
FRA states this final rule creates no new information collection requirements and does not change the burden of any existing PRA information collections. In other words, paperwork obligations and associated time or costs for covered parties remain the same.
Small Entities Not Significantly Affected
Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, FRA certified that this final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. FRA reached this certification while removing the 13 outdated PRA cross-reference sections.
Forms and OMB Numbers Still Accessible Online
FRA notes that all safety-related forms continue to show OMB control numbers and are available on a single FRA website (https://railroads.dot.gov/safety-data/forms-guides-publications/forms/current-forms). FRA says removing the CFR sections will not hinder access to current, OMB-approved forms.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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