Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC); Working Group Activity Update, 73513-73514 [E5-7200]
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 237 / Monday, December 12, 2005 / Notices
pilot certificates in their physical
possession or readily accessible in the
aircraft.
Grant, October 20, 2005, Exemption
No. 8252B.
Docket No.: FAA–2001–11089.
Petitioner: The Collings Foundation.
Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR
91.315, 91.319(a), 119.5(g), and
119.21(a).
Description of Relief Sought/
Disposition: To allow The Collings
Foundation to operate its Boeing B–17,
Consolidated B–24, North American B–
25, and Grumman TBM for the purpose
of carrying passengers for compensation
or hire on local flights for educational
purposes.
Grant, October 19, 2005, Exemption
No. 6540G.
Docket No.: FAA–2001–10876.
Petitioner: Experimental Aircraft
Association, Inc.
Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR
91.319(a)(2), 119.5(g), and 119.21(a).
Description of Relief Sought/
Disposition: To allow Experimental
Aircraft Association, Inc., to operate its
Spirit of Saint Louis replica aircraft for
the purpose of carrying passengers for
compensation or hire on local flights for
educational purposes.
Grant, October 19, 2005, Exemption
No. 6541I.
[FR Doc. 05–23892 Filed 12–9–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA–2000–7257; Notice No. 35]
Railroad Safety Advisory Committee
(RSAC); Working Group Activity
Update
Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Announcement of Railroad
Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC)
Working Group Activities.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The FRA is updating its
announcement of RSAC’s Working
Group activities to reflect its current
status.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Patricia Butera or Lydia Leeds, RSAC
Coordinator, FRA, 1120 Vermont
Avenue, NW., Mailstop 25, Washington,
DC 20590, (202) 493–6212/6213 or
Grady Cothen, Deputy Associate
Administrator for Safety, FRA, 1120
Vermont Avenue, NW., Mailstop 25,
Washington, DC 20590, (202) 493–6302.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
notice serves to update FRA’s last
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:51 Dec 09, 2005
Jkt 208001
announcement of working group
activities and status reports of April 12,
2005, (70 FR 19145). The 27th full
Committee meeting was held October
11, 2005.
Since its first meeting in April of
1996, the RSAC has accepted twenty
tasks. Status for each of the tasks is
provided below:
Open Tasks
Task 96–4—Reviewing the
appropriateness of the agency’s current
policy regarding the applicability of
existing and proposed regulations to
tourist, excursion, scenic, and historic
railroads. This Task was accepted on
April 2, 1996, and a Working Group was
established. The Working Group
monitored the steam locomotive
regulation task. Planned future activities
involve the review of other regulations
for possible adaptation to the safety
needs of tourist and historic railroads.
Contact: Grady Cothen, (202) 493–6302.
Task 97–1—Developing
crashworthiness specifications to
promote the integrity of the locomotive
cab in accidents resulting from
collisions. This Task was accepted on
June 24, 1997. On April 14, 2004, the
RSAC reached consensus on the Notice
of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). The
NPRM is a new standard to increase the
crashworthiness of conventional wideand narrow-nose locomotives and
codifies requirements for monocoque
locomotives. On November 2, 2004,
FRA published an NPRM in the Federal
Register (69 FR 63990) proposing to
establish comprehensive, minimum
standards for locomotive
crashworthiness. In that NPRM, FRA
established a January 3, 2005, deadline
for submission of written comments.
FRA received a request to extend the
comment period to give interested
parties additional time to review,
analyze, and submit comments on the
NPRM. After considering the request,
FRA extended the comment period until
February 3, 2005. The Working Group
met to review the public comments on
June 27–28, 2005, and reached
consensus on July 1, 2005. The Working
Group’s recommendations were adopted
by the full Committee, by mail ballot, on
August 5, 2005. The final rule is in
review and clearance. Contact: Charles
Bielitz, (202) 493–6314 or John Punwani
(202) 493–6369.
Task 97–2—Evaluating the extent to
which environmental, sanitary, and
other working conditions in locomotive
cabs affect the crew’s health and the safe
operation of locomotives, proposing
standards where appropriate. This Task
was accepted June 24, 1997.
(Sanitation) (Completed)
PO 00000
Frm 00084
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
73513
(Noise exposure) On June 27, 2003, the
full RSAC gave consensus by ballot on
the NPRM. The NPRM was published in
the Federal Register on June 23, 2004.
The comment period ended September
21, 2004. Task Force and Working
Group meetings were held March 1, and
March 2 and 3, 2005, respectively, to
review the public comments and
recommend a final rule. The Working
Group reached agreement on all issues,
and its report was presented to the full
Committee on May 18, 2005. FRA is
preparing the final rule, which will then
undergo review and clearance within
the Executive Branch.
(Cab Temperature) (Completed)
Note: Additional related topics such as
vibration may be considered by the Working
Group in the future. Contact: Jeffrey Horn,
(202) 493–6283.
Task 97–4 and Task 97–5—Defining
Positive Train Control (PTC)
functionalities, describing available
technologies, evaluating costs and
benefits of potential systems, and
considering implementation
opportunities and challenges, including
demonstration and deployment.
Task 97–6—Revising various
regulations to address the safety
implications of processor-based signal
and train control technologies,
including communications-based
operating systems. These three Tasks
were accepted on September 30, 1997,
and assigned to a single Working Group.
(Report to the Administrator) A Data
and Implementation Task Force, formed
to address issues such as assessment of
costs and benefits and technical
readiness, completed a report on the
future of PTC systems. The report was
accepted as RSAC’s Report to the
Administrator at the September 8, 1999,
meeting. The FRA enclosed the report
with a letter to Congress signed May 17,
2000.
(Regulatory development) The
Standards Task Force, formed to
develop PTC standards, assisted in
developing draft recommendations for
performance-based standards for
processor-based signal and train control
systems. The NPRM was approved by
consensus at the full RSAC meeting
held on September 14, 2000. The NPRM
was published in the Federal Register
on August 10, 2001. A meeting of the
Working Group was held December 4–
6, 2001, in San Antonio, Texas, to
formulate recommendations for
resolution of issues raised in the public
comments. Agreement was reached on
most issues raised in the comments. A
meeting was held May 14–15, 2002, in
Colorado Springs, Colorado, at which
E:\FR\FM\12DEN1.SGM
12DEN1
73514
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 237 / Monday, December 12, 2005 / Notices
the Working Group approved creation of
teams to further explore the ‘‘base case’’
issue. Briefing of the full RSAC on the
‘‘base case’’ issue was completed on
May 29, 2002, and consultations
continued within the working group.
The full Working Group met October
22–23, 2002, and again March 4–6,
2003. Resolution of the remaining issues
was considered by the Working Group
at the July 8–9, 2003, meeting. The
Working Group achieved consensus on
recommendations for resolution of a
portion of the issues in the proceeding.
The full Committee considered the
Working Group recommendations by
mail ballots scheduled for return on
August 14, 2003; however, a majority of
the members voting did not concur. The
final rule was published in the Federal
Register on March 7, 2005, (70 FR
11051). The RSAC PTC Working Group
met on July 14–15, 2005, to discuss
implementation guidance and receive a
task force report on roadway worker
terminals. Contact: Grady Cothen, (202)
493–6302.
Task 03–01—Passenger Safety. This
Task was accepted on May 20, 2003,
and a Working Group was established.
Prior to embarking on substantive
discussions of a specific task, the
Working Group set forth in writing a
specific description of the task. The
Working Group will report any planned
activity to the full Committee at each
scheduled full RSAC meeting, including
milestones for completion of projects
and progress toward completion. At the
first meeting held September 9–10,
2003, a consolidated list of issues was
completed. At the second meeting held
November 6–7, 2003, five task groups
were established: Crashworthiness/
glazing; emergency preparedness;
mechanical-general issues; mechanicalsafety appliances; and track/vehicle
interaction. The task groups met and
reported on activities for Working
Group consideration at the third
meeting held May 11–12, 2004, and a
fourth meeting was held October 26–27,
2004. Initial recommendations on
mechanical issues (revisions to 49 CFR
part 238) were approved by the full
Committee on January 26, 2005. At the
Working Group meeting of March 9–10,
2005, the Working Group received and
approved the consensus report of the
Emergency Preparedness Task Force
related to emergency egress and rescue
access. These recommendations were
presented to and approved by the full
Committee on May 18, 2005. An NPRM
is now under development. The
Working Group met on September 7–8,
2005, and additional, supplementary
recommendations were presented to and
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:51 Dec 09, 2005
Jkt 208001
accepted by the full RSAC on October
11, 2005. Contact: Charles Bielitz, (202)
493–6314.
Task 05–01—Review of Roadway
Worker Protection issues. This Task was
accepted on January 26, 2005, to review
49 CFR 214, subpart C, Roadway Worker
Protection, and related sections of
Subpart A; recommend consideration of
specific actions to advance the on-track
safety of railroad employees and
contractors engaged in maintenance-ofway activities throughout the general
system of railroad transportation,
including clarification of existing
requirements. A Working Group has
been established and will report to the
RSAC any specific actions identified as
appropriate. The first meeting of the
Working Group was held on April 12–
14, 2005. The Working Group will
report planned activity to the full
Committee at each scheduled
Committee meeting, including
milestones for completion of projects
and progress toward completion. The
Working Group met on June 22–24,
2005, August 8–11, 2005, September
20–22, 2005, and November 8–9, 2005.
The next Working Group meeting is
scheduled for January 10–11, 2006.
Contact: Christopher Schulte, (202) 493–
6251.
Task 05–02—Reduce Human FactorCaused Train Accident/Incidents. This
Task was accepted on May 18, 2005, to
reduce the number of human factorcaused train accidents/incidents and
related employee injuries. A Working
Group has been established. The
Working Group will report any planned
activity to the full Committee at each
scheduled full RSAC meeting, including
milestones for completion of projects
and progress toward completion. The
Working Group met on July 12–13,
2005, August 31—September 1, 2005,
September 28–29, 2005, October 25–26,
2005, November 16–17, 2005, and
December 6–7, 2005. The Working
Group is expected to submit initial
recommendations in February of 2006.
Contact: Douglas Taylor, (202) 493–
6255.
Completed Tasks
Task 96–1—(Completed) Revising the
Freight Power Brake Regulations.
Task 96–2—(Completed) Reviewing
and recommending revisions to the
Track Safety Standards (49 CFR part
213).
Task 96–3—(Completed) Reviewing
and recommending revisions to the
Radio Standards and Procedures (49
CFR part 220).
Task 96–5—(Completed) Reviewing
and recommending revisions to Steam
PO 00000
Frm 00085
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Locomotive Inspection Standards (49
CFR part 230).
Task 96–6—(Completed) Reviewing
and recommending revisions to
miscellaneous aspects of the regulations
addressing Locomotive Engineer
Certification (49 CFR part 240).
Task 96–7—(Completed) Developing
Roadway Maintenance Machines (OnTrack Equipment) Safety Standards.
Task 96–8—(Completed) This
Planning Task evaluated the need for
action responsive to recommendations
contained in a report to Congress
entitled, Locomotive Crashworthiness &
Working Conditions.
Task 97–3—(Completed) Developing
event recorder data survivability
standards.
Task 97–7—(Completed) Determining
damages qualifying an event as a
reportable train accident.
Task 00–1—(Completed—task
withdrawn) Determining the need to
amend regulations protecting persons
who work on, under, or between rolling
equipment and persons applying,
removing or inspecting rear end
marking devices (Blue Signal
Protection).
Task 01–1—(Completed) Developing
conformity of FRA’s regulations for
accident/incident reporting (49 CFR part
225) to revised regulations of the
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), U.S.
Department of Labor, and to make
appropriate revisions to the FRA Guide
for Preparing Accident/Incident Reports
(Reporting Guide).
Please refer to the notice published in
the Federal Register on March 11, 1996,
(61 FR 9740) for more information about
the RSAC.
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 6,
2005.
Michael Logue,
Deputy Associate Administrator, for Safety
Compliance and Program Implementation.
[FR Doc. E5–7200 Filed 12–9–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
December 5, 2005.
The Department of Treasury has
submitted the following public
information collection requirement(s) to
OMB for review and clearance under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub.
L. 104–13. Copies of the submission(s)
may be obtained by calling the Treasury
Bureau Clearance Officer listed.
Comments regarding this information
E:\FR\FM\12DEN1.SGM
12DEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 237 (Monday, December 12, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73513-73514]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-7200]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2000-7257; Notice No. 35]
Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC); Working Group Activity
Update
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Announcement of Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC)
Working Group Activities.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FRA is updating its announcement of RSAC's Working Group
activities to reflect its current status.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Butera or Lydia Leeds, RSAC
Coordinator, FRA, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW., Mailstop 25, Washington, DC
20590, (202) 493-6212/6213 or Grady Cothen, Deputy Associate
Administrator for Safety, FRA, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW., Mailstop 25,
Washington, DC 20590, (202) 493-6302.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice serves to update FRA's last
announcement of working group activities and status reports of April
12, 2005, (70 FR 19145). The 27th full Committee meeting was held
October 11, 2005.
Since its first meeting in April of 1996, the RSAC has accepted
twenty tasks. Status for each of the tasks is provided below:
Open Tasks
Task 96-4--Reviewing the appropriateness of the agency's current
policy regarding the applicability of existing and proposed regulations
to tourist, excursion, scenic, and historic railroads. This Task was
accepted on April 2, 1996, and a Working Group was established. The
Working Group monitored the steam locomotive regulation task. Planned
future activities involve the review of other regulations for possible
adaptation to the safety needs of tourist and historic railroads.
Contact: Grady Cothen, (202) 493-6302.
Task 97-1--Developing crashworthiness specifications to promote the
integrity of the locomotive cab in accidents resulting from collisions.
This Task was accepted on June 24, 1997. On April 14, 2004, the RSAC
reached consensus on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). The NPRM
is a new standard to increase the crashworthiness of conventional wide-
and narrow-nose locomotives and codifies requirements for monocoque
locomotives. On November 2, 2004, FRA published an NPRM in the Federal
Register (69 FR 63990) proposing to establish comprehensive, minimum
standards for locomotive crashworthiness. In that NPRM, FRA established
a January 3, 2005, deadline for submission of written comments. FRA
received a request to extend the comment period to give interested
parties additional time to review, analyze, and submit comments on the
NPRM. After considering the request, FRA extended the comment period
until February 3, 2005. The Working Group met to review the public
comments on June 27-28, 2005, and reached consensus on July 1, 2005.
The Working Group's recommendations were adopted by the full Committee,
by mail ballot, on August 5, 2005. The final rule is in review and
clearance. Contact: Charles Bielitz, (202) 493-6314 or John Punwani
(202) 493-6369.
Task 97-2--Evaluating the extent to which environmental, sanitary,
and other working conditions in locomotive cabs affect the crew's
health and the safe operation of locomotives, proposing standards where
appropriate. This Task was accepted June 24, 1997.
(Sanitation) (Completed)
(Noise exposure) On June 27, 2003, the full RSAC gave consensus by
ballot on the NPRM. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on
June 23, 2004. The comment period ended September 21, 2004. Task Force
and Working Group meetings were held March 1, and March 2 and 3, 2005,
respectively, to review the public comments and recommend a final rule.
The Working Group reached agreement on all issues, and its report was
presented to the full Committee on May 18, 2005. FRA is preparing the
final rule, which will then undergo review and clearance within the
Executive Branch.
(Cab Temperature) (Completed)
Note: Additional related topics such as vibration may be
considered by the Working Group in the future. Contact: Jeffrey
Horn, (202) 493-6283.
Task 97-4 and Task 97-5--Defining Positive Train Control (PTC)
functionalities, describing available technologies, evaluating costs
and benefits of potential systems, and considering implementation
opportunities and challenges, including demonstration and deployment.
Task 97-6--Revising various regulations to address the safety
implications of processor-based signal and train control technologies,
including communications-based operating systems. These three Tasks
were accepted on September 30, 1997, and assigned to a single Working
Group.
(Report to the Administrator) A Data and Implementation Task Force,
formed to address issues such as assessment of costs and benefits and
technical readiness, completed a report on the future of PTC systems.
The report was accepted as RSAC's Report to the Administrator at the
September 8, 1999, meeting. The FRA enclosed the report with a letter
to Congress signed May 17, 2000.
(Regulatory development) The Standards Task Force, formed to develop
PTC standards, assisted in developing draft recommendations for
performance-based standards for processor-based signal and train
control systems. The NPRM was approved by consensus at the full RSAC
meeting held on September 14, 2000. The NPRM was published in the
Federal Register on August 10, 2001. A meeting of the Working Group was
held December 4-6, 2001, in San Antonio, Texas, to formulate
recommendations for resolution of issues raised in the public comments.
Agreement was reached on most issues raised in the comments. A meeting
was held May 14-15, 2002, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at which
[[Page 73514]]
the Working Group approved creation of teams to further explore the
``base case'' issue. Briefing of the full RSAC on the ``base case''
issue was completed on May 29, 2002, and consultations continued within
the working group. The full Working Group met October 22-23, 2002, and
again March 4-6, 2003. Resolution of the remaining issues was
considered by the Working Group at the July 8-9, 2003, meeting. The
Working Group achieved consensus on recommendations for resolution of a
portion of the issues in the proceeding. The full Committee considered
the Working Group recommendations by mail ballots scheduled for return
on August 14, 2003; however, a majority of the members voting did not
concur. The final rule was published in the Federal Register on March
7, 2005, (70 FR 11051). The RSAC PTC Working Group met on July 14-15,
2005, to discuss implementation guidance and receive a task force
report on roadway worker terminals. Contact: Grady Cothen, (202) 493-
6302.
Task 03-01--Passenger Safety. This Task was accepted on May 20,
2003, and a Working Group was established. Prior to embarking on
substantive discussions of a specific task, the Working Group set forth
in writing a specific description of the task. The Working Group will
report any planned activity to the full Committee at each scheduled
full RSAC meeting, including milestones for completion of projects and
progress toward completion. At the first meeting held September 9-10,
2003, a consolidated list of issues was completed. At the second
meeting held November 6-7, 2003, five task groups were established:
Crashworthiness/glazing; emergency preparedness; mechanical-general
issues; mechanical-safety appliances; and track/vehicle interaction.
The task groups met and reported on activities for Working Group
consideration at the third meeting held May 11-12, 2004, and a fourth
meeting was held October 26-27, 2004. Initial recommendations on
mechanical issues (revisions to 49 CFR part 238) were approved by the
full Committee on January 26, 2005. At the Working Group meeting of
March 9-10, 2005, the Working Group received and approved the consensus
report of the Emergency Preparedness Task Force related to emergency
egress and rescue access. These recommendations were presented to and
approved by the full Committee on May 18, 2005. An NPRM is now under
development. The Working Group met on September 7-8, 2005, and
additional, supplementary recommendations were presented to and
accepted by the full RSAC on October 11, 2005. Contact: Charles
Bielitz, (202) 493-6314.
Task 05-01--Review of Roadway Worker Protection issues. This Task
was accepted on January 26, 2005, to review 49 CFR 214, subpart C,
Roadway Worker Protection, and related sections of Subpart A; recommend
consideration of specific actions to advance the on-track safety of
railroad employees and contractors engaged in maintenance-of-way
activities throughout the general system of railroad transportation,
including clarification of existing requirements. A Working Group has
been established and will report to the RSAC any specific actions
identified as appropriate. The first meeting of the Working Group was
held on April 12-14, 2005. The Working Group will report planned
activity to the full Committee at each scheduled Committee meeting,
including milestones for completion of projects and progress toward
completion. The Working Group met on June 22-24, 2005, August 8-11,
2005, September 20-22, 2005, and November 8-9, 2005. The next Working
Group meeting is scheduled for January 10-11, 2006. Contact:
Christopher Schulte, (202) 493-6251.
Task 05-02--Reduce Human Factor-Caused Train Accident/Incidents.
This Task was accepted on May 18, 2005, to reduce the number of human
factor-caused train accidents/incidents and related employee injuries.
A Working Group has been established. The Working Group will report any
planned activity to the full Committee at each scheduled full RSAC
meeting, including milestones for completion of projects and progress
toward completion. The Working Group met on July 12-13, 2005, August
31--September 1, 2005, September 28-29, 2005, October 25-26, 2005,
November 16-17, 2005, and December 6-7, 2005. The Working Group is
expected to submit initial recommendations in February of 2006.
Contact: Douglas Taylor, (202) 493-6255.
Completed Tasks
Task 96-1--(Completed) Revising the Freight Power Brake
Regulations.
Task 96-2--(Completed) Reviewing and recommending revisions to the
Track Safety Standards (49 CFR part 213).
Task 96-3--(Completed) Reviewing and recommending revisions to the
Radio Standards and Procedures (49 CFR part 220).
Task 96-5--(Completed) Reviewing and recommending revisions to
Steam Locomotive Inspection Standards (49 CFR part 230).
Task 96-6--(Completed) Reviewing and recommending revisions to
miscellaneous aspects of the regulations addressing Locomotive Engineer
Certification (49 CFR part 240).
Task 96-7--(Completed) Developing Roadway Maintenance Machines (On-
Track Equipment) Safety Standards.
Task 96-8--(Completed) This Planning Task evaluated the need for
action responsive to recommendations contained in a report to Congress
entitled, Locomotive Crashworthiness & Working Conditions.
Task 97-3--(Completed) Developing event recorder data survivability
standards.
Task 97-7--(Completed) Determining damages qualifying an event as a
reportable train accident.
Task 00-1--(Completed--task withdrawn) Determining the need to
amend regulations protecting persons who work on, under, or between
rolling equipment and persons applying, removing or inspecting rear end
marking devices (Blue Signal Protection).
Task 01-1--(Completed) Developing conformity of FRA's regulations
for accident/incident reporting (49 CFR part 225) to revised
regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor, and to make appropriate revisions to
the FRA Guide for Preparing Accident/Incident Reports (Reporting
Guide).
Please refer to the notice published in the Federal Register on
March 11, 1996, (61 FR 9740) for more information about the RSAC.
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 6, 2005.
Michael Logue,
Deputy Associate Administrator, for Safety Compliance and Program
Implementation.
[FR Doc. E5-7200 Filed 12-9-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P