Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC); Working Group Activity Update, 61418-61420 [E7-21280]
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information is also available at https://
Docketinfo.dot.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
James O. Simmons, Hazardous Materials
Division, phone (202) 366–6121; FAX
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Carrier Safety Administration, DOT,
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
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through Friday, except Federal
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: The data for the
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Highway Routing designations are
collected under authority of 49 U.S.C.
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responsibility on the Secretary of
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through its routing agency, provide
information identifying hazardous
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Title: Transportation of Hazardous
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OMB Control Number: 2126–0014.
Type of Request: Extension of a
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Respondents: The reporting burden is
shared by the 50 States, the District of
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Frequency: There is one response
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Estimated Total Annual Burden
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Public Comments Invited: You are
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Whether the proposed collection is
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usefulness, and clarity of the collected
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reducing the quality of the collected
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information. The agency will summarize
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Issued On: October 24, 2007.
Michael S. Griffith,
Acting Associate Administrator for Research
and Information Technology.
[FR Doc. E7–21281 Filed 10–29–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA–2000–7257; Notice No. 38]
Railroad Safety Advisory Committee
(RSAC); Working Group Activity
Update
The Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA), U.S. Department
of Transportation.
ACTION: Announcement of Railroad
Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC)
working group activities.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: FRA is updating its
announcement of RSAC’s working
group activities to reflect its current
status.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Larry Woolverton, RSAC Coordinator,
at: FRA; 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW.,
Mailstop 25; Washington, DC 20590;
telephone (202) 493–6212, or Grady C.
Cothen, Jr., FRA Deputy Associate
Administrator for Safety, at: FRA; 1120
Vermont Avenue, NW., Mailstop 25;
Washington, DC 20590; telephone (202)
493–6302.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
notice serves to update FRA’s last
announcement of working group
activities and status reports as of
September 25, 2006 (71 FR 55823). The
32nd full Committee meeting was held
June 26, 2007.
Since its first meeting in April 1996,
the RSAC has accepted 24 tasks. The
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.
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Sfmt 4703
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. Before
embarking on substantive discussions
about a specific task, the working group
wrote a specific description of the task.
The working group reports planned
activity to the full Committee at each
scheduled, full RSAC meeting,
including milestones for the completion
of projects and progress toward
completion. At the first meeting held
September 9–10, 2003, a consolidated
list of issues were completed. At the
second meeting held November 6–7,
2003, four task groups were established:
Emergency preparedness, mechanicalgeneral 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. The
working group met March 21–22, 2006,
and again on September 12–13, 2006, at
which time the group agreed to establish
a task force on general passenger safety.
The working group met on April 17–18,
2007, and the next meeting is scheduled
for December 11–12, 2007.
(Emergency Preparedness) 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. The
working group met September 7–8,
2005, and additional, supplementary
recommendations were presented to,
and accepted by, the full RSAC on
October 11, 2005. The Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) was
published on August 24, 2006, and was
open for comments until October 23,
2006. The working group agreed upon
recommendations for the resolution of
final comments during the April 17–18,
2007, meeting. The recommendations
were presented to, and approved by, the
full RSAC Committee on June 26, 2007,
and FRA is currently preparing the final
rule. The next working group meeting is
scheduled for October 17–18, 2007.
Contact: Brenda Moscoso, (202) 493–
6282.
(General Mechanical) (Completed)
Initial recommendations on mechanical
issues (revisions to Title 49 Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 238)
were approved by the full Committee on
January 26, 2005. At the working group
meeting of September 7–8, 2005, the
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task force presented additional
perfecting amendments and the full
RSAC approved them on October 11,
2005. An NPRM was published in the
Federal Register on December 8, 2005
(70 FR 73070). Public comments were
due by February 17, 2006. The final rule
was published in the Federal Register
on October 19, 2006 (71 FR 61835),
effective December 18, 2006.
(General Passenger Safety) At the
working group meeting April 17–18,
2007, the task force presented a progress
report to the working group. The task
force met July 18–19, 2007, and
afterwards it reported proposed
reporting codes for injuries involving
the platform gap, which were approved
by the working group by mail ballot
during September 2007. The task force
is preparing an outline for work on
Emergency Order 20, which will be
presented to the working group in
December 2007. Additionally, the task
force continues work on door
securement and second train passing. It
has also drafted guidance material for
management of the gap, which will be
considered by the working group at the
December 2007 meeting.
Contact: Dan Knote, (631) 567–1596.
(Passenger Equipment
Crashworthiness) The Crashworthiness
Task Force provided consensus
recommendations on static end strength
that were adopted by the working group
September 7–8, 2005. The full
Committee accepted the
recommendations on October 11, 2005.
The Front-End Strength of Cab Cars and
Multiple-Unit Locomotives NPRM was
published in the Federal Register on
August 1, 2007 (72 FR 42016), with
comments due by October 1, 2007.
Several comments were entered into
the docket. FRA is evaluating each of
the comments received and plans to
have the final rule text completed by
May 2008. To validate the
crashworthiness requirements of the
rule, FRA has scheduled two full-scale,
large deformation tests as prescribed in
the NPRM, a corner post test in
February 2008, a collision post test in
March 2008, and a dynamic test in April
2008.
Contact: Gary Fairbanks, (202) 493–
6322.
(Vehicle/Track Interaction) The task
force is developing proposed revisions
to Parts 213 and 238 principally
regarding high-speed passenger service.
The task force recently met October 9–
11, 2007, in Washington, DC.
Contact: John Mardente, (202) 493–
1335.
Task 05–01: Review of Roadway
Worker Protection Issues. This task was
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accepted on January 26, 2005, to review
49 CFR Part 214 Subpart C, Roadway
Worker Protection, and related sections
of Subpart A; recommend consideration
of specific actions to advance the ontrack 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 was
established and reported to the RSAC
any specific actions identified, as
appropriate. The first meeting of the
working group was held April 12–14,
2005. The working group reported
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
June 22–24, 2005; August 8–11, 2005;
September 20–22, 2005; November 8–9,
2005; January 10–11, 2006; February 1–
2, 2006; March 15–16, 2006; April 11–
12, 2006; August 22–23, 2006;
November 14–15, 2006; January 17–18,
2007; and February 27–28/March 1,
2007. The group has drafted and
accepted regulatory language for various
revisions, clarifications, and additions
to 32 separate items in 19 sections of the
rule. However, two parties raised
technical concerns regarding the draft
language concerning the electronic
display of track authorities. The
working group reported
recommendations to the full Committee
at the June 26, 2007, meeting. FRA,
through the NPRM process, is to address
this issue along with eight additional
items on which the working group was
unable to reach a consensus. A draft
NPRM is currently under review by the
Office of Safety staff and Legal Counsel
and is expected to be published in early
2008.
Contact: Christopher Schulte, (610)
521–8201.
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 reports 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 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 final working
group meeting devoted to developing a
proposed rule was held February 8–9,
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Fmt 4703
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61419
2006. The working group was unable to
deliver a consensus regulatory proposal,
but did recommend that it be used to
review comments on FRA’s NPRM,
which was published in the Federal
Register on October 12, 2006 (FR 71
60372), with public comments due by
December 11, 2006. Two reviews were
held on February 8–9, 2007, and April
4–5, 2007. Consensus was reached on
four items and those items were
presented and accepted by the full
RSAC Committee at the June 26, 2007,
meeting. The most recent working group
meeting was held September 27–28,
2007.
Contact: Douglas Taylor, (202) 493–
6255.
Task 06–01: Locomotive Safety
Standards. This task was accepted on
February 22, 2006, to review 49 CFR
Part 229, Railroad Locomotive Safety
Standards, and revise as appropriate. A
working group was established with the
mandate to report any planned activity
to the full Committee at each scheduled,
full RSAC meeting, to include
milestones for completion of projects
and progress toward completion. The
first working group meeting was held
May 8–10, 2006. Working group
meetings were held August 8–9, 2006;
September 25–26, 2006; October 30–31,
2006; January 9–10, 2007; and the
working group presented
recommendations regarding revisions to
requirements for locomotive sanders to
the full RSAC on September 21, 2006.
The NPRM regarding sanders was
published in the Federal Register on
March 6, 2007 (72 FR 9904). Comments
received were discussed by the working
group for clarification and FRA
published a final rule on October 19,
2007 (72 FR 59216). The working group
is continuing the review of Part 229
with a view to proposing further
revisions to update the standards. The
next working group meeting is
scheduled for November 27–28, 2007.
Contact: George Scerbo, (202) 493–
6249.
Task 06–02: Track Safety Standards
and Continuous Welded Rail. Section
9005 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible,
Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A
Legacy for Users (Pub. L. No. 109–59,
‘‘SAFETEA–LU’’), the 2005 Surface
Transportation Authorization Act,
requires FRA to issue requirements for
the inspection of joint bars in
continuous welded rail (CWR) to detect
cracks that could affect the integrity of
the track structure (49 U.S.C. 20142(e)).
FRA published an Interim Final Rule
(IFR) establishing new requirements for
inspections on November 2, 2005 (70 FR
66288). On October 11, 2005, FRA
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offered the RSAC a task to review
comments on this IFR, but the
conditions could not be established
under which the Committee could have
undertaken this with a view toward
consensus. Comments on the IFR were
received through December 19, 2005.
FRA is reviewing the comments. On
February 22, 2006, the RSAC accepted
this task to review and revise the CWR,
related to provisions of the Track Safety
Standards, with particular emphasis on
the reduction of derailments and
consequent injuries and damage caused
by defective conditions, including joint
failures in track using CWR. 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 first working group
meeting was held April 3–4, 2006, at
which time the working group reviewed
comments on the IFR. The second
working group meeting was held April
26–28, 2006. The working group also
met May 24–25, 2006, and July 19–20,
2006. The working group reported
consensus recommendations for the
final rule that were accepted by the full
Committee by mail ballot on August 11,
2006. The final rule was published in
the Federal Register on October 11,
2006 (71 FR 59677). The working group
is continuing review of Section 213.119
with a view to proposing further
revisions to update the standards. The
working group met June 27–28, 2007,
and August 15–16, 2007, and the next
meeting is scheduled for October 23–24,
2007.
Contact: Ken Rusk, (202) 493–6236.
Task 06–03: Medical Standards for
Safety-Critical Personnel. This task was
accepted on September 21, 2006, to
enhance the safety of persons in the
railroad operating environment as well
as the public by establishing standards
and procedures for determining the
medical fitness for duty of personnel
engaged in safety-critical functions. 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 first working group
meeting was held December 12–13,
2006. The working group met February
20–21, 2007; July 24–25, 2007; and
August 29–30, 2007. The next working
group meetings are scheduled for
October 31–November 1, 2007, and
December 3–4, 2007. A task force of
physicians was established in May 2007
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to work on specific medical examrelated issues. The task force had
meetings or conference calls on July 24,
2007; August 20, 2007; and October 15,
2007, and will meet again on October
31, 2007.
Contact: Alan Misiaszek, (202) 493–
6002.
Task 07–01: Track Safety Standards.
This task was accepted on February 22,
2007, to consider specific improvements
to the Track Safety Standards or other
responsive actions, supplementing work
already underway on CWR, specifically,
review controls applied to the reuse of
rail in CWR ‘‘plug rail’’; review the issue
of cracks emanating from bond wire
attachments; consider improvements in
the Track Safety Standards related to
fastening of rail-to-concrete ties; and
ensure a common understanding within
the regulated community concerning
requirements for internal rail flaw
inspections. The tasks were assigned to
the Track Safety Standards Working
Group. 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 first working
group meeting was held June 27–28,
2007, and the group met again August
15–16, 2007. The next scheduled
meeting is October 23–24, 2007.
Contact: Ken Rusk, (202) 493–6236.
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 (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 97–1: (Completed) Developing
crashworthiness specifications (49 CFR
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Fmt 4703
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Part 229) to promote the integrity of the
locomotive cab in accidents resulting
from collisions.
Task 97–2: (Completed) 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.
Task 97–3: (Completed) Developing
event recorder data survivability
standards.
Task 97–4 and Task 97–5:
(Completed) Defining Positive Train
Control functionalities, describing
available technologies, evaluating costs
and benefits of potential systems, and
considering implementation
opportunities and challenges, including
demonstration and deployment.
Task 97–6: (Completed) Revising
various regulations to address the safety
implications of processor-based signal
and train control technologies,
including communications-based
operating systems.
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, 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 October 24,
2007.
Michael J. Logue,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety
Compliance and Program Implementation.
[FR Doc. E7–21280 Filed 10–29–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 209 (Tuesday, October 30, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61418-61420]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-21280]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2000-7257; Notice No. 38]
Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC); Working Group Activity
Update
AGENCY: The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), U.S. Department of
Transportation.
ACTION: Announcement of Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC)
working group activities.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: FRA is updating its announcement of RSAC's working group
activities to reflect its current status.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Woolverton, RSAC Coordinator,
at: FRA; 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW., Mailstop 25; Washington, DC 20590;
telephone (202) 493-6212, or Grady C. Cothen, Jr., FRA Deputy Associate
Administrator for Safety, at: FRA; 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW., Mailstop
25; Washington, DC 20590; telephone (202) 493-6302.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice serves to update FRA's last
announcement of working group activities and status reports as of
September 25, 2006 (71 FR 55823). The 32nd full Committee meeting was
held June 26, 2007.
Since its first meeting in April 1996, the RSAC has accepted 24
tasks. The 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 03-01: Passenger Safety. This task was accepted on May 20,
2003, and a working group was established. Before embarking on
substantive discussions about a specific task, the working group wrote
a specific description of the task. The working group reports planned
activity to the full Committee at each scheduled, full RSAC meeting,
including milestones for the completion of projects and progress toward
completion. At the first meeting held September 9-10, 2003, a
consolidated list of issues were completed. At the second meeting held
November 6-7, 2003, four task groups were established: 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. The
working group met March 21-22, 2006, and again on September 12-13,
2006, at which time the group agreed to establish a task force on
general passenger safety. The working group met on April 17-18, 2007,
and the next meeting is scheduled for December 11-12, 2007.
(Emergency Preparedness) 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. The working group met September
7-8, 2005, and additional, supplementary recommendations were presented
to, and accepted by, the full RSAC on October 11, 2005. The Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) was published on August 24, 2006, and was
open for comments until October 23, 2006. The working group agreed upon
recommendations for the resolution of final comments during the April
17-18, 2007, meeting. The recommendations were presented to, and
approved by, the full RSAC Committee on June 26, 2007, and FRA is
currently preparing the final rule. The next working group meeting is
scheduled for October 17-18, 2007.
Contact: Brenda Moscoso, (202) 493-6282.
(General Mechanical) (Completed) Initial recommendations on
mechanical issues (revisions to Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR) Part 238) were approved by the full Committee on January 26,
2005. At the working group meeting of September 7-8, 2005, the
[[Page 61419]]
task force presented additional perfecting amendments and the full RSAC
approved them on October 11, 2005. An NPRM was published in the Federal
Register on December 8, 2005 (70 FR 73070). Public comments were due by
February 17, 2006. The final rule was published in the Federal Register
on October 19, 2006 (71 FR 61835), effective December 18, 2006.
(General Passenger Safety) At the working group meeting April 17-
18, 2007, the task force presented a progress report to the working
group. The task force met July 18-19, 2007, and afterwards it reported
proposed reporting codes for injuries involving the platform gap, which
were approved by the working group by mail ballot during September
2007. The task force is preparing an outline for work on Emergency
Order 20, which will be presented to the working group in December
2007. Additionally, the task force continues work on door securement
and second train passing. It has also drafted guidance material for
management of the gap, which will be considered by the working group at
the December 2007 meeting.
Contact: Dan Knote, (631) 567-1596.
(Passenger Equipment Crashworthiness) The Crashworthiness Task
Force provided consensus recommendations on static end strength that
were adopted by the working group September 7-8, 2005. The full
Committee accepted the recommendations on October 11, 2005. The Front-
End Strength of Cab Cars and Multiple-Unit Locomotives NPRM was
published in the Federal Register on August 1, 2007 (72 FR 42016), with
comments due by October 1, 2007.
Several comments were entered into the docket. FRA is evaluating
each of the comments received and plans to have the final rule text
completed by May 2008. To validate the crashworthiness requirements of
the rule, FRA has scheduled two full-scale, large deformation tests as
prescribed in the NPRM, a corner post test in February 2008, a
collision post test in March 2008, and a dynamic test in April 2008.
Contact: Gary Fairbanks, (202) 493-6322.
(Vehicle/Track Interaction) The task force is developing proposed
revisions to Parts 213 and 238 principally regarding high-speed
passenger service. The task force recently met October 9-11, 2007, in
Washington, DC.
Contact: John Mardente, (202) 493-1335.
Task 05-01: Review of Roadway Worker Protection Issues. This task
was accepted on January 26, 2005, to review 49 CFR Part 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 was
established and reported to the RSAC any specific actions identified,
as appropriate. The first meeting of the working group was held April
12-14, 2005. The working group reported 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 June 22-24, 2005; August 8-11, 2005; September 20-22, 2005;
November 8-9, 2005; January 10-11, 2006; February 1-2, 2006; March 15-
16, 2006; April 11-12, 2006; August 22-23, 2006; November 14-15, 2006;
January 17-18, 2007; and February 27-28/March 1, 2007. The group has
drafted and accepted regulatory language for various revisions,
clarifications, and additions to 32 separate items in 19 sections of
the rule. However, two parties raised technical concerns regarding the
draft language concerning the electronic display of track authorities.
The working group reported recommendations to the full Committee at the
June 26, 2007, meeting. FRA, through the NPRM process, is to address
this issue along with eight additional items on which the working group
was unable to reach a consensus. A draft NPRM is currently under review
by the Office of Safety staff and Legal Counsel and is expected to be
published in early 2008.
Contact: Christopher Schulte, (610) 521-8201.
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 reports 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 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 final working group meeting devoted
to developing a proposed rule was held February 8-9, 2006. The working
group was unable to deliver a consensus regulatory proposal, but did
recommend that it be used to review comments on FRA's NPRM, which was
published in the Federal Register on October 12, 2006 (FR 71 60372),
with public comments due by December 11, 2006. Two reviews were held on
February 8-9, 2007, and April 4-5, 2007. Consensus was reached on four
items and those items were presented and accepted by the full RSAC
Committee at the June 26, 2007, meeting. The most recent working group
meeting was held September 27-28, 2007.
Contact: Douglas Taylor, (202) 493-6255.
Task 06-01: Locomotive Safety Standards. This task was accepted on
February 22, 2006, to review 49 CFR Part 229, Railroad Locomotive
Safety Standards, and revise as appropriate. A working group was
established with the mandate to report any planned activity to the full
Committee at each scheduled, full RSAC meeting, to include milestones
for completion of projects and progress toward completion. The first
working group meeting was held May 8-10, 2006. Working group meetings
were held August 8-9, 2006; September 25-26, 2006; October 30-31, 2006;
January 9-10, 2007; and the working group presented recommendations
regarding revisions to requirements for locomotive sanders to the full
RSAC on September 21, 2006. The NPRM regarding sanders was published in
the Federal Register on March 6, 2007 (72 FR 9904). Comments received
were discussed by the working group for clarification and FRA published
a final rule on October 19, 2007 (72 FR 59216). The working group is
continuing the review of Part 229 with a view to proposing further
revisions to update the standards. The next working group meeting is
scheduled for November 27-28, 2007.
Contact: George Scerbo, (202) 493-6249.
Task 06-02: Track Safety Standards and Continuous Welded Rail.
Section 9005 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (Pub. L. No. 109-59,
``SAFETEA-LU''), the 2005 Surface Transportation Authorization Act,
requires FRA to issue requirements for the inspection of joint bars in
continuous welded rail (CWR) to detect cracks that could affect the
integrity of the track structure (49 U.S.C. 20142(e)). FRA published an
Interim Final Rule (IFR) establishing new requirements for inspections
on November 2, 2005 (70 FR 66288). On October 11, 2005, FRA
[[Page 61420]]
offered the RSAC a task to review comments on this IFR, but the
conditions could not be established under which the Committee could
have undertaken this with a view toward consensus. Comments on the IFR
were received through December 19, 2005. FRA is reviewing the comments.
On February 22, 2006, the RSAC accepted this task to review and revise
the CWR, related to provisions of the Track Safety Standards, with
particular emphasis on the reduction of derailments and consequent
injuries and damage caused by defective conditions, including joint
failures in track using CWR. 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 first working group
meeting was held April 3-4, 2006, at which time the working group
reviewed comments on the IFR. The second working group meeting was held
April 26-28, 2006. The working group also met May 24-25, 2006, and July
19-20, 2006. The working group reported consensus recommendations for
the final rule that were accepted by the full Committee by mail ballot
on August 11, 2006. The final rule was published in the Federal
Register on October 11, 2006 (71 FR 59677). The working group is
continuing review of Section 213.119 with a view to proposing further
revisions to update the standards. The working group met June 27-28,
2007, and August 15-16, 2007, and the next meeting is scheduled for
October 23-24, 2007.
Contact: Ken Rusk, (202) 493-6236.
Task 06-03: Medical Standards for Safety-Critical Personnel. This
task was accepted on September 21, 2006, to enhance the safety of
persons in the railroad operating environment as well as the public by
establishing standards and procedures for determining the medical
fitness for duty of personnel engaged in safety-critical functions. 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 first working group meeting was held December
12-13, 2006. The working group met February 20-21, 2007; July 24-25,
2007; and August 29-30, 2007. The next working group meetings are
scheduled for October 31-November 1, 2007, and December 3-4, 2007. A
task force of physicians was established in May 2007 to work on
specific medical exam-related issues. The task force had meetings or
conference calls on July 24, 2007; August 20, 2007; and October 15,
2007, and will meet again on October 31, 2007.
Contact: Alan Misiaszek, (202) 493-6002.
Task 07-01: Track Safety Standards. This task was accepted on
February 22, 2007, to consider specific improvements to the Track
Safety Standards or other responsive actions, supplementing work
already underway on CWR, specifically, review controls applied to the
reuse of rail in CWR ``plug rail''; review the issue of cracks
emanating from bond wire attachments; consider improvements in the
Track Safety Standards related to fastening of rail-to-concrete ties;
and ensure a common understanding within the regulated community
concerning requirements for internal rail flaw inspections. The tasks
were assigned to the Track Safety Standards Working Group. 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 first working group
meeting was held June 27-28, 2007, and the group met again August 15-
16, 2007. The next scheduled meeting is October 23-24, 2007.
Contact: Ken Rusk, (202) 493-6236.
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 97-1: (Completed) Developing crashworthiness specifications
(49 CFR Part 229) to promote the integrity of the locomotive cab in
accidents resulting from collisions.
Task 97-2: (Completed) 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.
Task 97-3: (Completed) Developing event recorder data survivability
standards.
Task 97-4 and Task 97-5: (Completed) Defining Positive Train
Control functionalities, describing available technologies, evaluating
costs and benefits of potential systems, and considering implementation
opportunities and challenges, including demonstration and deployment.
Task 97-6: (Completed) Revising various regulations to address the
safety implications of processor-based signal and train control
technologies, including communications-based operating systems.
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, 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 October 24, 2007.
Michael J. Logue,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Compliance and Program
Implementation.
[FR Doc. E7-21280 Filed 10-29-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
