Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC); Working Group Activity Update, 6257-6259 [E8-1861]

Agencies

• Federal Railroad Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 22 (Friday, February 1, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6257-6259]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1861]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2000-7257; Notice No. 44]


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 working 
group activities.

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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, 
FRA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Mailstop 25, Washington, DC 20590, 
(202) 493-6212 or Grady Cothen, Deputy Associate Administrator for 
Safety, FRA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 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 as of 
October 30, 2007 (72 FR 61418). The 33rd full RSAC Committee meeting 
was held October 25, 2007, and the 34th meeting is scheduled for 
February 20, 2008, at the National Housing Center in Washington, DC.
    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 and 
planned future activities involving the review of other regulations for 
possible adaptation to the safety needs of tourist and historic 
railroads. Contact: Grady C. Cothen, Jr., (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 sets 
forth in writing a specific description of the task. The working group 
also 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 was 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 on 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 full Passenger Safety 
Working Group met on April 17-18, 2007, and again on December 11-12, 
2007. The next meeting is scheduled for June 18, 2008. Contact: Charles 
Bielitz, (202) 493-6302.
    (Emergency Preparedness Task Force) At the working group meeting on 
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 RSAC Committee on May 18, 2005. 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. 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. The final rule regarding emergency egress 
and rescue access is expected to be published in early 2008. The task 
force met on October 17-18, 2007, and the group reached consensus on 
the draft rule text for a follow-up NPRM on passenger train emergency 
systems. The task force presented the draft rule text to the Passenger 
Safety Working Group on December 11-12, 2007, and the consensus draft 
rule text will be presented for full RSAC vote during the February 20, 
2008, meeting. Contact: Brenda Moscoso, (202) 493-6282.
    (General Mechanical Task Force) (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 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 Task Force) At the working group meeting 
on April 17-18, 2007, the task force presented a progress report to the 
working group. The task force met on July 18-19, 2007, and afterwards 
it reported proposed reporting cause codes for injuries involving the 
platform gap, which were approved by the working group by mail ballot 
in September 2007. The full RSAC approved the recommendations for 
changes to 49 CFR Part 225 accident/incident cause codes on October 25, 
2007. The task force continues work on passenger train door securement, 
``second train in station,'' trespasser incidents, and system safety-
based solutions by developing a regulatory approach to system safety. 
The General Passenger Safety Task Force presented draft guidance 
material for management of the gap, which was considered and approved 
by the working group during the December 11-12, 2007, meeting and will 
present the material to the full RSAC for approval during the February 
2008 meeting. Contact: Dan Knote, (631) 567-1596.
    (Passenger Equipment Crashworthiness Task Force) The 
Crashworthiness Task Force provided consensus recommendations on 
static-end strength, which were adopted by the working group on 
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 
June 2008. To demonstrate the means of

[[Page 6258]]

determining compliance with the crashworthiness requirements of the 
rule, FRA has scheduled two full-scale 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 Task Force) The task force is developing 
proposed revisions to 49 CFR Parts 213 and 238 principally regarding 
high-speed passenger service. The task force met on October 9-11, 2007, 
and November 19-20, 2007, in Washington, DC, and presented the final 
task force report and final recommendations and proposed rule text for 
approval by the Passenger Safety Working Group at the December 11-12, 
2007, meeting. The final report and the proposed rule text were 
approved by the working group and the proposal will be presented to the 
full RSAC for approval at the February 2008 meeting. 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 on 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 on 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, February 27-28, 2007, and March 1, 2007. 
The group 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 FRA 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. 
An Operating Rules 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 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 final working 
group meeting, devoted to developing a proposed rule, was held February 
8-9, 2006. The working group was not able 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; one on February 8-9, 2007, and the 
other on April 4-5, 2007. Consensus was reached on four items, which 
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, and the next scheduled meeting will occur on January 17-
18, 2008. 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 on 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 49 CFR Part 
229 with a view to proposing further revisions to update the standards. 
The working group met November 27-28, 2007, and the next meeting is 
scheduled for February 5-6, 2008. 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 inspection of joint bars in continuous welded rail 
(CWR) to detect cracks that could affect the integrity of the track 
structure (Title 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 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, and FRA reviewed 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 was 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, which were 
accepted by the full RSAC 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 its review of 49 
CFR 213.119 with a view to proposing further revisions to update the 
standards. The working group met

[[Page 6259]]

January 30-31, 2007, April 10-11, 2007, June 27-28, 2007, August 15-16, 
2007, and October 23-24, 2007, and the next meeting is scheduled for 
January, 8-9, 2008. 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 and the public by 
establishing standards and procedures for determining the medical 
fitness of duty of personnel engaged in safety-critical functions. A 
working group was established and 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 on February 20-21, 2007, July 24-25, 2007, August 29-
30, 2007, October 31-November 1, 2007, and December 4-5, 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, October 15, 2007, and October 
31, 2007. The next Medical Standards Working Group meeting is scheduled 
for February 13-14, 2008. 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. These 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 on June 27-28, 2007, and the group met again on August 
15-16, 2007, and October 23-24, 2007. Two task forces were created 
under the working group; the Concrete Ties Task Force and the Rail 
Integrity Task Force. The Concrete Ties Task Force first met on 
November 26-27, 2007, and the next meeting is scheduled for February 
13-14, 2008. The Rail Integrity Task Force first met on November 28-29, 
2007, and the next meeting is scheduled for February 12-13, 2008. 
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 (found under 49 CFR Part 220).
    Task 96-5--(Completed) Reviewing and recommending revisions to the 
Steam Locomotive Inspection and Maintenance 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 in response 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 January 28, 2008.
Michael J. Logue,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Compliance and Program 
Implementation.
 [FR Doc. E8-1861 Filed 1-31-08; 8:45 am]
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