Federal Railroad Administration May 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and 5 CFR 1320.5(b), this notice announces that new information collections requirements (ICRs) listed below have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). These new ICRs pertain to 49 CFR parts 213, 216, 229, and 238. Additionally, FRA hereby announces that other ICRs listed below have been re-approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). These ICRs pertain to parts 230, 241, and 260. The OMB approval numbers, titles, and expiration dates are included herein under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The FRA is updating its announcement of RSAC's Working Group activities to reflect its current status.

FRA is issuing Safety Advisory 2006-04 recommending that owners of tank cars equipped with the ACF Industries, Incorporated (ACF) 200 stub sill design, inspect and enhance the underframes in accordance with the procedures contained in ACF's Maintenance Bulletin TC-200. Owners should contact ACF (see below) for a copy of Maintenance Bulletin TC-200 and for clarification of procedures and any additional information.

FRA announces the next meeting of the RSAC, a Federal Advisory Committee that develops railroad safety regulations through a consensus process. The RSAC meeting topics include opening remarks from the FRA Administrator, a discussion panel on lessons learned during the ten years RSAC has existed, and the report on the Safety of Remote Control Locomotive Operations. Status reports will be given on the Passenger Safety, Roadway Worker, Continuous Welded Rail, and Locomotive Standards working groups. The Committee will be asked to vote to accept a task on railroad security.

FRA is issuing Safety Advisory 2006-03, in order to provide interested parties information related to the potential failure of the welded attachment of vertical load dividers on certain center beam lumber flat cars. The welded attachment of the vertical load dividers on these cars can break away from the car body structure. The vertical load dividers are hollow square tubular steel beams approximately eight (8) feet in height that are welded to the car body structure. The vertical beams serve as load dividers for packaged lumber products.