Federal Railroad Administration 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FRA is proposing to further the safety of passenger train occupants by amending existing regulations to enhance structural strength requirements for the front end of cab cars and multiple-unit locomotives. These enhancements would include the addition of deformation and energy absorption requirements specified in revised American Public Transportation Association (APTA) standards for front- end collision posts and corner posts for this equipment. FRA is also proposing to make miscellaneous clarifying amendments to current regulations for the structural strength of passenger equipment.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and its implementing regulations, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) hereby announces that it is seeking approval of the following information collection activities. Before submitting these information collection requirements for clearance by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified below. It should be noted that this notice supersedes and corrects the Federal Register Notice that was published on June 11, 2007 (see 72 FR 32159), which inadvertently listed an erroneous title for the proposed study.

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 Deputy Administrator, and a presentation on the hazardous materials rulemaking. Panel discussions on the legislative agenda and railroad bridges are tentatively scheduled. Status reports will be given on the Medical Standards, Passenger Safety, Roadway Worker Safety, Continuous Welded RailTrack Standards, and Locomotive Safety Standards working groups. The Committee will be asked to vote on recommendations on railroad operating rules, passenger train emergency systems, and railroad worker safety provisions. This agenda is subject to change.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Requirements (ICRs) abstracted below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs describes the nature of the information collections and their expected burdens. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collections of information was published on February 12, 2007 (72 FR 6656).

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on February 6, 2007 (72 FR 5493).

On July 27, 2006, FRA published a notice announcing its intent to conduct a series of open meetings throughout the United States, in cooperation with appropriate State agencies, to consider issues related to the safety of private highway-rail grade crossings. FRA has conducted four meetings to date and on March 17, 2007, FRA published a notice announcing the scheduling of an additional meeting to be held April 26, 2007, in Syracuse, New York. Due to recently developed scheduling conflicts, however, it is necessary to postpone this April 26 meeting. This Notice No. 5 is an announcement that the Syracuse, New York, meeting has been rescheduled for July 26, 2007. FRA regrets any inconvenience this date change may have caused. At the meeting, FRA intends to solicit oral statements from private crossing owners, railroads, and other interested parties on issues related to the safety of private highway-rail grade crossings, which will include, but not be limited to, current practices concerning the responsibility for safety at private grade crossings, the adequacy of warning devices at private crossings, and the relative merits of a more uniform approach to improving safety at private crossings. FRA has also opened a public docket on these issues so that interested parties may submit written comments for public review and consideration.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Requirements (ICRs) abstracted below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs describes the nature of the information collections and their expected burdens. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collections of information was published on January 17, 2007 (72 FR 2084).