Federal Railroad Administration 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
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Environmental Impact Statement for the California High-Speed Train Project from Merced to Sacramento, CA
This notice is to advise the public that FRA and the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) will jointly prepare a project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and a project Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Merced to Sacramento Section of the Authority's proposed California High-Speed Train (HST) System in compliance with relevant State and Federal laws, in particular the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) is interested in providing intercity and commuter regional rail passenger services within this section of the HST System connecting to the Altamont Corridor Rail Project. FRA is issuing this Notice to alert interested parties and solicit public and agency input into the development of the scope of the EIS and to advise the public that outreach activities conducted by the Authority and their representatives will be considered in the preparation of the combined EIR/EIS. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may serve as a cooperating agency for the preparation of the EIR/EIS.
Richmond-Hampton Roads Passenger Rail Project
The Federal Railroad Administration announces the availability of the Richmond-Hampton Roads Passenger Rail Project Draft Tier I Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for public review and comment. The DEIS was prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., the Council on Environmental Quality NEPA implementing regulations, 40 CFR parts 1500- 1508, and the FRA NEPA procedures, 64 FR 28545 (May 26, 1999). FRA is the lead Federal agency and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) is the lead State agency. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) included the DEIS in the Notice of Availability (NOA) published on December 11, 2009.
Qualification and Certification of Locomotive Engineers; Miscellaneous Revisions
FRA is making miscellaneous amendments to its regulation governing the qualification and certification of locomotive engineers.
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and its implementing regulations, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) hereby announces that it is seeking renewal of the following currently approved 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.
Adjustment of Monetary Threshold for Reporting Rail Equipment Accidents/Incidents for Calendar Year 2010
This rule increases the rail equipment accident/incident reporting threshold from $8,900 to $9,200 for certain railroad accidents/incidents involving property damage that occur during calendar year 2010. This action is needed to ensure that FRA's reporting requirements reflect cost increases that have occurred since the reporting threshold was last computed in December of 2008.
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
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 describe the nature of the information collection and their expected burden. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collections of information was published on September 2, 2009 (74 FR 45516).
Railroad Workplace Safety; Adjacent-Controlled-Track On-Track Safety for Roadway Workers
FRA proposes to amend its regulations on railroad workplace safety to reduce further the risk of serious injury or death to roadway workers. In particular, FRA proposes to require that railroads adopt specified on-track safety procedures to protect certain roadway work groups from the movement of trains or other on-track equipment on ``adjacent controlled track.'' FRA proposes to define ``adjacent controlled track'' to mean ``a controlled track whose track center is spaced 19 feet or less from the track center of the occupied track.'' These on-track safety procedures would be required for each adjacent controlled track when a roadway work group with at least one of the roadway workers on the ground is engaged in a common task with an on- track roadway maintenance machine or coupled equipment on an occupied track. FRA also proposes to require that railroads, contractors to railroads, and roadway workers comply with these procedures. The NPRM issued as ``Notice No. 1'' under this same docket number and published July 17, 2008 (73 FR 41214), was withdrawn by ``Notice No. 2'' published August 13, 2008 (73 FR 47124).
State Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Action Plans
On September 2, 2009, FRA published a direct final rule in the Federal Register requiring the ten States with the most highway-rail grade crossing collisions, on average, over the past three years, to develop State highway-rail grade crossing action plans. FRA received one adverse comment regarding the direct final rule. Under FRA regulations, FRA must withdraw a direct final rule where an adverse comment is submitted. As a result, in a separate document elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, FRA is publishing a removal of the direct final rule provisions, which removes the changes effected by the direct final rule. FRA is also contemporaneously publishing this NPRM. The NPRM complies with a statutory mandate that the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) issue a rule to require the ten States with the most highway-rail grade crossing collisions, on average, over the past three years, to develop State highway-rail grade crossing action plans. This proposed rule is not intended for general application; instead, it would only apply to the ten identified States with the most highway-rail grade crossing collisions over the specified period of
State Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Action Plans
On September 2, 2009, FRA published a direct final rule in the Federal Register requiring the ten States with the most highway-rail grade crossing collisions, on average, over the past three years, to develop State highway-rail grade crossing action plans. FRA received one adverse comment regarding the direct final rule. Under FRA regulations, FRA must withdraw a direct final rule where an adverse comment is submitted. FRA issued and submitted a notice of withdrawal to the Federal Register; however, due to regulatory production schedules and time constraints, the direct final rule was not withdrawn before its effective date. As a result, FRA is now publishing this removal of the direct final rule provisions, which removes the changes effected by the direct final rule. In a separate document publishing elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, FRA is publishing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM).
Notice and Request for Comments
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Requirement (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 August 24, 2009 (74 FR 42732).
Environmental Impact Statement for the Altamont Corridor Rail Project From Stockton to San Jose, CA
FRA is issuing this Notice to advise other agencies and the public that FRA and the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) will be preparing an Environmental Impact Report/ Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) for the Altamont Corridor Rail Project proposed by the Authority and the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) from Stockton to San Jose via the Altamont Pass and Tri Valley area, connecting the Northern San Joaquin Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. The Authority and SJRRC are proposing to develop a dedicated regional rail corridor through the Altamont Pass and the Tri Valley area capable of supporting intercity and commuter rail passenger services. The project EIR/EIS will be prepared in compliance with relevant Federal and State laws, in particular the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will serve as a cooperating agency for the preparation of the EIR/EIS.
Track Safety Standards; Continuous Welded Rail (CWR)
FRA published a final rule in the Federal Register on August 25, 2009, revising the Track Safety Standards. The final rule included compliance dates for Class I, II, and III railroads only. The final rule inadvertently omitted compliance dates for commuter railroads, intercity passenger railroads, and any other additional railroads that have continuous welded rail (CWR). This document corrects the final rule by including compliance dates for the omitted railroads and amending a reference to the effective date in the rule text.
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Requirement (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 August 10, 2009 (74 FR 39993).
Safety Advisory 2009-02
FRA is issuing Safety Advisory 2009-02 to ensure that tank cars with defective or inoperable bottom outlet valves are not loaded with hazardous materials and offered for transportation, or in the event that a bottom outlet valve becomes inoperable en route, adequate unloading procedures are followed to prevent any unintended release of the car's contents. This safety advisory recommends specific loading and unloading procedures for hazardous materials tank cars equipped with bottom outlet valves, as well as the inspection, and as necessary, the repair of these valves.
Notice of Funding Availability and Solicitation of Applications for Grants Under the Railroad Rehabilitation and Repair Grant Program
Under this Notice, the FRA encourages interested State departments of transportation to submit applications for grants to repair and rehabilitate Class II and Class III railroad infrastructure damaged by hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters in areas for which the President declared a major disaster after January 1, 2008, under Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1974.
Environmental Impact Statement for the California High Speed Train Project From Fresno to Bakersfield, CA
The FRA issued a Notice of Intent on March 13, 2009 for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) with the California High-Speed Rail (Authority) for the Merced-to-Bakersfield section of the Authority's proposed California High-Speed Train (HST) System in compliance with relevant State and Federal laws, in particular the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). In that Notice, alternatives involving the alignments and stations located between Merced and Bakersfield were identified. FRA is issuing this Notice to amend the project environmental process for the Merced to Bakersfield section into two separate project EISs.
Environmental Impact Statement for the California High-Speed Train Project from Merced to Fresno, CA
The FRA issued a Notice of Intent on March 13, 2009 for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) with the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) for the Merced to Bakersfield section of the Authority's proposed California High-Speed Train (HST) System in compliance with relevant state and federal laws, in particular the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). In that Notice, alternatives involving the alignments and stations located between Merced and Bakersfield were identified. This notice amends the project environmental process for the Merced to Bakersfield section and announces the preparation of two separate EIR/EISs.
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Requirement (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 July 24, 2009 (74 FR 36807).
High-Speed Passenger Rail Safety Strategy; Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Guidelines for High-Speed Passenger Rail: Creation of Docket
On June 17, 2009, FRA issued a Notice of Funding Availability and Interim Program Guidance detailing the application requirements for obtaining funding for high-speed rail projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the Department of Transportation Appropriations Acts for fiscal year (FY) 2008 and FY 2009. The Notice and Interim Guidance was published in the Federal Register on June 23, 2009. FRA is currently evaluating grant applications submitted in the first round of the application process, in accordance with evaluation criteria included in the Interim Guidance. FRA will also develop high-speed passenger rail (HSPR) safety strategy and highway-rail grade crossing guidelines for HSPR as part of
Environmental Impact Statement for the California High-Speed Train Project From Los Angeles to San Diego via the Inland Empire, CA
This notice is to advise the public that FRA and the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) will jointly prepare a project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and project Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Los Angeles to San Diego (LA-SD) Section of the Authority's proposed California High-Speed Train (HST) System in compliance with relevant State and Federal laws, in particular the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement for the Empire Corridor High Speed Rail Program From New York City to Niagara Falls, NY
FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that FRA with the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) will jointly prepare a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Empire Corridor High Speed Rail (HSR) Program in compliance with relevant State and Federal laws, in particular the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR). FRA is also issuing this notice to solicit public and agency input into the development of the scope of the Empire Corridor HSR Program EIS and to advise the public that outreach activities conducted by the NYSDOT and its representatives will be considered in the preparation of the EIS. The objective of the tiered EIS is to evaluate alternatives and make corridor level decisions regarding the level of intercity passenger rail service provided in the corridor, including variations in train frequency, trip time, and on-time performance.
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Requirement (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 June 26, 2009 (74 FR 30662).
Notice and Request for Comments
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Requirement (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 July 6, 2009 (74 FR 32029).
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