Federal Railroad Administration July 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FRA announces the forty-second meeting of the RSAC, a Federal advisory committee that develops railroad safety regulations through a consensus process. The RSAC meeting topics will include opening remarks from the FRA Administrator, and status reports will be provided by the Passenger Hours of Service, Training Standards, Track Safety Standards, Passenger Safety, and Medical Standards Working Groups. Status updates will be provided on the following tasks arising out of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA): Positive Train Control, Railroad Bridge Safety Management, Conductor Certification, and a possible new task regarding Dark Territory may be presented to the committee for approval. This agenda is subject to change, including the possible addition of further proposed tasks under the RSIA.

FRA is establishing Federal safety requirements for railroad bridges. This final rule requires track owners to implement bridge management programs, which include annual inspections of railroad bridges, and to audit the programs. This final rule also requires track owners to know the safe load capacity of bridges and to conduct special inspections if the weather or other conditions warrant such inspections.

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 information collection activities that were previously approved by OMB. 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.

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 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 April 21, 2010 (75 FR 20875).

FRA is proposing to amend the regulations related to safety appliance arrangements on rail equipment in a manner that is expected to promote the safe placement and securement of safety appliances on modern rail equipment by establishing a process for the review and approval of existing industry standards. This process will permit railroad industry representatives to submit requests for the approval of existing industry standards relating to the safety appliance arrangements on newly constructed railroad cars, locomotives, tenders, or similar vehicles in lieu of the specific provisions currently contained in part 231. It is anticipated that the proposed special approval process will further railroad safety. It will allow FRA to consider technological advancements and ergonomic design standards for new car construction and ensure that modern rail equipment complies with the applicable statutory and safety-critical regulatory requirements related to safety appliances while providing the

This notice details the application requirements and procedures for obtaining funding for individual high-speed and intercity passenger rail projects available under the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for 2010 (Div. A of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010 (Pub. L. 111-117, Dec. 16, 2009)). The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a separate notice in today's edition of the Federal Register for Fiscal Year 2010 funding made available for Service Development Programs.