Federal Railroad Administration 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice details the application requirements and procedures for obtaining funding for high-speed and intercity passenger rail Service Development Programs 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 Individual Projects.

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 April 8, 2010 (75 FR 18012).

Under a notice published in the Federal Register on May 13, 2010 (75 FR 27112), the FRA sought applications from interested and responsible parties for two grants: to conduct a Locomotive Biofuel Study, and to conduct a Study of the Use of Bio-based Technologies (Lubricants) that can be used in locomotives, rolling stock and other rail equipment. The application deadline was June 7, 2010. FRA is extending the deadline until June 21, 2010 to give applicants additional time to complete the application process and submit applications.

The Federal Railroad Administration announces the availability of the Southeast High Speed Rail, Richmond, VA to Raleigh, NC Project Draft Tier II 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 guidance, 64 FR 28545 (May 26, 1999). FRA is the lead Federal agency; the Federal Highway Administration, United States Coast Guard, United States Army Corps of Engineers, United States Environmental Protection Agency, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service are cooperating Federal agencies. The North Carolina Department of Transportation Rail Division (NCDOT) and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) are co-lead State agencies. The Environmental Protection Agency included the DEIS in the Notice of Availability published on June 4, 2010.

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 March 31, 2010 (75 FR 16228).

FRA is issuing Safety Advisory 2010-01 in order to provide guidance to interested parties concerning the inspection and repair of FTTX series flatcars that have welded vertical hand brake supports that have been modified to accommodate a 10-inch wide hand brake step. FRA's Office of Railroad Safety Motive Power and Equipment (MP&E) Division has been notified that approximately 1,851 FTTX series flatcars that are owned by TTX Company (TTX) may have a notch cut into the vertical hand brake supports, which compromises the safety of the hand brake support angles.

FRA is proposing to amend its railroad communications regulations by restricting use of mobile telephones and other distracting electronic devices by railroad operating employees. This proposed rulemaking would codify most of the requirements of FRA Emergency Order No. 26, which would be supplanted by the final rule. FRA proposes that some of the substantive requirements of that order as well as its scope be changed by this rulemaking to accommodate changes previously recommended by a petition for review of that order and a number of additional amendments that FRA believes are appropriate. In addition, FRA is requesting comment regarding whether violations of this proposed subpart should be a basis for revoking a locomotive engineer's certification.

Under this Notice, the FRA is soliciting applications from interested and responsible parties for two grants: (1) To conduct a Locomotive Biofuel Study, and (2) to conduct a Study of the Use of Bio- based Technologies (Lubricants) that can be used in locomotives, rolling stock and other rail equipment.

Section 207 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (Division B of Pub. L. 110-432) (PRIIA) charged the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Amtrak jointly and in consultation with other parties, with developing new or improving existing metrics and minimum standards for measuring the performance and service quality of intercity passenger train operations. In compliance with the statute, the FRA and Amtrak jointly drafted performance metrics and standards for intercity passenger rail service and, on March 13, 2009, posted a draft document, entitled ``Proposed Metrics and Standards for Intercity Passenger Rail Service,'' on the FRA's Web site. Simultaneously, the FRA published a notice in the Federal Register (74 FR 10983) requesting comments on the Proposed Metrics and Standards from the Surface Transportation Board, rail carriers over whose rail lines Amtrak trains operate, States, Amtrak employees, nonprofit employee organizations representing Amtrak employees, and groups representing Amtrak passengers. Seventeen comments were submitted to the corresponding docket (number FRA-2009-0016) at regulations.gov by the end of the comment period on March 27, 2009 and as a result, the FRA and Amtrak have jointly made, and are jointly issuing, revisions to the Metrics and Standards. The final version of the Metrics and Standards is posted on the FRA's Web site at https://www.fra.dot.gov/us/ content/2165.

FRA is proposing to amend the Track Safety Standards and Passenger Equipment Safety Standards applicable to high-speed and high cant deficiency train operations in order to promote the safe interaction of rail vehicles with the track over which they operate. The proposal would revise existing limits for vehicle response to track perturbations and add new limits as well. The proposal accounts for a range of vehicle types that are currently used and may likely be used on future high-speed or high cant deficiency rail operations, or both. The proposal is based on the results of simulation studies designed to identify track geometry irregularities associated with unsafe wheel/ rail forces and accelerations, thorough reviews of vehicle qualification and revenue service test data, and consideration of international practices.

The Federal Railroad Administration announces the availability of the Moynihan Station Development Project (Project) Environmental Assessment (EA) for public review and comment. The EA 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 New York State Urban Development Corporation d/b/a the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) is the lead State agency.

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.

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.