Federal Railroad Administration November 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
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Passenger Train Emergency Systems II
This final rule is intended to further the safety of passenger train occupants through both enhancements and additions to FRA's existing requirements for emergency systems on passenger trains. In this final rule, FRA is adding requirements for emergency passage through vestibule and other interior passageway doors and enhancing emergency egress and rescue access signage requirements. FRA is also establishing requirements for low-location emergency exit path markings to assist occupants in reaching and operating emergency exits, particularly under conditions of limited visibility. Further, FRA is adding standards to ensure that emergency lighting systems are provided in all passenger cars, and FRA is enhancing requirements for the survivability of emergency lighting systems in new passenger cars. Finally, FRA is clarifying requirements for participation in debriefing and critique sessions following emergency situations and full-scale simulations.
Need for Agency Approval of a Railroad's Use of Certain Technology That Has Been Previously Approved for Use by a Different Railroad
FRA is providing interim guidance on a railroad's use of processor-based signal or train control technology subject to the requirements of 49 CFR part 236, subpart H, in the situation where the railroad has not previously obtained FRA's approval to use the technology, but a different railroad has already received FRA's approval to do so. Under these regulations, any railroad seeking to use signal or train control technology subject to the regulations must first adopt both a Railroad Safety Program Plan and a Product Safety Plan covering the technology that have been approved by FRA. If FRA has already approved the use of a certain processor-based signal or train control technology by one railroad pursuant to that railroad's plans, a different railroad (a third-party railroad) may use as a model the Railroad Safety Program Plan and Product Safety Plan of the railroad that has FRA's approval for use of the technology, and the third-party railroad must submit its own plans and obtain FRA's approval before using the technology. FRA anticipates that there will be some railroad-by-railroad variances that will not be safety-critical, and such variances are required to be specified and are also subject to FRA approval.
Adjustment of Nationwide Significant Risk Threshold
In accordance with appendix D to title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 222, Use of Locomotive Horns at Public Highway- Rail Grade Crossings, FRA is updating the Nationwide Significant Risk Threshold (NSRT). This action is needed to ensure that the public has the proper threshold of permissible risk for calculating quiet zones established in relationship to the NSRT. This is the sixth update to the NSRT, which is increasing from 13,722 to 14,347.
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below is being 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 collections of information was published on September 16, 2013 (78 FR 56995).
Safety and Security Plans for Class 3 Hazardous Materials Transported by Rail
PHMSA and FRA are issuing this safety advisory as a follow-up to the agencies' joint safety advisory published on August 7, 2013 and FRA's Emergency Order No. 28 published that same day, both of which relate to the July 6, 2013, catastrophic accident in Lac- M[eacute]gantic, Quebec. In this safety advisory, PHMSA and FRA are reinforcing the importance of proper characterization, classification, and selection of a packing group for Class 3 materials, and the corresponding requirements in the Federal hazardous materials regulations for safety and security planning. In addition, we are reinforcing that we expect offerors by rail and rail carriers to revise their safety and security plans required by the Federal hazardous materials regulations, including the required risk assessments, to address the safety and security issues identified in FRA's Emergency Order No. 28 and the August 7, 2013, joint Safety Advisory.
Railroad Safety Technology Program Grant Program
The Railroad Safety Technology Grant Program was first authorized under the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA). The program authorizes DOT to provide grants to passenger and freight rail carriers, railroad suppliers, and State and local governments for projects that have a public benefit of improved railroad safety and efficiency. The program originally made available $50 million in Federal funds. Due to the original grantees completing their grants, $550,000 became available from the original $50 million. This grant program has a maximum 80-percent Federal and minimum 20-percent grantee cost share (cash or in-kind) match requirement.
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