Federal Railroad Administration May 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FRA hereby gives notice that it is submitting the following Information Collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for emergency processing under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. FRA requests that OMB authorize the collection of information identified below by May 26, 2015, for a period of 180 days.

FRA is issuing this emergency order (EO or Order) to require that the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) take actions to control passenger train speed at certain locations on main line track in the Northeast Corridor (as described by 49 U.S.C. 24905(c)(1)(A)). Amtrak must immediately implement code changes to its Automatic Train Control (ATC) System to enforce the passenger train speed limit ahead of the curve at Frankford Junction in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where a fatal accident occurred on May 12, 2015. Amtrak must also identify each main track curve on the Northeast Corridor where there is a significant reduction (more than 20 miles per hour (mph)) from the maximum authorized approach speed to those curves for passenger trains. Amtrak must then develop and comply with an FRA- approved action plan to modify its existing ATC System or other signal systems (or take alternative operational actions) to enable enforcement of passenger train speed limits at the identified curves. Amtrak must also install additional wayside passenger train speed limit signage at appropriate locations on its Northeast Corridor right-of-way.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and its implementing regulations, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) hereby announces that it is seeking an extension of the following currently approved information collection activities. On April 23, 2015, FRA and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA) jointly published in the Federal Register a Safety Advisory titled Hazardous Materials: Information Requirements Related to the Transportation of Trains Carrying Specified Volumes of Flammable Liquids (FRA Safety Advisory 2015-02; Docket No. PHMSA-2015-0118, Notice 15-11). See 80 FR 22778. The information collection activities associated with the Joint Safety Advisory received a six-month emergency approval from OMB on April 30, 2015. FRA seeks a regular clearance (extension of the current approval for three years) so that its personnel and PHMSA personnel can continue to collect certain information that is essential during the course of an investigation immediately following a train accident. 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 an extension of the following currently approved information collection activities. On April 27, 2015, FRA published in the Federal Register its Emergency Order No. 30 titled Emergency Order Establishing a Maximum Operating Speed of 40 mph in High-Threat Urban Areas for Certain Trains Transporting Large Quantities of Class 3 Flammable Liquids. See 80 FR 23321. The information collection activities associated with the Joint Safety Advisory received a six-month emergency approval from OMB on April 30, 2015. FRA seeks a regular clearance (extension of the current approval for one year) so that it can continue to receive and evaluate special petitions of approval from railroads requesting relief from this Emergency Order. In these petition requests, railroads must state their proposed alternative action that will provide at least an equivalent level of safety to that provided by this Emergency Order. 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.

FRA announces the fifty-third meeting of the RSAC, a Federal Advisory Committee that develops railroad safety recommendations through a consensus process. The RSAC meeting topics will include opening remarks from the FRA Acting Administrator, the FRA Associate Administrator for Safety/Chief Safety Officer, and status reports by the Recording Devices and Rail Integrity Working Groups. The Engineering Task Force also will provide a status report and there will be presentations on grade crossing issues, as well as the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's Final Rule on Enhanced Tank Car Standards and Operational Controls for High-Hazard Flammable Trains. This agenda is subject to change, including the possible addition of further proposed tasks.