Federal Railroad Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) hereby gives notice that it has submitted the following information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Emergency Processing under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). FRA requests that OMB authorize the collection of information identified below on or before November 6, 2013, for 180 days after the date of approval by OMB. A copy of this ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained by calling FRA's Clearance Officer, Mr. Robert Brogan (tel. (202) 493-6292). These numbers are not toll-free. A copy of this ICR may also be obtained electronically by contacting Mr. Brogan at robert.brogan@dot.gov. Comments and questions about the ICR identified below should be directed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Attn: FRA OMB Desk Officer, 725 17th St. NW., Washington, DC 20503. Comments and questions about the ICR identified below may also be transmitted electronically to OIRA at oira_submissions@omb.eop.gov.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below will be 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 August 13, 2013.

The hours of service laws are Federal railroad safety laws that govern such matters as the maximum on-duty periods and minimum off-duty periods for railroad employees performing certain functions. In this document FRA supplements its existing interpretations of the hours of service laws by stating the agency's interim position on some additional interpretive questions primarily involving two provisions of those laws that were added in 2008. First, this document further interprets the hours of service laws related to train employees, particularly the ``consecutive-days'' provision of those laws. Although the consecutive-days provision was also discussed in FRA's June 2009 interim interpretations and February 2012 final interpretations, this document addresses the application of that provision to certain circumstances that were not specifically addressed in those interpretations. Second, this document further interprets the provision of the hours of service laws that makes signal employees operating motor vehicles subject to the hours of service laws and other hours of service requirements administered by FRA and exempt from the hours of service requirements promulgated by any other Federal authority. FRA invites public comment on these additional interim interpretations.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is issuing this notice to advise the public that FRA is rescinding the Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) for the California-Nevada Interstate Maglev Project in cooperation with the project sponsor, the Nevada Department of Transportation. FRA published the original NOI in the Federal Register on May 20, 2004. This rescission is due to inactivity of this PEIS process for more than five years.

FRA is issuing this notice to advise other agencies and the public that FRA and the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) will jointly prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) program also known as the ACEforward Program in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The EIS will analyze potential impacts of the proposed action of improving and expanding existing corridor rail service between Stockton and San Jose, California and extending new rail service to Modesto and Merced, California. FRA has responsibility for overseeing the safety of railroad operations and may need to take certain regulatory action prior to operation of the new or expanded service. FRA is authorized to provide Federal funding for intercity passenger rail capital investments and may provide financial assistance for the program, including grant funding. FRA will serve as the federal lead agency for the preparation of the EIS. SJRRC will serve as the state lead agency for the preparation of the EIR. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has responsibility for providing Federal funding for intra-city commuter rail capital investments and has funded improvements in this corridor in the past, including intermodal stations and park-and-ride lots. Since FTA maintains an interest in transportation improvements in the corridor, it will be a cooperating agency in accordance with 40 CFR 1501.6. FRA is publishing this notice to 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 FRA, SJRRC and their representatives will be considered in the preparation of the EIR/EIS.

This NPRM provides interested parties with the opportunity to comment on proposed regulations that would govern the application requirements for the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program (Program). The proposed regulations are prompted by enactment of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), which converted the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Pilot Program into a permanent program, allows any State to apply for the Program, expanded the scope of the Secretary's responsibilities that may be assigned and assumed under the Program, and created a renewal process for Program participation. The FHWA, FTA, and FRA, hereinafter referred to as the ``Agencies,'' seek comments on the proposals contained in this NPRM.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below will be forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes 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 collection of information was published on May 17, 2013.

FRA announces the forty-ninth meeting of the RSAC, a Federal Advisory Committee that develops railroad safety recommendations through a consensus process. The topic of the RSAC meeting will be the July 6, 2013, derailment involving an unattended freight train containing hazardous materials that rolled down a descending grade and subsequently derailed in Lac-M[eacute]gantic, Quebec, Canada. At this time, it is estimated that this accident resulted in 42 fatalities, and 5 persons are still reported to be missing. Remarks will be given by the FRA Administrator, Committee members will be briefed on the preliminary findings of the accident, and discussions will involve the safety issues related to the July 6 accident.

FRA and PHMSA invite interested persons to participate in a public meeting addressing the transportation of hazardous materials by rail. FRA and PHMSA are undertaking a comprehensive review of operational factors that affect the safety of the transportation of hazardous materials by rail and are seeking input from stakeholders and interested parties.