Federal Railroad Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FRA is proposing to amend its regulations related to occupational noise exposure in three ways. First, in response to a Congressional mandate, FRA is proposing to expand those regulations to require that railroads provide an appropriate atmosphere-supplying emergency escape breathing apparatus to every train crew member and certain other employees while they are occupying a locomotive cab of a freight train transporting a hazardous material that would pose an inhalation hazard in the event of release during an accident. Second, FRA is proposing to change the name of this part of its regulations from ``Occupational Noise Exposure'' to ``Occupational Safety and Health in the Locomotive Cab'' to reflect the additional subject matter of this SNPRM and to make other conforming amendments. Third, FRA is proposing to remove the provision stating the preemptive effect of this part of FRA's regulations because it is unnecessary.

This document provides the public with notice that, on March 3, 2023, the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system. FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on TRE's RFA to its PTC system.

This document provides the public with notice that, on March 7, 2023, Florida East Coast Railway (FECR) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety Plan (PTCSP). As this RFA may involve a request for FRA's approval of proposed material modifications to an FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system, FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on the railroad's RFA to its PTCSP.

FRA announces the sixty-fourth meeting of the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC), a Federal Advisory Committee that provides advice and recommendations to FRA on railroad safety matters through a consensus process. This special meeting of the RSAC will focus on the events related to the February 3, 2023 freight train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and include a discussion of potential related safety improvements and possible RSAC tasks and actions.

This document provides the public with notice that, on February 17, 2023, the Kansas City Southern Railway Company (KCS) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system. FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on the railroad's RFA to its PTC system.

Preliminary investigation of recent train derailments indicates the cause of, or contributing factor to, the incidents was a mechanical failure, specifically burnt journal bearings. Accordingly, FRA is issuing this Safety Advisory to make recommendations to enhance the mechanical reliability of rolling stock and the safety of railroad operations. This Safety Advisory recommends that railroads: evaluate the thresholds for inspections based on hot bearing detector (HBD) data; consider the use of real-time trend analyses of HBD data as a criterion for inspection; ensure the proper training and qualification of personnel responsible for the calibration, inspection, and maintenance of HBDs; ensure proper inspection of rolling stock with HBD alerts; and improve the safety culture of their organization, particularly as it pertains to operational decisions based on HBD data.

This document provides the public with notice that, on February 3, 2023, Union Pacific Railroad (UP) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety Plan (PTCSP). FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on the railroad's RFA to its PTCSP.

FRA is adding funding and extending the application submittal period for its Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 NOFO for the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program (FSP Program) for projects not located on the Northeast Corridor published on December 7, 2022. The basis for the funding increase and extension is the appropriation of additional amounts for the FSP Program from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, together with the government's goal of efficiently administering such funds.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, FRA will seek approval of the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below. Before submitting this ICR to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified in the ICR.

This Notice announces the establishment of FRA's emergency relief docket (ERD) for calendar year 2023. The designated ERD for calendar year 2023 is docket number FRA-2023-0003.

FRA is publishing final guidance on the development and implementation of railroad capital projects that may be funded, in whole or in part, by FRA (``final guidance''). This final guidance follows publication of the proposed guidance (``proposed guidance'') on June 28, 2022.

FRA is issuing this notice to advise all interested stakeholders that it has issued and made available on its website a guidance document addressing requirements related to the submission of requests for waivers, applications to modify or discontinue a railroad signal system, and other special approval requests to FRA. The guidance document is intended to provide information regarding existing requirements and best practices when submitting requests for waivers, block signal applications, and other special approval requests to FRA.

This notice details the application requirements and procedures to obtain grant funding for projects located on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) under the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program (FSP Program) for Fiscal Year 2022 and 2023. This notice solicits applications for FSP Program funds made available by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, and Division J of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The opportunity described in this notice is made available under Assistance Listings Number 20.326, ``Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail.''

This document provides the public with notice that, on December 12, 2022, Union Pacific Railroad (UP) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety Plan (PTCSP). As this RFA may involve a request for FRA's approval of proposed material modifications to an FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system, FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on the railroad's RFA to its PTCSP.

This notification of determination announces FRA's minimum annual random drug and minimum annual random alcohol testing rates for employees performing covered service under the hours of service laws (HOS employees), maintenance-of-way (MOW) employees, and mechanical (MECH) employees for calendar year 2023.

This document provides the public with notice that, on November 11, 2022, CSX Transportation (CSX) submitted an updated request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety Plan (PTCSP). As this RFA may involve a request for FRA's approval of proposed material modifications to an FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system, FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on the railroad's RFA to its PTCSP.