Federal Railroad Administration 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
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National Rail Plan
This notice requests public comment for input into the development of the long-range National Rail Plan (NRP) through an open docket. In addition, the notice presents the overall plan design, Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) goals in preparing the NRP, and
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
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.
High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) Program
On January 28, 2010, President Obama announced the first selections for the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) Program. This notice builds on the program framework established by FRA in the June 23, 2009 interim program guidance (74 FR 29900), and details the application requirements and procedures for obtaining the remaining funds available under the Department of Transportation Appropriations Act of 2009 that have not yet been allocated to projects. This solicitation is only applicable to the remaining FY 2009 funds. FRA has concurrently issued a solicitation for high-speed rail planning activities funded under the Department of Transportation Appropriations Act of 2010, and will release an additional solicitation in the coming months for the construction and corridor program funds provided under the FY 2010 appropriation.
High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) Program
On January 28, 2010, President Obama announced the first grant awards for the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) Program. The Department of Transportation Appropriations Act of 2010 (FY 2010 DOT Appropriations Act) allocated an additional $2.5 billion for the HSIPR Program, of which up to $50 million can be used for planning activities. The appropriations act permits the Secretary of Transportation to retain a portion of this planning funding to facilitate, at the Federal level, the preparation of planning documents for high-speed rail corridors that cross multiple States. This is a solicitation for proposals from groups of States that wish to be considered for this innovative approach to planning multi-state passenger rail corridors.
High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) Program
On January 28, 2010, President Obama announced the first selections for the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) Program. This notice builds on the program framework established by FRA in the June 23, 2009 interim program guidance (74 FR 29900), and details the application requirements and procedures for obtaining funding for high- speed rail planning activities under the Department of Transportation Appropriations Act of 2010 (FY 2010 DOT Appropriations Act). This solicitation is only applicable to the planning funds available under the FY 2010 appropriation; a future solicitation will be released in the coming months for the stand-alone project and corridor program funds under the FY 2010 appropriation. FRA has also concurrently issued a separate solicitation for projects to be funded with funds available under the Department of Transportation Appropriations Act of 2009 that have not yet been allocated to projects. This solicitation is also published in today's edition of the Federal Register.
Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and its implementing regulations, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) hereby announces that it is seeking re-approval of the following information collection activities that were previously approved by OMB under Emergency Clearance Procedures. 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.
Railroad Safety Technology Program Grant Program
The Rail Safety Technology Program is a newly authorized program under the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA) (Pub. L. 110-432; October 16, 2008). The program authorizes the Department of Transportation 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 makes available $50,000,000 in Federal funds. This grant program has a maximum 80 percent Federal and minimum 20 percent grantee cost share (cash or in-kind) match requirement.
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Requirements (ICRs) abstracted below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs describe 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 January 20, 2010 (75 FR 3275).
Agency Request for Emergency Processing of Collection of Information Associated With FRA's Positive Train Control Grant Program After Publication of Second Agency Federal Register Notice Concerning Solicitation of Applications for Positive Train Control Grant Funding
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 March 15, 2010, 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 Officers, Mr. Robert Brogan (tel. (202) 493-6292) or Ms. Kimberly Toone (tel. (202) 493-6132). 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 or by contacting Ms. Toone at Kimberly.Toone@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.
Railroad Safety Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting
FRA announces the forty-first meeting of the RSAC, a Federal Advisory Committee that develops railroad safety regulations through a consensus process. This meeting has been rescheduled from the weather- postponed February 11, 2010, meeting (75 FR 3959). The RSAC meeting topics will include opening remarks from the FRA Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, and status reports will be provided by representatives from the following Working Groups: Conductor Certification, Passenger Safety, Track Safety Standards, and Medical Standards Working Groups. Status updates will be provided on the following tasks arising out of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA): Positive Train Control, Passenger Hours of Service, and Railroad Bridge Safety Management. A new task regarding minimum training standards may be offered to the Committee for consideration. FRA may request the Committee's agreement to consider one or more items of business by mail ballot, including proposed requirements for passenger system safety programs. This agenda is subject to change, including the possible addition of further proposed tasks under the RSIA.
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Requirements (ICRs) abstracted below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs 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 collections of information was published on December 16, 2009 (74 FR 66722).
Track Safety Standards; Continuous Welded Rail (CWR)
This document responds to a petition for reconsideration of FRA's final rule published on August 25, 2009, which revised the Track Safety Standards. FRA received one petition questioning the definitions of ``adjusting/de-stressing'' and ``buckling-prone condition'' as they are used with regard to continuous welded rail (CWR).
Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC); Working Group Activity Update
The FRA is updating its announcement of RSAC's Working Group activities to reflect its current status.
Railroad Safety Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting
FRA announces the forty-first meeting of the RSAC, a Federal advisory committee that develops railroad safety regulations through a consensus process. The RSAC meeting topics will include opening remarks from the FRA Administrator, and status reports will be provided by the Locomotive Standards, Passenger Safety, Track Safety Standards, and Medical Standards Working Groups. Status updates will be provided on the following tasks arising out of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA): Positive Train Control, Passenger Hours of Service, Railroad Bridge Safety Management, and Conductor Certification. FRA may offer a new task on Minimum Training Standards for Safety-Related Railroad Employees, as required by the RSIA. This agenda is subject to change, including the possible addition of further proposed tasks.
Establishment of an Emergency Relief Docket for Calendar Year 2010
This Notice announces the establishment of FRA's emergency relief docket (ERD) for calendar year 2010. The designated ERD for calendar year 2010 is docket number FRA-2010-0003.
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
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.
Positive Train Control Systems
FRA is issuing regulations implementing a requirement of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 that defines criteria for certain passenger and freight rail lines requiring the implementation of positive train control (PTC) systems. This final rule includes required functionalities of PTC system technology and the means by which PTC systems will be certified. This final rule also describes the contents of the PTC implementation plans required by the statute and contains the process for submission of those plans for review and approval by FRA. These regulations could also be voluntarily complied with by entities not mandated to install PTC systems. This is a final rule; however, FRA has identified specific provisions for which we are considering making changes to the final rule, if warranted by the public comments received. We expect to publish our response to those comments, including any possible changes to the rule made as a result of them, as soon as possible following the end of the comment period. However, the limited areas of this rule open for additional comment do not affect the requirement for railroads to prepare and submit plans in accordance with the deadlines established in this final rule.
State Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Action Plans
By notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published on November 13, 2009 (74 FR 58589), FRA proposed a rule to require the ten States with the most highway-rail grade crossing collisions, on average, over the past three years, to develop State highway-rail grade crossing action plans. This document announces a public hearing to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on the NPRM and announces a fourteen (14) day extension of the comment period, which closed December 14, 2009, to commence on the date of the public hearing. The extension provides interested parties the opportunity to comment on the NPRM and to respond to matters that arise at the public hearing related to the NPRM.
Alcohol and Drug Testing: Determination of Minimum Random Testing Rates for 2010
Using data from Management Information System annual reports, FRA has determined that the 2008 rail industry random testing positive rates were 0.46 percent for drugs and 0.15 percent for alcohol. Because the industry-wide random drug testing positive rate has remained below 1.0 percent for the last two years of data, the Federal Railroad Administrator (Administrator) has determined that the minimum annual random drug testing rate for the period January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2010, will remain at 25 percent of covered railroad employees. In addition, because the industry-wide random alcohol testing violation rate has remained below 0.5 percent for the last two years, the Administrator has determined that the minimum random alcohol testing rate will remain at 10 percent of covered railroad employees for the period January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2010.
Passenger Equipment Safety Standards; Front End Strength of Cab Cars and Multiple-Unit Locomotives
This final rule is intended to further the safety of passenger train occupants by amending existing regulations to enhance requirements for the structural strength of the front end of cab cars and multiple-unit (MU) locomotives. These enhancements include the addition of requirements concerning structural deformation and energy absorption by collision posts and corner posts at the forward end of this equipment. The requirements are based on standards specified by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). FRA is also making clarifying amendments to existing regulations for the structural strength of passenger equipment and is clarifying its views on the preemptive effect of this part.
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