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

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the renewal 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 August 5, 2015.

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 May 7, 2014, the Secretary of Transportation issued Emergency Order (EO) Docket No. DOT-OST-2014-0067 requiring affected railroad carriers to provide certain information to the State Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs) for each State in which their trains carrying 1 million gallons or more of Bakken crude oil travel. The information collection activities associated with the Secretary's Emergency Order originally received a six-month emergency approval from OMB on May 10, 2014. On July 10, 2015, OMB again approved the information collection activities associated with the Secretary's Emergency Order until March 31, 2016. FRA is now requesting to continue these information collection activities until the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) finalizes the Oil Spill Response Proposed Rule that it is currently working on and that will codify the requirements of the Secretary's Emergency Order. The Secretary's EO remains in full force and effect until that happens. FRA also hereby announces that it is seeking renewal of the additional currently approved information collection activities described below for the maximum time period (3 years). 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 fifth meeting of the Northeast Corridor Safety Committee, a Federal Advisory Committee mandated by section 212 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA). The NECSC is made up of stakeholders operating on the Northeast Corridor, and the purpose of the NECSC is to provide annual recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation. NECSC meeting topics will include a presentation on recent FRA safety advisories and emergency orders, Amtrak derailment safety lessons learned, vehicle intrusions at other-than-grade crossings, NEC Positive Train Control implementation timeline/issues and challenges, and a general discussion of safety issues.

This document provides the public notice that by a document dated September 19, 2015, the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) submitted to FRA its Positive Train Control Safety Plan (PTCSP) Version 1.7 for approval under the Federal railroad safety regulations in Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 236, Subpart I, Positive Train Control Systems. SCRRA asks FRA to approve its PTCSP and to provide PTC System Certification for SCRRA's implementation of its Interoperable-Electronic Train Management System (I-ETMS). In its PTCSP, SCRRA asserts that its I-ETMS is designed as a vital overlay PTC system in compliance with the PTCSP requirements. The PTCSP describes the SCRRA I-ETMS implementation and the associated I- ETMS safety processes; safety analyses; and test, validation, and verification processes used during development of I-ETMS. The PTCSP also contains SCRRA operational and support requirements and procedures. SCCRA's PTCSP and the accompanying request for approval are available for review online at www.regulations.gov (Docket No. FRA- 2010-0048) and in person at the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Docket Operations Facility, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., W12-140, Washington, DC 20590. The Docket Operations Facility is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. Interested parties are invited to comment on the PTCSP by submitting written comments or data. During its review of the PTCSP, FRA will consider any comments or data submitted. However, FRA may not respond to any comment and, under 49 CFR 236.1009(d)(3), FRA maintains the authority to approve or disapprove the PTCSP at its sole discretion. FRA does not anticipate scheduling a public hearing regarding these proceedings because the facts do not appear to warrant a hearing. If any interested party desires an opportunity for oral comment, they should notify FRA in writing before the end of the comment period and specify the basis for their request.

On February 27, 2015, FRA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would require certain railroads to develop a Risk Reduction Program (RRP). On September 29, 2015, the RRP Working Group of the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC) held a meeting to review and discuss comments received in response to both the NPRM and an August 27, 2015, public hearing on the NPRM. FRA is reopening the comment period for this proceeding to allow interested parties to submit written comments in response to views or information provided at the RRP Working Group meeting.