Federal Railroad Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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.

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 requests (ICRs) 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 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.

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 August 27, 2015, FRA held a public hearing to provide interested persons an opportunity to provide oral comments on the proposal. FRA is reopening the comment period for this proceeding to allow additional time for interested parties to submit written comments in response to views or information provided at the public hearing.

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 seven days after publication of this Notice for a period of 180 days.

FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that it intends to grant the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) and the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), a waiver from FRA's Buy America requirement under 49 U.S.C. 24405(a)(2)(B) for the purchase of one No. 20 RH 136RE Turnout, one No. 20 LH 136RE Turnout, and one No. 20 LH Crossover 136RE (Turnouts and Crossover) manufactured by VAE Nortrak North America, Inc. at its plant in Birmingham, Alabama, for use in the Kingston Track Capacity and Platform Improvements Project (Kingston Project). Nortrak will manufacture the Turnouts and Crossover at its plant in Birmingham, Alabama. The Turnouts and Crossover will contain four components (ZU1-60 steel left and right switch point rail sections and Schwihag roller assemblies and plates) not produced in the U.S. The roller assemblies and plates are manufactured in Switzerland, and the ZUl-60 steel switch point rail sections are manufactured in Austria. The total amount of foreign material under this waiver request amounts to approximately $126,000. The foreign material comprises approximately 8 percent of the Turnouts' $350,000 cost or approximately $56,000 and 10 percent of the Crossover's $700,000 cost or approximately $70,000. FRA believes a waiver is appropriate under 49 U.S.C. 24405(a)(2)(B) for the ZUI-60 steel switch point rail sections and roller assemblies and plates because domestically-produced components meeting the specific needs of RIDOT and Amtrak are not currently produced in the U.S.

FRA is issuing Safety Advisory 2015-03 to stress to passenger railroads and railroads that host passenger service and their employees the importance of compliance with Federal regulations and applicable railroad rules governing applicable passenger train speed limits. This safety advisory makes recommendations to these railroads to ensure that compliance with applicable passenger train speed limits is addressed by appropriate railroad operating policies and procedures and signal systems.

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.