Federal Railroad Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
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Odorant Fade in Railroad Tank Cars
FRA is issuing Safety Advisory 2012-01 to remind shippers and consignees of railroad tank cars containing odorized liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), of the importance of taking actions to ensure that a sufficient level of odorant remains in the LPG throughout the entire transportation cycle. FRA is issuing this notice to raise awareness within the hazardous materials community, of the potential consequences of having LPG reach end-users as under-odorized or essentially non- odorized material due to the diminishment of the added odorant during the transportation cycle (commonly known as ``odorant fade''). This safety advisory recommends that shippers and consignees of bulk quantities of odorized LPG review their existing LPG odorization standards and procedures, and take appropriate actions to guard against odorant fade in their shipments.
Notice of the Buy America Waiver Request for Vossloh 101-LV Concrete Ties
FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co. (``BNSF'') has submitted to FRA through or with the support of the Washington Department of Transportation (``WSDOT''), the Illinois Department of Transportation (``IDOT''), the Texas Department of Transportation (``TxDOT''), and the California Department of Transportation (``Caltrans'') a waiver request from FRA's Buy America Act requirements for the purchase of Vossloh 101-LV concrete ties, which contain certain components not manufactured in the United States. In furtherance of four FRA High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (``HSIPR'') grants, BNSF, as the railroad infrastructure owner, will construct certain rail project elements that consist of the installation of Vossloh 101-LV concrete ties. FRA has received this request from the four States for the following projects: (a) The Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor Program (b) the Amtrak Quad Cities to Chicago Service Initiation Project, (c) the Tower 55 At-Grade Improvement Project, and (d) the LA to Fullerton Triple TrackSegment 7 Project.
Locomotive Safety Standards
FRA is revising the existing regulations containing Railroad Locomotive Safety Standards. The revisions update, consolidate, and clarify the existing regulations. The final rule incorporates existing industry and engineering best practices related to locomotives and locomotive electronics. This includes the development of a safety analysis for new locomotive electronic systems. FRA believes this final rule will modernize and improve its safety regulatory program related to locomotives. In accordance with the requirements of the Executive Order 13563 (E.O. 13563), this final rule also modifies the existing locomotive safety standards based on what has been learned from FRA's retrospective review of the regulation. As a result, FRA is reducing the burden on the industry by modifying the regulations related to periodic locomotive inspection and headlights.
Northeast Corridor Safety Committee; Notice of Meeting
FRA announces the second meeting of the NECSC, 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 (NEC), and the purpose of the Committee is to provide annual recommendations to the DOT Secretary. NECSC's meeting topics will include: Positive Train Control update presentations from NEC railroads, Transportation Security Administration NEC security initiatives, aging electric traction infrastructure, the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, and a general discussion of safety issues.
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.
Railroad Safety Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting
FRA announces the forty-sixth 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 Track Safety Standards, Critical Incident, Dark Territory, Fatigue Management, Risk Reduction, Electronic Device Distraction, and Passenger Safety Working Groups. This agenda is subject to change, including the possible addition of further proposed tasks under the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008.
Railroad Workplace Safety; Adjacent-Track On-Track Safety for Roadway Workers
This document delays the effective date of the final rule published November 30, 2011, and scheduled to take effect on May 1, 2012. The final rule mandates that roadway workers comply with specified on-track safety procedures that railroads must adopt to protect those workers from the movement of trains or other on-track equipment on ``adjacent controlled track,'' and requests comments on the petitions for reconsideration of the final rule that FRA has received. In response to the final rule, FRA received two petitions for reconsideration that raise a number of substantive issues requiring a detailed response. Accordingly, in order to respond fully to the petitions for reconsideration and for the reasons set forth below, this document delays the effective date of the final rule until July 1, 2013. FRA is establishing a 60-day comment period in order to permit interested parties an opportunity to respond to the submitted petitions for reconsideration.
Special Permit Marking Removal
On January 25, 2011, FRA published a Federal Register document stating that markings on tank cars related to certain gross weight on rail (GRL) Special Permits that had been incorporated into the hazardous materials regulations (HMR) by a Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) rulemaking were required to be removed or obliterated by January 25, 2012, or at each subject tank car's first shopping event, whichever occurred first. This document relieves tank car owners from that previously stated deadline and extends the time for removal of the markings until the date of each subject tank car's next required qualification.
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 collections and their expected burdens. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collections of information was published on November 16, 2011 (76 FR 221).
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 are being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs describe the nature of the information collections 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 November 17, 2011 (76 FR 71432).
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 are being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs describe the nature of the information collections 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 November 17, 2011 (76 FR 71433).
Northeast Corridor Safety Committee; Notice of Meeting
FRA announced the first 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), on June 6, 2011 (See 76 FR 32391). This initial meeting was postponed until further notice (See 76 FR 34139) and is now rescheduled. The Committee is made up of stakeholders operating on the Northeast Corridor, and the purpose of the Committee is to provide annual recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation.
Environmental Impact Statement for New Orleans Rail Gateway (NORG), Jefferson and Orleans Parishes, LA
FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that it will prepare an EIS with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LA DOTD) to evaluate environmental and related impacts of upgrading the New Orleans Rail Gateway (NORG) and infrastructure in Jefferson and Orleans Parishes, Louisiana (proposed action). FRA is also issuing 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 LA DOTD and its representatives will be considered in preparation of the EIS. FRA is issuing this Notice to alert interested parties, to provide information on the nature of the proposed action, including the purpose and need for the proposed action, possible alternatives to be considered in the preparation of the EIS, potentially significant impacts to the natural and built environment of those alternatives, and to invite public participation in the EIS process.
Adjustment of Nationwide Significant Risk Threshold
In accordance with Appendix D to Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 222, Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings, FRA is updating the Nationwide Significant Risk Threshold (NSRT). This action is needed to ensure that the public has the proper threshold of permissible risk for calculating quiet zones established in relationship to the NSRT. This is the fifth update to the NSRT, which has fallen from 14,007 to 13,722.
Passenger Train Emergency Systems II
This notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) is intended to further the safety of passenger train occupants through both enhancements and additions to FRA's existing requirements for emergency systems on passenger trains. In this NPRM, FRA is proposing to add requirements for interior vestibule doors and enhance emergency egress and rescue access signage requirements. FRA is also proposing to establish requirements for low-location emergency exit path markings to assist occupants in reaching and operating primary emergency exits, particularly under conditions of darkness or smoke. Further, FRA is proposing to add minimum emergency lighting standards for all existing passenger cars so that emergency lighting systems are provided in all passenger cars, and FRA is proposing to enhance requirements for the survivability of emergency lighting systems in new passenger cars. Finally, FRA is clarifying existing requirements for participation in debriefing and critique sessions following emergency situations and full-scale simulations.
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 are being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs describe the nature of the information collections 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 October 17, 2011 (76 FR 64172).
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 are being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs describe the nature of the information collections 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 October 14, 2011 (76 FR 63990).
Alternate Passenger Rail Service Pilot Program
This final rule is in response to a statutory mandate that FRA complete a rulemaking proceeding to develop a pilot program that permits a rail carrier or rail carriers that own infrastructure over which Amtrak operates certain passenger rail service routes to petition FRA to be considered as a passenger rail service provider over such a route in lieu of Amtrak for a period not to exceed five years after the date of enactment of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008. The final rule develops this pilot program in conformance with the statutory directive.
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