[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 19, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61550-61551]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-23384]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2000-7257; Notice No. 33]


Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC); Working Group Activity 
Update

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Announcement of Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC) 
Working Group Activities.

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SUMMARY: The FRA is updating its announcement of RSAC's working group 
activities to reflect its current status. For additional details on 
completed activities see prior working group activity notices (68 FR 
25677).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Butera, RSAC Coordinator, 
FRA, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW., Mailstop 25, Washington, DC 20590, (202) 
493-6212 or Grady Cothen, Acting Associate Administrator for Safety, 
FRA, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW., Mailstop 25, Washington, DC 20590, (202) 
493-6302.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice serves to update FRA's last 
announcement of working group activities and status reports of May 3, 
2004, (69 FR 24219). The 24th full Committee meeting was held September 
22, 2004.
    Since its first meeting in April of 1996, the RSAC has accepted 
eighteen tasks. Status for each of the tasks is provided below:

Open Tasks

    Task 96-4--Reviewing the appropriateness of the agency's current 
policy regarding the applicability of existing and proposed regulations 
to tourist, excursion, scenic, and historic railroads. This Task was 
accepted on April 2, 1996, and a Working Group was established. The 
Working Group monitored the steam locomotive regulations task. Planned 
future activities involve the review of other regulations for possible 
adaptation to the safety needs of tourist and historic railroads. 
Contact: Grady Cothen (202) 493-6302.
    Task 97-1--Developing crashworthiness specifications to promote the 
integrity of the locomotive cab in accidents resulting from collisions. 
This Task was accepted on June 24, 1997. On April 14, 2004, RSAC 
reached consensus on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). The NPRM 
is pending review within the Executive Branch. The NPRM is a new 
standard to increase the crashworthiness of conventional wide- and 
narrow-nose locomotives and codifies requirements for monocoque 
locomotives. Contact: Charles Bielitz (202) 493-6314.
    Task 97-2--Evaluating the extent to which environmental, sanitary, 
and other working conditions in locomotive cabs affect the crew's 
health and the safe operation of locomotives, proposing standards where 
appropriate. This Task was accepted June 24, 1997.
    (Sanitation) (Completed)
    (Noise exposure) On June 27, 2003, the full RSAC gave consensus by 
ballot on the NPRM. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on 
June 23, 2004. The comment period ended September 21, 2004. The FRA is 
reviewing the comments.
    (Cab Temperature) (Completed)

    Note: Additional related topics such as vibration may be 
considered by the Working Group in the future. Contact: Jeffrey Horn 
(202) 493-6283.


    Task 97-3--Developing event recorder data survivability standards. 
This Task was accepted on June 24, 1997. On November 12, 2003, the RSAC 
gave consensus by ballot on the NPRM. The NPRM was published on June 
30, 2004. A public hearing was held September 30, and the comment 
period was extended until October 11. Contact: Edward Pritchard (202) 
493-6247.
    Task 97-4 and Task 97-5--Defining Positive Train Control (PTC) 
functionalities, describing available technologies, evaluating costs 
and benefits of potential systems, and considering implementation 
opportunities and challenges, including demonstration and deployment.
    Task 97-6--Revising various regulations to address the safety 
implications of processor-based signal and train control technologies, 
including communications-based operating systems. These three tasks 
were accepted on September 30, 1997, and assigned to a single Working 
Group.
    (Report to the Administrator) A Data and Implementation Task Force, 
formed to address issues such as assessment of costs and benefits and 
technical readiness, completed a report on the future of PTC systems. 
The report was accepted as RSAC's Report to the Administrator at the 
September 8, 1999, meeting. The FRA enclosed the report with a letter 
to Congress signed May 17, 2000.
    (Regulatory development) The Standards Task Force, formed to 
develop PTC standards, assisted in developing draft recommendations for 
performance-based standards for processor-based signal and train 
control systems. The NPRM was approved by consensus at the full RSAC 
meeting held on September 14, 2000. The NPRM was published in the 
Federal Register on August 10, 2001. A meeting of the Working Group was 
held December 4-6, 2001, in San Antonio, Texas, to formulate 
recommendations for resolution of issues raised in the public comments. 
Agreement was reached on most issues raised in the comments. A meeting 
was held May 14-15, 2002, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at which the 
Working Group approved creation of teams to further explore the ``base 
case'' issue. Briefing of the full RSAC on the ``base case'' issue was 
completed on May 29, 2002, and consultations continued within the 
working group. The full Working Group met October 22-23, 2002, and 
again March 4-6, 2003. Resolution of the remaining issues was 
considered by the Working Group

[[Page 61551]]

at the July 8-9, 2003, meeting. The Working Group achieved consensus on 
recommendations for resolution of a portion of the issues in the 
proceeding. The full Committee considered the Working Group 
recommendations by mail ballots scheduled for return on August 14, 
2003; however, a majority of the members voting did not concur. FRA has 
proceeded with preparation of a final rule, which is currently being 
reviewed in the Executive Branch.
    Task 00-1--Determining the need to amend regulations protecting 
persons who work on, under, or between rolling equipment and persons 
applying, removing or inspecting rear end marking devices (Blue Signal 
Protection). The Working Group held its first meeting on October 16-18, 
2000, and six subsequent meetings have also been held. The Working 
Group significantly narrowed the issues, but did not reach full 
consensus on recommendations for regulatory action. The Administrator 
announced at the full RSAC meeting on December 2, 2003, that the task 
is withdrawn and the issue may be pursued at a later date. Contact: 
Doug Taylor (202) 493-6255.
    Task 03-01-Passenger Safety. This task was accepted May 20, 2003, 
and a Working Group was established. Prior to embarking on substantive 
discussions of a specific task, the Working Group set forth in writing 
a specific description of the task. The Working Group will report any 
planned activity to the full Committee at each scheduled full RSAC 
meeting, including milestones for completion of projects and progress 
toward completion. At the first meeting held September 9-10, 2003, a 
consolidated list of issues was completed. At the second meeting held 
November 6-7, 2003, five task groups were established: crashworthiness/
glazing; emergency preparedness; mechanical-general issues; mechanical-
safety appliances; and track/vehicle interaction. The task groups met 
and reported on activities for Working Group consideration at the third 
meeting held May 11-12, 2004. The task groups continue to meet and will 
report on its activities at the fourth Working Group meeting scheduled 
for October 26-27, 2004.

Completed Tasks:

    Task 96-1--(Completed) Revising the Freight Power Brake 
Regulations.
    Task 96-2--(Completed) Reviewing and recommending revisions to the 
Track Safety Standards (49 CFR Part 213).
    Task 96-3--(Completed) Reviewing and recommending revisions to the 
Radio Standards and Procedures (49 CFR Part 220).
    Task 96-5--(Completed) Reviewing and recommending revisions to 
Steam Locomotive Inspection Standards (49 CFR Part 230).
    Task 96-6--(Completed) Reviewing and recommending revisions to 
miscellaneous aspects of the regulations addressing Locomotive Engineer 
Certification (49 CFR Part 240).
    Task 96-7--(Completed) Developing Roadway Maintenance Machines (On-
Track Equipment) Safety Standards.
    Task 96-8--(Completed) This Planning Task evaluated the need for 
action responsive to recommendations contained in a report to Congress 
entitled, Locomotive Crashworthiness & Working Conditions.
    Task 97-7--(Completed) Determining damages qualifying an event as a 
reportable train accident.
    Task 01-1--(Completed) Developing conformity of FRA's regulations 
for accident/incident reporting (49 CFR Part 225) to revised 
regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration 
(OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor, and to make appropriate revisions to 
the FRA Guide for Preparing Accident/Incident Reports (Reporting 
Guide).
    Please refer to the notice published in the Federal Register on 
March 11, 1996, (61 FR 9740) for more information about the RSAC.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 12, 2004.
Grady C. Cothen,
Acting Associate Administrator for Safety.
[FR Doc. 04-23384 Filed 10-18-04; 8:45 am]
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