Safety Coordination and 

Compliance Oversight Plan 

for Rail Transportation of 

High-Level Radioactive Waste 

and Spent-Nuclear Fuel 

June 2023

Office of Railroad Safety 
i 

Table of Contents

Introduction ......................................................................................................................................1

Purpose .............................................................................................................................................2

SCCOP Implementation...................................................................................................................3

Shipment and Inspection Planning ...................................................................................................3

SCCOP Inspection Overview ..........................................................................................................3

Inspection Charts .............................................................................................................................5

Inspection Safety Directives and Related Non-FRA Topics ...........................................................8

NRC Safe Havens ............................................................................................................................8

Appendix 1 – FRA Organization and Safety Compliance Oversight Disciplines .........................10

FRA Organization ..........................................................................................................................10

Safety Compliance Oversight Disciplines .....................................................................................11

Appendix 2 – Definitions and Applicable Industry Standards ......................................................17

Definitions......................................................................................................................................17
1 

Introduction 

One of the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) top priorities is overseeing the safety of rail 

shipments involving Spent-Nuclear Fuel (SNF) and High-Level Radioactive Waste (HLW or 

HLRW).1

 These materials have been transported safely by rail in the United States for more 

than 40 years. 

FRA has been involved with rail shipments of SNF and HLW since the mid-1980s, partly 

because of the catastrophic accident at Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant. Because of the 

low frequency of SNF and HLW shipments and the high visibility they create, FRA created the 

Safety Compliance Oversight Plan for Rail Transportation of High-Level Radioactive Waste and 

Spent-Nuclear Fuel (SCOP). The SCOP is an informational document intended to guide FRA 

and FRA’s state partners in prioritizing their field inspections of the movement of identified SNF 

and HLW routes. 

FRA first created the SCOP in 1998 for FRA field personnel to use as an inspection guide. This 

update revises the original SCOP to reflect its true purpose, and with this revision, FRA is 

renaming the document the “Safety Coordination and Compliance Oversight Plan for Rail 

Transportation of High-Level Radioactive Waste and Spent Nuclear Fuel (SCCOP). The 

SCCOP does not take the place of routine inspections but rather is intended to help FRA and 

state rail inspectors participating with FRA to prioritize their time and focus on issues relating to 

the defined shipments, designed routes, and carriers that will transport these materials. 

Historically, there has never been a rail accident or incident involving the transportation of SNF 

or HLW resulting in a release of material from the packaging. Furthermore, there has never been 

a single death or injury resulting from a rail shipment of radioactive material. Since the creation 

of the original SCOP and past rail shipping campaigns, there has been no policy change on 

funding a Federal Consolidated Fuel Storage Site, specifically, Yucca Mountain in Nevada.2

 

Considering the recent purchases of decommissioned nuclear plants by private entities, FRA 

expects SNF and HLW shipments to increase in the near and foreseeable future. Coincidentally, 

some of the private companies that have purchased decommissioned nuclear plants also own the 

proposed consolidated interim nuclear fuel storage facilities to which the SNF would be destined 

if the repositories are approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). 

Accordingly, FRA proactively recognizes the need to update the SCCOP to ensure that the 

railroad industry’s unblemished safety record for nuclear material shipments will continue 

unabated, despite a sharp increase in the potential number of high-level nuclear waste shipments

from both the Department of Energy (DOE) and private entities. To this end, FRA has 

committed to revising the SCCOP to address the safety of rail shipments of SNF and HLW by 

both DOE and private entities. 

1 The NRC uses the acronym HLW, but several DOT agencies, private industry groups, and rail carriers use the 

acronym HLRW. See Appendix. 2 Yucca Mountain was approved as a site, but never funded.
2 

Development of this updated SCCOP involved a coordinated effort of both nuclear expertise and 

transportation knowledge among FRA, DOE, NRC, the Department of Homeland Security 

(DHS), the Association of American Railroads (AAR), the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), 

railroad labor organizations, representatives of affected states, and the Tribal Radioactive 

Materials Transportation Committee (TRMTC). FRA wishes to acknowledge the invaluable 

contributions of its safety partners, whose insights and wisdom were instrumental in creating this 

document. 

FRA Headquarters Information 

Staff Director 

Hazardous Materials Division, RRS-43 

Office of Railroad Infrastructure and Mechanical Equipment

Office of Railroad Safety

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

Purpose 

The primary purpose of the SCCOP is to ensure FRA has a methodology to prioritize its safety 

oversight activities prior to the movement of SNF or HLW by rail to help ensure that each carrier 

has the infrastructure and the required training to handle the movement of these trains in a safe 

and efficient manner without a rail incident or security concern. 

A secondary purpose of this SCCOP is to establish a comprehensive coordination and inspection 

task plan that can be used as a planning document for the coordination of activities associated 

with rail shipments of SNF and HLW by stakeholders. The SCCOP universally applies to both 

national security shipments transported in accordance with Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations 

(CFR) Section 173.7(b) and private (or non-government) shipments of these materials. 

This SCCOP describes the general duties of each FRA operating discipline involved and

addresses the communication among FRA’s operating disciplines, Safety Management Team

staff, and Incident Management, Accident Reporting and Analysis Division related to accident 

data so FRA can focus efforts on locations that may present recurring safety issues.

This SCCOP also addresses FRA’s general processes for communicating and coordinating 

actions between itself, other federal, state, local, and tribal organizations, rail carriers, shippers, 

and other stakeholders through FRA’s attendance at their meetings, participation at various 

tabletop exercises, participation in the DOE site evaluations, and consultations with the Nuclear 

Naval Propulsion Program to promote the safe and secure rail transport of these shipments on the 

nation’s railroads. 
3 

SCCOP Implementation 

Once FRA is notified of a proposed plan to move a shipment of SNF or HLW through interagency communications, FRA’s Hazardous Materials Division will communicate with all 

applicable rail discipline Staff Directors for their insights and expertise about the proposed route. 

Specifically, the Hazardous Materials Division will solicit the assistance of other disciplines 

regarding noncomplying or other conditions along the proposed route that may impact the 

movement of the train and/or car(s) and along the proposed route, and to facilitate corrective 

action(s) by the railroad(s). 

Shipment and Inspection Planning 

FRA will work with federal, state, rail, and TRMTC partners to help ensure smooth transitions 

for multi-modal changes along routes by allowing for, whenever possible, consistent 

communication and a quicker resolution of problems. 

FRA will, through coordination of inspections, observations, and communication between 

carriers, shippers, contractors, freight forwarders, state and tribal groups, along with other federal 

and state agencies, work to prepare and plan for the safe, regulatorily compliant, and successful 

movements of both private and government shipments of SNF or HLW. 

FRA’s Radioactive Materials Specialist(s) will review the previous inspection data across all 

disciplines and any new inspections addressing rail infrastructure that focus on the primary and 

alternative routes selected for the movements. FRA field inspection personnel will inspect the 

alternative routes and safety compliance functions. Most of the SCCOP inspections are not 

“route dependent” and will accomplish the same degree of safety assurance regardless of the 

route used. 

FRA reviews and inspects each Class I railroad’s current Safety and Security Plans. These plans 

are required by 49 CFR Part 172, Subpart I. FRA policy is to review these Safety and Security 

Plans annually. FRA does, however, review each carrier’s Safety and Security Plan more often 

when management structure changes, the railroad creates a realignment of divisions or territories, 

or any other circumstance occurs that FRA finds warrants a reinspection. A review of a short 

line railroad plan occurs on a district level, and a short line that will be involved in the movement 

of SNF or HLW materials will have its plan reviewed prior to the movement of SNF or HLW

shipments. 

SCCOP Inspection Overview 

FRA’s Office of Railroad Safety promotes and regulates safety throughout the nation’s railroad 

industry. The Office executes its regulatory and inspection responsibilities through a diverse 

staff of railroad safety experts, including approximately 400 federal safety inspectors, chief 

inspectors, supervisory specialists, and grade crossing safety managers and inspectors focusing 

on compliance and enforcement. 
4 

FRA conducts routine, daily inspections of Class I, short line, and other railroads across FRA’s

disciplines. Each of the inspections listed in the inspection charts below will address some of the 

routine inspections and may require a second inspection to address noncompliance with a 

previous finding prior to the shipments. The inspections listed in the inspection charts will serve 

as an overview of how FRA conducts the inspections with as much detail and follow up as 

possible. 

FRA will conduct a detailed inspection of the primary and secondary routes for rail size and 

track class for regulatory compliance. FRA will also review the affected carrier’s height and 

weight restrictions track charts for excessive dimensions and gross weight restriction locations 

along the route that may affect train movement over bridges, overpasses, and any applicable 

curves and passenger rail interactions. 

FRA will conduct both a pre- and post-inspection of the entity shipping the SNF and HLW and 

the contractors, and sub-contractors performing offeror functions in preparation for shipments. 

The inspections will include package preparation, marking and labeling, hazardous materials

training, and car mechanical inspection requirements.

FRA will continue to inspect and confirm that all rail carrier employees, including contractor and 

sub-contractor employees, involved with these shipments have the proper hazardous materials 

training and basic security training. This also includes train service and rail management and 

dispatcher center personnel, where applicable. FRA will work with the carriers to help ensure 

that a seamless, inclusive shipping document transfer system is in place via the electronic data 

interchange (EDI) system to include all the required hazardous materials information, response 

information, and contacts with the SNF and HLW movements while shipments are in 

transportation. 

FRA will inspect all locomotives used in the SNF and HLW shipment to determine if required 

safety and brake systems are in place before train departure. In addition, FRA personnel will 

observe the required brake tests for the trainset before a train is allowed to depart. 

Prior to each shipment, FRA will inspect trains, and/or carrier train inspection records to ensure 

all applicable regulatory requirements are met. 

Prior to the first shipment, through routine field and documentation inspections, FRA will 

confirm that all signal systems, wayside defect detectors, and cab signal systems (where 

applicable) are inspected within the prescribed regulatory limits, and any defective conditions 

discovered are addressed prior to each subsequent shipment. Prior to the first shipment, and for 

subsequent shipments, as appropriate, FRA will also focus on its outreach programs such as 

Operation Lifesaver training in communities along designated routes. 

This SCCOP applies to both DOE and private shipments of SNF and HLW by rail. 
5 

Inspection Charts 

The three inspection charts listed below, Class I Railroads, Other Than Class I Railroads, and

Tribal Lands That Include Shipments of SNF and HLW by Rail, serve as inspection guides for 

FRA’s disciplines. These charts include preferred inspection timelines (2 years, 1 year, 6 months, 

en-route) for projected shipments of SNF and/or HLW, taking into account the large-scale

shipments with weight and clearance issues. 

Several disciplines require initial and recommended follow-up inspections to ensure compliance 

is met prior to any SNF shipment. This applies specifically to Other than Class I Railroads, and 

is intended to address large-scale repairs such as track upgrades. Large-scale projects may 

require a carrier to acquire funds through grant programs or other monetary means to complete. 

Class I Railroads

DISCIPLINE 2 YR 1 YR 6 MO

ENROUTE

1 Hazardous Materials Division X

2 Grade Crossing and Trespasser Outreach Division X

3 Motive Power and Equipment Division X

4 Operating Practices Division X X

5 Incident Management, Accident Reporting and Analysis 

Division

X

6 Signal, Train Control, and Crossings Division X

7 State Safety Participation Program X

8 Track Division X

Notes:

1. Inspect and review hazardous materials personnel training and identification 

of hazardous materials employees involved with the shipment: follow-up in 6 

months to ensure there are no unidentified or untrained personnel changes.

2. Identify unprotected/passive crossings along the route, analyze data for

focused inspections and provide educational outreach to the public for safety.

3. Conduct comprehensive inspections at destination facility and point of 

origin prior to loading, and at designated stopping points for inspections. 

4. Conduct comprehensive review of relevant operational documents, 

certifications, and compliance at origin/crew acceptance and at crew change 

points along the route for both federal and carrier operational rule compliance.

5. Review accident, railway worker injuries and fatalities, and grade crossing

incident data for causes and use the data for patterns of recurring causes specific 

to railroad operations, equipment, specific location, and track causes.
6 

6. Conduct comprehensive inspection of signal and active grade crossings systems, 

records, and investigations of false activations and false proceed causes along the 

designated routes. 

7. Work with district specialist, where applicable per disciplines covered by state 

for education, inspection assistance, and policy changes.

8. Inspect and/or review of all applicable track infrastructure standards identified 

within the designated route to maintain FRA Class II or higher Track Safety

Standards.

Any defects found during initial inspection require a follow-up by the 

FRA discipline inspector to ensure compliance in advance of 

shipments. 

Other Than Class I Railroads

DISCIPLINE 2 YR 1 YR 6 MO

ENROUTE

1 Hazardous Materials Division X X X 

2 Grade Crossing and Trespasser Outreach Division X 

3 Motive Power and Equipment Division X 

4 Operating Practices Division X X 

5 Incident Management, Accident Reporting and Analysis 

Division X 

6 Signal, Train Control, and Crossings Division X 

7 State Safety Participation Program X 

 8 Track Division X X X X 

Notes:

1. Inspect and review hazardous materials personnel training and identification 

of hazardous materials employees involved with the shipment: follow up in 

6 months to ensure there are no unidentified or untrained personnel changes.

2. Identify unprotected/passive crossing along the route, analyze data for

focused inspections, and provide educational outreach to the public for 

safety.

3. Conduct comprehensive inspection at destination facility and point of 

origin prior to loading, and at designated stopping points for inspections. 

4. Conduct comprehensive review of relevant operational documents, 

certifications, and compliance at origin/crew acceptance and at crew change 

points along the route for both federal and carrier operational rule compliance.

5. Review accident, railway worker injuries and fatalities, and grade crossing

incident data for causes and use the data for patterns of recurring causes 

specific to railroads operations, equipment, specific location, and track causes.
7 

6. Conduct comprehensive inspection of signal and active grade crossings systems, 

records, and investigations of false activations and false proceed causes along 

the designated routes. 

7. Work with district specialist where applicable per disciplines covered by state 

for education, inspection assistance, and policy changes.

8. Inspect and/or review of all applicable track infrastructure standards identified 

within the designated route to maintain better than FRA Class II Track Safety

Standards.

Any defects found during initial inspection require a follow up by the 

FRA discipline inspector to ensure compliance in advance of 

shipments. 

Tribal Lands That Include Shipments of SNF and HLW by Rail

DISCIPLINE 2 YR 1 YR 6 MO

ENROUTE

1 Hazardous Materials Division X X X 

2 Grade Crossing and Trespasser Outreach Division X 

3 Motive Power and Equipment Division X 

4 Operating Practices Division X X 

5 Incident Management, Accident Reporting and Analysis 

Division X 

6 Signal, Train Control, and Crossings Division X 

7 State Safety Participation Program X X 

8 Track Division X X X X 

Notes:

1. Inspect and review hazardous materials personnel training and identification 

of hazardous materials employees involved with the shipment: follow up in 

6 months to ensure there are no unidentified or untrained personnel changes.

2. Identify unprotected/passive crossing along the route, analyze data for

focused inspections, and provide educational outreach to the public for 

safety.

3. Conduct comprehensive inspection at destination facility and point of 

origin prior to loading, and at designated stopping points for inspections. 

4. Conduct comprehensive review of relevant operational documents, 

certifications, and compliance at origin/crew acceptance and at crew change 

points along the route for both federal and carrier operational rule compliance.

5. Review accident, railway worker injuries & fatalities, and grade crossing

incident data for causes and use the data for patterns of recurring causes 

specific to railroad operations, equipment, specific location, and track causes.
8 

6. Conduct comprehensive inspection of signal and active grade crossings systems, 

records and investigations of false activations, and false proceed causes along 

the designated routes.

7. Work with district specialist where applicable per disciplines covered by state 

for education, inspection assistance, and policy changes.

8. Inspect and/or review of all applicable track infrastructure standards identified 

within the designated route to maintain better than FRA Class II Track Safety

Standards.

Any defects found during initial inspection require a follow up by the 

FRA discipline inspector to ensure compliance in advance of 

shipments. 

Inspection Safety Directives and Related Non-FRA Topics

FRA and participating state-qualified discipline safety inspectors and specialists must adhere to 

the Radiation Safety Protocols of the NRC and the on-site state Radiation Safety Officer(s) to 

take radiation surveys of the cask. The results of these radiation surveys will help determine 

whether the train consist, and the cask are safe to approach for inspection. 

En-route safety inspections of High Security SNF and HLW trains should only occur at:

• Crew change point(s); 

• Refueling sites; and 

• Extended haul inspection points, or where a train is held for an extended period of time, 

with the carriers’ approval, coordinated security, and oversight. 

NRC Safe Havens

FRA does not enforce the NRC “safe haven” requirements.3 

A safe haven is not a DOT-regulatory requirement for rail shipments, but it is a requirement for 

highway shipments of SNF and HLW. Since some rail shipments may involve multimodal 

movements (highway to rail, rail to highway), these movement locations may be considered safe 

havens. Such a location, specifically a rail location, is required to meet DOT-security 

requirements necessary for the protection of the shipment. Additionally, FRA will only inspect 

the specific track segment used for multimodal transfers for compliance with the Class 2 Track 

Standard or higher per FRA’s Track Safety Standards in 49 CFR Part 213. 

Emergency Response Information

Emergency response information is required by regulation to be provided by the shipper and 

maintained by the train crews who are transporting each shipment, so that the information can be 

3 A safe haven is a readily recognizable and readily accessible site at which security is present or from which, in the 

event of an emergency, the transport crew can notify and wait for the local law enforcement authorities. See 10 CFR 

37.5.
9 

provided to emergency response personnel in the event of an incident. FRA will confirm that the 

provided DOT-required training is completed for the employees involved and the information is 

sufficiently conveyed at the pre-trip hazardous materials inspection point prior to the shipment 

entering transportation. 

Additionally, the emergency response information provided in the hazardous materials shipping 

documents, along with the hazardous materials and security training provided, must comply with 

all applicable regulatory requirements (e.g., cover the nature of the radioactive material being 

transported and the appropriate contact information in the event of an accident or incident). See

49 CFR Part 172, Subpart G. 
10 

Appendix 1 – FRA Organization and Safety 

Compliance Oversight Disciplines

FRA Organization

Effective June 1, 2020, FRA reorganized and realigned its Office of Railroad Safety, which is 

divided into eight geographic districts and several technical disciplines, including: Hazardous 

Materials; Track and Structures; Motive Power and Equipment; Operating Practices; Signal, 

Train Control and Crossings; and Grade Crossing and Trespasser Outreach. All inspectors report 

to District Specialists, who in turn report to their respective discipline Staff Directors and Deputy 

Staff Directors. The Safety Partnerships Division supports these operating disciplines by 

developing, planning, and implementing programs to promote effective partnerships with state 

rail safety programs. Incident Management, Accident Reporting and Analysis Division serves as 

the FRA lead point of contact and coordinator for national security; emergency preparedness; 

and accident investigation, reporting, and analysis. FRA’s former regions are now considered 

Safety Management Teams (SMTs). There are nine SMTs that focus on the compliance and 

safety measures of their specific railroads. The SMT railroad assignments are listed below. 

 

SMT-1 Amtrak, Commuter and Excursion Lines East

SMT-2 Short Line Railroads East

SMT-3 Norfolk Southern

SMT-4 Canadian National Railway, Canadian Pacific Railway, Chicago Commuter 

District 

SMT-5 BNSF Railway

SMT-6 Union Pacific Railroad, Kansas City Southern

SMT-7 Commuter and Excursion Railroads West

SMT-8 Short Line Railroads West

SMT-9 CSX 

SMTs develop and manage senior-level relationships with their assigned railroads and labor 

organizations to improve safety on each of the railroads represented. The SMTs monitor railroad 

reportable and accountable data and accident trends on their railroads and work with railroad 

safety leadership, rail labor, and FRA Staff Directors as needed to address any safety concerns. 

 

SMTs possess comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of their respective railroads’ management 

structure, safety culture, operations, infrastructure, and territory, and they use that knowledge to 

improve the safety of the railroad industry, specifically their railroads or assigned areas. They 

serve as FRA’s primary liaisons with railroad management, associations, and labor organizations 

for solving safety issues.

SMTs assigned to Short Line East and Short Line West coordinate with the American Short Line 

and Regional Railroad Association to participate in short line training seminars. They also 

communicate with the railroad industry, elected public officials, news media, other government 

agencies, unions, and civic and private groups on various DOT programs, functions, and policies. 
11 

Safety Compliance Oversight Disciplines

Hazardous Materials Division

The overall mission of FRA’s Office of Railroad Safety’s Hazardous Materials Division is to 

provide technical expertise and direction for safety programs to ensure the safe and secure 

transportation of hazardous materials by rail. 

The division provides direction and guidance regarding hazardous materials safety by rail and 

security enforcement through several key programs. It coordinates its efforts and partners with

the industry to eliminate non-accident releases of hazardous materials in rail transportation by 

providing direction and technical guidance for enforcement programs through regulations, 

inspections, investigations, and audits related to the safe and secure transportation of hazardous 

materials by rail for FRA and FRA’s state safety program partners. 

The division also participates in the work of industry and professional organizations engaged in 

establishing voluntary standards related to the reliability, safety, and serviceability of bulk 

packages used for the transportation of hazardous materials by rail.

FRA works in cooperation with other DOT and non-DOT operating administrations, state 

programs, tribal groups, local organizations, and industry stakeholders to identify new methods, 

materials, or technologies to improve the safe and secure transportation of hazardous materials

by rail. The FRA Hazardous Materials Division provides personnel to staff the Pipeline and 

Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)/FRA teams developing regulations in this 

area. 

The division develops and issues compliance manuals, hazardous materials guidance documents, 

and technical bulletins as guidance to FRA hazardous materials personnel. The division also 

reviews, analyzes, and provides recommendations to PHMSA regarding requests for special 

permits granting relief from certain hazardous materials regulations relating to rail transportation. 

Through data analysis, the division advises of trends and developments and provides information 

to FRA hazardous materials personnel and PHMSA on issues related to the safe transportation of 

hazardous materials by rail, analyzes requests for regulatory relief and, in collaboration with

FRA’s Office of the Chief Counsel and PHMSA, provides interpretation of regulations. The 

division participates in accident investigations and damage assessments of hazardous materials 

packaging and supports responses from FRA’s Office of Railroad Safety to National 

Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations.

The division administers a coordinated complaint response program and determines requirements 

and processes for the handling of related complaints. The division also works with FRA’s Office 

of the Chief Counsel to address legal actions arising from inspection activity related to the 

transportation of hazardous materials by rail. 
12 

In addition, the division administers the Safety Compliance Oversight Program for transportation 

of SNF and HLW by rail. 

Track and Structures Division

The Track and Structures Division executes and administers the track and structures safety 

programs to ensure maximum safety in railroad operations relevant to railroad track, track 

configuration, track components, rail integrity, bridge and structures, and railroad workplace 

safety. The division provides direction and guidance to Office of Railroad Safety district staff 

regarding various aspects of railroad track and structures and railroad workplace safety. 

The division provides oversight, evaluation, direction, and technical guidance for enforcement 

programs (including inspections and audits) related to railroad track, track configuration, track 

components, rail integrity, bridge and structures, and railroad workplace safety regulations for 

FRA and state safety programs. 

The division cooperates with and assists FRA’s Automated Track Inspection Program (ATIP). 

The division evaluates ATIP inspection reports, conducts follow-up inspections, and examines 

continuous welded rail (CWR) maintenance requirements, rail inspection technologies, 

programs, and processes used by the railroads. The division develops recommendations on 

CWR, rail flaw test programs, rail inspection cycles, rail flaw technological advancements, and 

operator qualifications and certifications.

The division assesses each railroad’s compliance with track and structures inspection processes 

and programs, and conducts periodic safety assessments of railroad bridge inspections and bridge 

management programs to ensure or improve structural integrity and safety. 

The division also provides fall protection guidance and training to FRA and state safety 

inspectors and performs railroad bridge worker safety audits.

Motive Power and Equipment Division

The Motive Power and Equipment Division provides technical expertise of rail safety programs 

to ensure maximum safety in railroad operations relevant to motive power and freight, passenger, 

and commuter equipment. The division promotes an understanding of, and compliance with, 

federal standards to inspect locomotives, passenger and freight cars, and safety appliances, such 

as air brakes.

The division conducts safety inspections of the rail cars and locomotives to be used in 

transporting the material with the intent to reduce the risk of mechanical failure and ensure the 

operational readiness of the rail cars and locomotives for each shipment; it also ensures that 

corrective action is taken as necessary. 
13 

The division provides a mechanical device and inspection requirement to enhance the overall 

safety of the rail movement by allowing the train crew to initiate a rear-forward activation of the 

train’s air brakes.

The division advises of trends and developments, provides information to, and coordinates 

activities with, SMTs and also provides technical expertise to FRA’s Office of the Chief Counsel 

in legal actions arising from safety inspection or audit activity. The division uses a coordinated 

complaint control program and determines requirements and processes for the handling of related 

complaints. 

The division evaluates and fosters the development of better braking technologies, 

analyzes requests for regulatory relief, and, in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Counsel, 

provides interpretation of regulations. 

The division participates in accident investigations, reviews accident reports to verify technical 

accuracy and supported conclusions and supports responses to NTSB recommendations.

In addition, the division conducts compliance audits of railroad tank car facilities that engage in 

the maintenance and qualification of DOT specification tank cars, and it reviews tank car owner 

qualification and maintenance programs to ensure adequacy and level of effectiveness of the 

programs for their ability to maintain a tank car’s design level of safety and reliability used in the 

transportation of hazardous materials.

Operating Practices Division

The Operating Practices Division administers safety programs to ensure safety in railroad 

operations and provides direction and guidance for the Office of Railroad Safety district staff on 

operational issues. The division is responsible for the regulatory oversight of train operations, 

including railroad operating rules and practices, radio communications, rear-end marking 

devices, accident/incident reporting, hours of service requirements, passenger train emergency 

preparedness, blue flag protection, locomotive engineer and conductor certification, train 

dispatchers, human-machine interface, and advanced control system applications to railroad 

operations. 

The division conducts periodic assessments of these programs, and it also analyzes requests for 

regulatory relief and, in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Counsel, provides 

interpretation of regulations. 

Signal, Train Control, and Crossings Division 

The Signal, Train Control, and Crossings Division executes and administers signal, train control, 

and crossing safety programs, including Positive Train Control (PTC) to ensure safety in railroad 

operations. The division provides management, direction, and guidance to the Office of Railroad 

Safety district staff regarding signal, train control, and crossings. It is also responsible for the 

enforcement of all regulations relating to signal, train control, and crossings.
14 

The division performs investigations and reports for activation failures and false proceeds, 

initiating appropriate actions to address underlying causes, and maintaining a data repository for 

trend analysis, and leads the PTC program, including technical support, oversight and reporting, 

and approval of safety plans, implementation plans, and development plans, as required by 

statute and regulation. 

The division administers a coordinated complaint control program and determines requirements 

and processes for the handling of related complaints, and it participates in accident 

investigations, including gathering signal, train control, and crossing information, including the 

interpretation of signal rules and event recorder and other recordings. The division supports new 

technology testing programs of signal, train control, and crossing technology in the railroad 

operating environment, including the review and recommendation for approval of Product Safety 

Plans. The division provides expertise and interpretation support relating to the hours of service 

laws as they pertain to signal employees.

Grade Crossing and Trespasser Outreach Division

The Grade Crossing and Trespasser Outreach Division administers the highway-rail grade 

crossing safety and trespass prevention programs and coordinates and disseminates these 

programs among the appropriate federal, state, and local governments, the railroad industry, and 

academia.

The division provides program leadership for, and active coordination of, FRA’s grade crossing 

safety and trespasser prevention outreach staff activities. The division monitors and evaluates 

the development and use of national inventory, accident, casualty, and signal circuit databases 

used to assess associated problems in collaboration with industry, state, and local communities. 

The division conducts studies that identify and recommend solutions to highway-rail grade 

crossings and trespasser activities safety concerns. 

The division collaborates and coordinates with appropriate staff of other federal agencies, such 

as the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Federal Motor Carrier 

Safety Administration, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Office of the 

Secretary of Transportation (OST), and other DOT components with responsibilities for 

highway-rail grade crossing safety. The division also liaises directly, and through the grade 

crossing and trespasser outreach district staff, with appropriate government and private-sector 

organizations, including state and national Operation Lifesaver groups. 

The division conducts investigations to determine and track trends and to develop and modify 

prevention programs. It also participates in deliberations regarding short- and long-term policies 

affecting highway-rail grade crossing safety and trespass prevention by producing hard data and 

recommendations in support of the development or promulgation of crossing safety and trespass 

prevention policy. 
15 

Safety Partnerships Division 

The Safety Partnerships Division develops, plans, and implements programs to promote effective 

partnerships with state rail safety programs. It coordinates programs to ensure that federal rail 

safety rules, regulations, orders, and standards are uniformly interpreted and consistently applied 

by state rail safety programs. FRA trains each of the participating states in FRA’s State Safety 

Participation Program jointly with the federal inspectors each year in recurrent training to keep 

pace with regulatory, procedural, and policy changes. 

FRA participates in meetings with state or local government organizations and advocates, fosters 

the State Safety Participation Program and assesses the effectiveness of the partnership program, 

and develops or improves the partnership models related to effective communications and 

functional integration to ensure optimum participation by rail safety stakeholders. 

This FRA program coordinates with individual state managers and the Association of State Rail 

Safety Managers to increase the rail safety expertise and professionalism of state managers and 

to strengthen FRA/state safety partnerships by managing communications and collecting and 

disseminating information.

Incident Management, Accident Reporting and Analysis Division

The Incident Management, Accident Reporting and Analysis Division serves as FRA’s lead 

point of contact and coordination for national security, emergency preparedness, and accident 

investigation, reporting, and analysis. 

The division interacts with railroads, FRA staff, DOT offices and operating administrations, and 

other federal, state, and local agencies to enhance security, emergency preparedness, and incident 

response.

The division works with the FRA information systems security officer to ensure FRA 

compliance with applicable cyber security requirements, and it works with the Hazardous 

Materials Division to review railroad compliance with applicable security-sensitive hazardous 

materials routing requirements. 

The division also reviews national security personnel clearance requests, processing, renewals, 

and terminations. It coordinates with the DOT Office of Security on such matters and oversees 

the handling and storage of any FRA materials that contain national security or security-sensitive 

information. With the FRA training officer, the Incident Management, Accident Reporting and 

Analysis Division ensures that FRA staff complete initial and recurring training on related 

requirements. 

The division provides industry guidance to Railroad Reporting Officers concerning the proper 

procedures for compliance with the various provisions of Part 225 and the FRA Guide for 

Preparing Accident/Incident Reports to ensure industry accidents/incidents are properly reported. 

The division also analyzes and evaluates information obtained through railroad reporting 

requirements, inspections, and investigation procedures to gather the data necessary to identify 
16 

root cause(s) and contributing factors, and it determines trends of railroad safety that is shared 

with the railroads to inform their Risk Reduction Programs that focus on preventing railroad 

injuries and accidents.
17 

Appendix 2 – Definitions and Applicable Industry Standards

Definitions

Class I Railroads—Freight railroads defined by the Surface Transportation Board (STB) as 

having an annual operating revenue of more than $504 million. 

Class 2 Track Standard—Railroad track that has a minimum of 8 effectively spaced crossties 

per a 39-foot segment and 9 effective crossties in turnouts and curved track greater than 2 

degrees and has a maximum speed of 25 mph for freight and 30 mph for passenger rail in 

accordance with 49 CFR Part 213. 

Crew Change Point—Location where incoming train crews de-board and oncoming train crews 

assume the duties of the train movement to its destination.

En-Route Inspection—Inspection conducted at locations deemed safe while the package is in 

transportation.

Extended Haul Inspection Points—A point where a railroad may be permitted to move a train 

up to, but not exceed a distance of, 1,500 miles of travel from its original departure point to the 

next Class I brake test and car and train reinspection, if the railroad designates a train as an 

extended haul train in accordance with 49 CFR Part 232. 

High Level Radioactive Waste (HLW or HLRW)—Highly radioactive materials produced as 

a byproduct of the reactions that occur inside nuclear reactors. The NRC uses the acronym 

HLW, but several DOT agencies, private industry groups, and rail carriers use the acronym 

HLRW. Universally they mean the same thing but, for the purposes of this document, HLW 

represents High Level Radioactive Waste. 

 

Other than Class I Railroads (Regional Railroads)—Freight railroads defined by the STB as 

having an operating revenue greater than $36.6 million and less than $40 million.

Pre-Inspection—Inspection conducted prior to the package being offered into transportation.

Post Inspection—Inspection conducted after the package has completed its transportation 

movement.

Tribal Lands—Tribal lands that have the potential for HLW and SNF shipments passing 

through in route to its destination. 

Refueling Sites—Locations where the locomotives and/or train consist are safely secured and 

refueled. 
18 

Safe Haven—As defined by NRC regulations, this is a readily recognizable and accessible 

site/location at which security is present or from which, in the event of an emergency, the 

transport crew can notify and wait for the local law enforcement authorities. 

Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF)—Also referred to as used nuclear fuel, SNF is nuclear fuel that has 

been irradiated in a nuclear reactor (usually at a nuclear power plant).

Applicable Industry Standards (Non-regulatory)

Association of American Railroads S-2043, Rail Car Construction and Technology Standards. 

Association of American Railroads Circular No. OT-55, Recommended Railroad Operating 

Practices for Transportation of Hazardous Materials.