[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 149 (Monday, August 4, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41992-41993]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20487]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. RSAC-96-1, Notice No. 6 ]


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: FRA has decided to begin publishing regular announcements of 
RSAC working group activities and status reports. This announcement 
constitutes the first such status report.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vicky McCully, FRA, 400 7th Street, 
S.W. Washington, D.C. 20590, (202) 632-3330, Grady Cothen, Deputy 
Associate Administrator for Safety Standards Program Development, FRA, 
400 7th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590, (202) 632-3309, or Lisa 
Levine, Office of Chief Counsel, FRA, 400 7th Street, S.W., Washington, 
D.C. 20590, (202) 632-3189.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In order to ensure that all concerned 
persons are aware of the tasks the RSAC is addressing, and to enable 
those persons who may not be RSAC or working group members to follow 
progress on those tasks, FRA has decided to begin publishing regular 
announcements of RSAC working group activities and status reports. 
These reports will be published following each meeting of the full 
RSAC, which currently are occuring on a quarterly basis. Accordingly, 
this first announcement will serve to inform the public of the status 
of each of the working groups created under the RSAC since its creation 
in March 1996, whether or not they are currently operative. Hereafter, 
these announcements will be limited to the communication of current 
working group activities only.
    The Federal Railroad Administration (``FRA'') has presented ten 
(10) tasks to the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (``RSAC'') since 
its creation. Working groups have been established to execute all ten 
(10) of these tasks. A few of the tasks have been completed, and 
recommendations presented to the agency. Only one task has had to be 
withdrawn from the RSAC due to the failure of the parties to reach 
consensus on any recommendations to the Administrator.
    Since its first meeting in April of 1996, the RSAC has been 
presented with, and accepted, the following tasks (detailed status and 
contact information is provided for each) :
<bullet> (1) Reviewing and recommending revisions to the regulations 
governing Power Brake Systems for Freight Equipment (49 CFR Part 232) 
(Task accepted April 2, 1996. Working Group established. Ten (10) 
working group meetings held. Eight to ten (8-10) separate task force 
meetings held. Task withdrawn June 24, 1997 due to the working group 
members' inability to reach consensus);
<bullet> (2) Reviewing and recommending revisions to the Track Safety 
Standards (49 CFR Part 213) (Task accepted April 2, 1996. Working Group 
established. Six meetings held. Consensus reached on recommended 
revisions. NPRM incorporating these recommendations published in 
Federal Register on 7/3/97. ``Track Safety Standards;Miscellaneous 
Revisions,'' 62 FR 36138);
<bullet> (3) Reviewing and recommending revisions to the Radio 
Standards and Procedures (49 CFR Part 220) (Task accepted April 2, 
1996. Working Group established. Ten (10) meetings held. Consensus 
reached on recommended revisions. NPRM incorporating these 
recommendations published in the Federal Register on 6/26/97. 
``Railroad Communications; Notice of Proposed Rulemaking,'' 62 FR 
34544);
<bullet> (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 (Task accepted 
April 2, 1996. Working Group established. One (1) meeting held.);
<bullet> (5) Reviewing and recommending revisions to Steam Locomotive 
Inspection standards (49 CFR Part 230) (Tasked to existing Tourist and 
Historic Working Group (THWG) on July 24, 1996. Six (6) Task Force 
meetings held.);
<bullet> (6) Reviewing and recommending revisions to miscellaneous 
aspects of the regulations addressing Locomotive Engineer Certification 
(49 CFR Part 240) (Task accepted October 31, 1996. Working Group 
established. The working group has met 6 times since this task was 
assigned, and plans to next meet the week of October 6, 1997.);
<bullet> (7) Developing On-Track Equipment Safety Standards (new 
regulation) (This was tasked to the existing Track Standards Working 
Group on October 31, 1996. The Task Force has met 2 times since this 
task was assigned);
<bullet> (8) Developing Crashworthiness Specifications to promote the 
integrity of the locomotive cab in accidents resulting from collisions. 
(New regulation) (Task accepted June 24, 1997. A working group is being 
established to begin the work required to execute this task);
<bullet> (9) 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. (New regulation) (Task accepted June 24, 1997. A working 
group is being established to begin the work required to execute this 
task).
<bullet> (10) Developing Event Recorder Data Survivability standards 
(New regulation) (Task accepted June 24, 1997. A working group is being 
established to begin the work required to execute this task).

    If you have any questions about any of these working groups please 
refer to the following list of FRA contacts who can assist you with 
questions regarding any of the above-listed tasks:

(1) Power Brake Working Group--Michael Huntley (202) 632-3366 or Thomas 
Herrmann (202) 632-3178;
(2) Track Safety Standards Working Group--Al McDowell (202) 632-3344 or 
Nancy Lewis (202) 632-3174;
(3) Radio Communications Working Group--Gene Cox (202) 632-3504 or 
Patti Sun (202) 632-3183;
(4) Tourist and Historic Working Group--Grady Cothen (202) 632-3306 or 
Lisa Levine (202) 632-3189;
(5) Steam Inspection Standards Task Force--George Scerbo (202) 632-3363 
or Lisa Levine (202) 632-3189;
(6) Locomotive Engineer Certification Working Group--John Conklin (202) 
632-3372 or Alan Nagler (202) 632-3187;
(7) On-Track Equipment Safety Standards Task Force--Al McDowell (202) 
632-3344 or Nancy Lewis (202) 632-3174;
(8) Locomotive Crashworthiness Working Group--Michael Huntley (202) 
632-3366 or Lisa Levine (202) 632-3189;
(9) Locomotive Crew Working Conditions Working Group--Michael Huntley 
(202) 632-3366 or Christine Beyer (202) 632-3177; and
(10) Event Recorder Data Survivability Working Group--Ron Newman (202) 
632-3365 or Tom Phemister (202) 632-3181.

    Please refer to the notice published in the Federal Register on 
March 11, 1996

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(61 F.R. 9740) for more information about the RSAC.
Donald M. Itzkoff,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-20487 Filed 8-1-97; 8:45 am]
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