[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 11, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 18390-18391]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-8983]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

49 CFR Chapter II

[RSI-95-1]


Regulatory Review

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meetings; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Railroad Administration invites all individuals 
affected by the rail safety regulatory program to discuss the agency's 
regulations and enforcement policies during two open forums to be 
convened in April. In addition, FRA invites written comment on ways to 
improve the safety regulatory program to make it more flexible, 
performance-oriented and cost-effective.

DATES: Public meetings will be held in Chicago, IL on April 20, 1995 
and in Newark, N.J. on April 25, 1995. Written comments must be 
submitted to the FRA by May 5, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Public meetings: The Chicago, IL meeting will be held in the 
Tower's West room of the Knickerbocker Hotel, 163 E. Walton Place, from 
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Newark, NJ meeting will be held in the 
Crystal Room of the Robert Treat Hotel, 50 Park Place, (about 5 minutes 
from Pennsylvania Station) from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
    Written Comments: Written comments should identify the docket 
number and the notice number and must be submitted in triplicate to the 
Docket Clerk, Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Railroad Administration, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 7th Street, S.W., Room 8201, 
Washington, D.C. 20590-0001. Persons desiring to be notified that their 
written comments have been received by FRA should submit a self-
addressed, stamped postcard with their comments. The Docket Clerk will 
indicate on the postcard the date on which the comments were received 
and will return the card to the addressee. Written comments will be 
available for examination, both before and after the closing date for 
comments, during regular business hours in Room 8201 of the Nassif 
Building at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ed English, Office of Safety 
Enforcement, Federal Railroad Administration, 400 7th Street, S.W., 
Washington, D.C. 20590, 202-366-9252, or Lisa Levine, Office of Chief 
Counsel, Federal [[Page 18391]] Railroad Administration, 400 7th 
Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590, 202-366-4781.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Building on the regulatory philosophy set 
forth in Executive Order No. 12866, President Clinton recently asked 
Executive Branch agencies to report to him by June 1, 1995 on ways to 
improve the regulatory process. Specifically, the President requested 
that agencies: [1] Cut obsolete regulations; [2] reward agency and 
regulator performance by rewarding results instead of red tape; [3] 
create grassroots partnerships by meeting, outside of Washington, D.C., 
with those affected by regulations; and [4] use consensual rulemaking, 
such as regulatory negotiation, more frequently. This notice solicits 
comments and announces public outreach responsive to the President's 
directives.
    FRA is committed to a railroad regulatory program that achieves 
safety goals while being cost-effective, user- friendly and customer-
focused. Consistent with the President's Initiative, our 1995 Safety 
Action Plan aspires to cut red-tape, improve communications, foster 
cooperation and emphasize performance-oriented decision making with:
    <bullet> Annual safety plans from each major railroad developed 
consensually with management, labor and FRA;
    <bullet> Uniform and consistent safety assurance methods;
    <bullet> Continued efforts to improve the effectiveness of our 
communications and customer response; and
    <bullet> Streamlining of our regulatory process with a focus on 
data-based decision making.
    Through roundtables, innovative rulemaking procedures (including 
negotiated rulemaking), and direct contacts with industry groups, FRA 
seeks to ensure open lines of communication and active collaboration of 
all affected persons in the development of its safety programs.
    In response to the President's initiative, FRA invites 
participation from the regulated community in the creation of 
grassroots partnerships. The meetings in Chicago and Newark will be 
informal, intended to produce a dialogue between agency regulators and 
those persons directly affected by the rail safety program and 
regulations. These public forums are intended to elicit information and 
views at a grassroots level--from working railroad employees, 
supervisors and managers in those major railroad terminal areas.
    Because FRA believes the President's call for regulatory review 
provides rich opportunities for eliminating or improving regulations, 
FRA is seeking comments, either at the public meetings or in writing, 
discussing methods of improving the regulations to make the rail safety 
program more performance-oriented, flexible and cost-effective. Any 
comments should contain a current priority order for those areas in 
need of improvement. By focusing on matters of greatest concern to 
those who carry regulatory burdens, FRA can best balance its 
responsibilities for regulatory reinvention and completion of 
statutorily mandated rulemaking proceedings.

Donald M. Itzkoff,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 95-8983 Filed 4-10-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P