Source: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Public_Law_110-432/Division_A/Title_IV
Timestamp: 2020-01-28 07:56:14
Document Index: 94325512

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 240', '§ 20166', 'arts 171', 'art 1520', '§ 20167', 'art 222']

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Public Law 110-432/Division A/Title IV
Title IV: Railroad Safety Enhancements
407871Public Law 110-432 — Title IV: Railroad Safety Enhancements
1 TITLE IV—RAILROAD SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS
1.1 SEC. 401. MINIMUM TRAINING STANDARDS AND PLANS.
1.2 SEC. 402. CERTIFICATION OF CERTAIN CRAFTS OR CLASSES OF EMPLOYEES.
1.3 SEC. 403. TRACK INSPECTION TIME STUDY.
1.4 SEC. 404. STUDY OF METHODS TO IMPROVE OR CORRECT STATION PLATFORM GAPS.
1.5 SEC. 405. LOCOMOTIVE CAB STUDIES.
1.6 SEC. 406. DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF RAIL SAFETY TECHNOLOGY.
1.7 SEC. 407. UNIFIED TREATMENT OF FAMILIES OF RAILROAD CARRIERS.
1.8 SEC. 408. STUDY OF REPEAL OF CONRAIL PROVISION.
1.9 SEC. 409. LIMITATIONS ON NON-FEDERAL ALCOHOL AND DRUG TESTING BY RAILROAD CARRIERS.
1.10 SEC. 410. CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS PLAN.
1.11 SEC. 411. RAILROAD CARRIER EMPLOYEE EXPOSURE TO RADIATION STUDY.
1.12 SEC. 412. ALCOHOL AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE TESTING FOR MAINTENANCE-OF-WAY EMPLOYEES.
1.13 SEC. 413. EMERGENCY ESCAPE BREATHING APPARATUS.
1.14 SEC. 414. TUNNEL INFORMATION.
1.15 SEC. 415. MUSEUM LOCOMOTIVE STUDY.
1.16 SEC. 416. SAFETY INSPECTIONS IN MEXICO.
1.17 SEC. 417. RAILROAD BRIDGE SAFETY ASSURANCE.
1.18 SEC. 418. RAILROAD SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT GRANTS.
1.19 SEC. 419. PROMPT MEDICAL ATTENTION.
1.20 SEC. 420. EMPLOYEE SLEEPING QUARTERS.
TITLE IV—RAILROAD SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS[edit]
SEC. 401. MINIMUM TRAINING STANDARDS AND PLANS.[edit]
(a) Amendment- Subchapter II of chapter 201, as amended by section 210 of this division, is further amended by adding at the end the following new section:
`Sec. 20162. Minimum training standards and plans
`(a) In General- The Secretary of Transportation shall, not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, establish--
`(1) minimum training standards for each class and craft of safety-related railroad employee (as defined in section 20102) and equivalent railroad carrier contractor and subcontractor employees, which shall require railroad carriers, contractors, and subcontractors to qualify or otherwise document the proficiency of such employees in each such class and craft regarding their knowledge of, and ability to comply with, Federal railroad safety laws and regulations and railroad carrier rules and procedures promulgated to implement those Federal railroad safety laws and regulations;
`(2) a requirement that railroad carriers, contractors, and subcontractors develop and submit training and qualification plans to the Secretary for approval, including training programs and information deemed necessary by the Secretary to ensure that all safety-related railroad employees receive appropriate training in a timely manner; and
`(3) a minimum training curriculum, and ongoing training criteria, testing, and skills evaluation measures to ensure that safety-related railroad employees, and contractor and subcontractor employees, charged with the inspection of track or railroad equipment are qualified to assess railroad compliance with Federal standards to identify defective conditions and initiate immediate remedial action to correct critical safety defects that are known to contribute to derailments, accidents, incidents, or injuries, and, in implementing the requirements of this paragraph, take into consideration existing training programs of railroad carriers.
`(b) Approval- The Secretary shall review and approve the plans required under subsection (a)(2) utilizing an approval process required for programs to certify the qualification of locomotive engineers pursuant to part 240 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.
`(c) Exemption- The Secretary may exempt railroad carriers and railroad carrier contractors and subcontractors from submitting training plans for which the Secretary has issued training regulations before the date of enactment of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008.'.
(b) Conforming Amendment- The chapter analysis for chapter 201, as amended by section 210 of this division, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 20161 the following:
`20162. Minimum training standards and plans.'.
SEC. 402. CERTIFICATION OF CERTAIN CRAFTS OR CLASSES OF EMPLOYEES.[edit]
(a) Amendment- Subchapter II of chapter 201, as amended by section 401 of this division, is further amended by adding at the end the following new section:
`Sec. 20163. Certification of train conductors
`(a) Regulations- Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, the Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe regulations to establish a program requiring the certification of train conductors. In prescribing such regulations, the Secretary shall require that train conductors be trained, in accordance with the training standards developed pursuant to section 20162.
`(b) Program Requirements- In developing the regulations required by subsection (a), the Secretary may consider the requirements of section 20135(b) through (e).'.
(b) Report- Not later than 6 months after promulgating regulations under section 20162 of title 49, United States Code, the Secretary shall issue a report to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure about whether the certification of certain crafts or classes of railroad carrier or railroad carrier contractor or subcontractor employees is necessary to reduce the number and rate of accidents and incidents or to improve railroad safety.
(c) Crafts and Classes to Be Considered- As part of the report, the Secretary shall consider--
(1) car repair and maintenance employees;
(2) onboard service workers;
(3) rail welders;
(4) dispatchers;
(5) signal repair and maintenance employees; and
(6) any other craft or class of employees that the Secretary determines appropriate.
(d) Regulations- The Secretary may prescribe regulations requiring the certification of certain crafts or classes of employees that the Secretary determines pursuant to the report required by paragraph (1) are necessary to reduce the number and rate of accidents and incidents or to improve railroad safety.
(e) Conforming Amendment- The chapter analysis for chapter 201, as amended by section 401 of this division, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 20162 the following:
`20163. Certification of train conductors.'.
SEC. 403. TRACK INSPECTION TIME STUDY.[edit]
(a) Study- Not later that 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report containing the results of a study to determine whether--
(1) the required intervals of track inspections for each class of track should be amended;
(2) track remedial action requirements should be amended;
(3) different track inspection and repair priorities or methods should be required; and
(4) the speed at which railroad track inspection vehicles operate and the scope of the territory they generally cover allow for proper inspection of the track and whether such speed and appropriate scope should be regulated by the Secretary.
(b) Considerations- In conducting the study the Secretary shall consider--
(1) the most current rail flaw, rail defect growth, rail fatigue, and other relevant track- or rail-related research and studies;
(2) the availability and feasibility of developing and implementing new or novel rail inspection technology for routine track inspections;
(3) information from National Transportation Safety Board or Federal Railroad Administration accident investigations where track defects were the cause or a contributing cause; and
(4) other relevant information, as determined by the Secretary.
(c) Update of Regulations- Not later than 2 years after the completion of the study required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall prescribe regulations based on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a).
(d) Concrete Cross Ties- Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations for concrete cross ties. In developing the regulations for class 1 through 5 track, the Secretary may address, as appropriate--
(1) limits for rail seat abrasion;
(2) concrete cross tie pad wear limits;
(3) missing or broken rail fasteners;
(4) loss of appropriate toeload pressure;
(5) improper fastener configurations; and
(6) excessive lateral rail movement.
SEC. 404. STUDY OF METHODS TO IMPROVE OR CORRECT STATION PLATFORM GAPS.[edit]
Not later than 2 years after the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete a study to determine the most safe, efficient, and cost-effective way to improve the safety of rail passenger station platforms gaps in order to increase compliance with the requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), including regulations issued pursuant to section 504 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 12204) and to minimize the safety risks associated with such gaps for railroad passengers and employees.
SEC. 405. LOCOMOTIVE CAB STUDIES.[edit]
(a) In General- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, through the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee if the Secretary makes such a request, shall complete a study on the safety impact of the use of personal electronic devices, including cell phones, video games, and other distracting devices, by safety-related railroad employees (as defined in section 20102(4) of title 49, United States Code), during the performance of such employees' duties. The study shall consider the prevalence of the use of such devices.
(b) Locomotive Cab Environment- The Secretary may also study other elements of the locomotive cab environment and their effect on an employee's health and safety.
(c) Report- Not later than 6 months after the completion of any study under this section, the Secretary shall issue a report on the study to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
(d) Authority- Based on the conclusions of the study required under (a), the Secretary of Transportation may prohibit the use of personal electronic devices, such as cell phones, video games, or other electronic devices that may distract employees from safely performing their duties, unless those devices are being used according to railroad operating rules or for other work purposes. Based on the conclusions of other studies conducted under subsection (b), the Secretary may prescribe regulations to improve elements of the cab environment to protect an employee's health and safety.
SEC. 406. DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF RAIL SAFETY TECHNOLOGY.[edit]
(a) In General- Subchapter II of chapter 201, as amended by section 402 of this division, is further amended by adding at the end the following new section:
`Sec. 20164. Development and use of rail safety technology
`(a) In General- Not later than 1 year after enactment of the Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2008, the Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe standards, guidance, regulations, or orders governing the development, use, and implementation of rail safety technology in dark territory, in arrangements not defined in section 20501 or otherwise not covered by Federal standards, guidance, regulations, or orders that ensure the safe operation of such technology, such as--
`(1) switch position monitoring devices or indicators;
`(2) radio, remote control, or other power-assisted switches;
`(3) hot box, high water, or earthquake detectors;
`(4) remote control locomotive zone limiting devices;
`(5) slide fences;
`(6) grade crossing video monitors;
`(7) track integrity warning systems; or
`(8) other similar rail safety technologies, as determined by the Secretary.
`(b) Dark Territory Defined- In this section, the term `dark territory' means any territory in a railroad system that does not have a signal or train control system installed or operational.'.
(b) Conforming Amendment- The chapter analysis for chapter 201, as amended by section 402 of this division, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 20163 the following:
`20164. Development and use of rail safety technology.'.
SEC. 407. UNIFIED TREATMENT OF FAMILIES OF RAILROAD CARRIERS.[edit]
Section 20102(3), as redesignated by section 2(b) of this division, is amended to read as follows:
`(3) `railroad carrier' means a person providing railroad transportation, except that, upon petition by a group of commonly controlled railroad carriers that the Secretary determines is operating within the United States as a single, integrated rail system, the Secretary may by order treat the group of railroad carriers as a single railroad carrier for purposes of one or more provisions of part A, subtitle V of this title and implementing regulations and order, subject to any appropriate conditions that the Secretary may impose.'.
SEC. 408. STUDY OF REPEAL OF CONRAIL PROVISION.[edit]
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete a study of the impacts of repealing section 711 of the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 (45 U.S.C. 797j). Not later than 6 months after completing the study, the Secretary shall transmit a report with the Secretary's findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
SEC. 409. LIMITATIONS ON NON-FEDERAL ALCOHOL AND DRUG TESTING BY RAILROAD CARRIERS.[edit]
(a) In General- Chapter 201, as amended by section 406 of this division, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
`Sec. 20165. Limitations on non-Federal alcohol and drug testing
`(a) Testing Requirements- Any non-Federal alcohol and drug testing program of a railroad carrier must provide that all post-employment tests of the specimens of employees who are subject to both the program and chapter 211 of this title be conducted using a scientifically recognized method of testing capable of determining the presence of the specific analyte at a level above the cut-off level established by the carrier.
`(b) Redress Process- Each railroad carrier that has a non-Federal alcohol and drug testing program must provide a redress process to its employees who are subject to both the alcohol and drug testing program and chapter 211 of this title for such an employee to petition for and receive a carrier hearing to review his or her specimen test results that were determined to be in violation of the program. A dispute or grievance raised by a railroad carrier or its employee, except a probationary employee, in connection with the carrier's alcohol and drug testing program and the application of this section is subject to resolution under section 3 of the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 153).'.
(b) Conforming Amendment- The chapter analysis for chapter 201, as amended by section 406 of this division, is further amended by inserting after the item relating to section 20164 the following:
`20165. Limitations on non-Federal alcohol and drug testing by railroad carriers.'.
SEC. 410. CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS PLAN.[edit]
(a) In General- The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, as appropriate, shall require each Class I railroad carrier, each intercity passenger railroad carrier, and each commuter railroad carrier to develop and submit for approval to the Secretary a critical incident stress plan that provides for debriefing, counseling, guidance, and other appropriate support services to be offered to an employee affected by a critical incident.
(b) Plan Requirements- Each such plan shall include provisions for--
(1) relieving an employee who was involved in a critical incident of his or her duties for the balance of the duty tour, following any actions necessary for the safety of persons and contemporaneous documentation of the incident;
(2) upon the employee's request, relieving an employee who witnessed a critical incident of his or her duties following any actions necessary for the safety of persons and contemporaneous documentation of the incident; and
(3) providing such leave from normal duties as may be necessary and reasonable to receive preventive services, treatment, or both, related to the incident.
(c) Secretary To Define What Constitutes A Critical Incident- Within 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall initiate a rulemaking proceeding to define the term `critical incident' for the purposes of this section.
SEC. 411. RAILROAD CARRIER EMPLOYEE EXPOSURE TO RADIATION STUDY.[edit]
(a) Study- The Secretary of Transportation shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Labor, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, as appropriate, conduct a study of the potential hazards to which employees of railroad carriers and railroad contractors or subcontractors are exposed during the transportation of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel (as defined in section 5101(a) of title 49, United States Code), supplementing the report submitted under section 5101(b) of that title, which may include--
(1) an analysis of the potential application of `as low as reasonably achievable' principles for exposure to radiation to such employees with an emphasis on the need for special protection from radiation exposure for such employees during the first trimester of pregnancy or who are undergoing or have recently undergone radiation therapy;
(2) the feasibility of requiring real-time dosimetry monitoring for such employees;
(3) the feasibility of requiring routine radiation exposure monitoring in fixed railroad locations, such as yards and repair facilities; and
(4) a review of the effectiveness of the Department's packaging requirements for radioactive materials.
(b) Report- Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall transmit a report on the results of the study required by subsection (a) and any recommendations to further protect employees of a railroad carrier or of a contractor or subcontractor to a railroad carrier from unsafe exposure to radiation during the transportation of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
(c) Regulatory Authority- The Secretary of Transportation may issue regulations that the Secretary determines appropriate, pursuant to the report required by subsection (b), to protect railroad employees from unsafe exposure to radiation during the transportation of radioactive materials.
SEC. 412. ALCOHOL AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE TESTING FOR MAINTENANCE-OF-WAY EMPLOYEES.[edit]
Not later than 2 years following the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall complete a rulemaking proceeding to revise the regulations prescribed under section 20140 of title 49, United States Code, to cover all employees of railroad carriers and contractors or subcontractors to railroad carriers who perform maintenance-of-way activities.
SEC. 413. EMERGENCY ESCAPE BREATHING APPARATUS.[edit]
(a) AMENDMENT.—Subchapter II of chapter 201, as amended by section 409 of this division, is further amended by adding at the end the following new section:
‘‘§ 20166. Emergency escape breathing apparatus
‘‘Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, the Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe regulations that require railroad carriers—
‘‘(1) to provide emergency escape breathing apparatus suitable to provide head and neck coverage with respiratory protection for all crewmembers in locomotive cabs on freight trains carrying hazardous materials that would pose an inhalation hazard in the event of release;
‘‘(2) to provide convenient storage in each freight train locomotive to enable crewmembers to access such apparatus quickly;
‘‘(3) to maintain such equipment in proper working condition; and
‘‘(4) to provide their crewmembers with appropriate training for using the breathing apparatus.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The chapter analysis for chapter 201, as amended by section 409 of this division, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 20165 the following:
‘‘20166. Emergency escape breathing apparatus.’’.
SEC. 414. TUNNEL INFORMATION.[edit]
Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, each railroad carrier shall, with respect to each of its tunnels which—
(1) are longer than 1000 feet and located under a city with a population of 400,000 or greater; or
(2) carry 5 or more scheduled passenger trains per day, or 500 or more carloads of poison- or toxic-by-inhalation hazardous materials (as defined in parts 171.8, 173.115, and 173.132 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations) per year, maintain, for at least two years, historical documentation of structural inspection and maintenance activities for such tunnels, including information on the methods of ingress and egress into and out of the tunnel, the types of cargos typically transported through the tunnel, and schematics or blueprints for the tunnel, when available. Upon request, a railroad carrier shall provide periodic briefings on such information to the governments of the local jurisdiction in which the tunnel is located, including updates whenever a repair or rehabilitation project substantially alters the methods of ingress and egress. Such governments shall use appropriate means to protect and restrict the distribution of any security sensitive information (as defined in part 1520.5 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations) provided by the railroad carrier under this section, consistent with national security interests.
SEC. 415. MUSEUM LOCOMOTIVE STUDY.[edit]
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary shall conduct a study of the requirements relating to safety inspections of diesel-electric locomotives and equipment that are operated in limited service by railroadrelated museums, historical societies, and tourist or scenic railroads. The study shall include an analysis of the safety consequences of requiring less frequent inspections of such locomotives and equipment, including periodic inspections or inspections based on service days and air brake inspections.
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit a report on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a) to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
SEC. 416. SAFETY INSPECTIONS IN MEXICO.[edit]
Mechanical and brake inspections of rail cars performed in Mexico shall not be treated as satisfying United States rail safety laws or regulations unless the Secretary of Transportation certifies that—
(1) such inspections are being performed under regulations and standards equivalent to those applicable in the United States;
(2) the inspections are being performed by employees that have received training similar to the training received by similar railroad employees in the United States;
(3) inspection records that are required to be available to the crewmembers on board the train, including air slips and blue cards, are maintained in both English and Spanish, and such records are available to the Federal Railroad Administration for review; and
(4) the Federal Railroad Administration is permitted to perform onsite inspections for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the requirements of this subsection.
SEC. 417. RAILROAD BRIDGE SAFETY ASSURANCE.[edit]
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate a regulation requiring owners of track carried on one or more railroad bridges to adopt a bridge safety management program to prevent the deterioration of railroad bridges and reduce the risk of human casualties, environmental damage, and disruption to the Nation’s railroad transportation system that would result from a catastrophic bridge failure.
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The regulations shall, at a minimum, require each track owner to—
(1) to develop and maintain an accurate inventory of its railroad bridges, which shall identify the location of each bridge, its configuration, type of construction, number of spans, span lengths, and all other information necessary to provide for the safe management of the bridges;
(2) to ensure that a professional engineer competent in the field of railroad bridge engineering, or a qualified person under the supervision of the track owner, determines bridge capacity;
(3) to maintain, and update as appropriate, a record of the safe capacity of each bridge which carries its track and, if available, maintain the original design documents of each bridge and a documentation of all repairs, modifications, and inspections of the bridge;
(4) to develop, maintain, and enforce a written procedure that will ensure that its bridges are not loaded beyond their capacities;
(5) to conduct regular comprehensive inspections of each bridge, at least once every year, and maintain records of those inspections that include the date on which the inspection was performed, the precise identification of the bridge inspected, the items inspected, an accurate description of the condition of those items, and a narrative of any inspection item that is found by the inspector to be a potential problem;
(6) to ensure that the level of detail and the inspection procedures are appropriate to the configuration of the bridge, conditions found during previous inspections, and the nature of the railroad traffic moved over the bridge, including car weights, train frequency and length, levels of passenger and hazardous materials traffic, and vulnerability of the bridge to damage;
(7) to ensure that an engineer who is competent in the field of railroad bridge engineering—
(A) is responsible for the development of all inspection procedures;
(B) reviews all inspection reports; and
(C) determines whether bridges are being inspected according to the applicable procedures and frequency, and reviews any items noted by an inspector as exceptions; and
(8) to designate qualified bridge inspectors or maintenance personnel to authorize the operation of trains on bridges following repairs, damage, or indications of potential structural problems.
(c) USE OF BRIDGE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS REQUIRED.—The Secretary shall instruct bridge experts to obtain copies of the most recent bridge management programs of each railroad within the expert’s areas of responsibility, and require that experts use those programs when conducting bridge observations.
(d) REVIEW OF DATA.—The Secretary shall establish a program to periodically review bridge inspection and maintenance data from railroad carrier bridge inspectors and Federal Railroad Administration bridge experts.
SEC. 418. RAILROAD SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT GRANTS.[edit]
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 201, as amended by section 413 of this division, is further amended by adding at the end thereof the following:
‘‘§ 20167. Railroad safety infrastructure improvement grants
‘‘(a) GRANT PROGRAM.—The Secretary of Transportation shall establish a grant program for safety improvements to railroad infrastructure, including the acquisition, improvement, or rehabilitation of intermodal or rail equipment or facilities, including track, bridges, tunnels, yards, buildings, passenger stations, facilities, and maintenance and repair shops.
‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—Grants shall be made under this section to eligible passenger and freight railroad carriers, and State and local governments for projects described in subsection (a). Grants shall also be made available to assist a State or political subdivision thereof in establishing a quiet zone pursuant to part 222 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.
‘‘(c) CONSIDERATIONS.—In awarding grants, the Secretary shall consider, at a minimum—
‘‘(1) the age and condition of the rail infrastructure of the applicant;
‘‘(2) the railroad carrier’s safety record, including accident and incident numbers and rates;
‘‘(3) the volume of hazardous materials transported by the railroad;
‘‘(4) the operation of passenger trains over the railroad; and
‘‘(5) whether the railroad carrier has submitted a railroad safety risk reduction program, as required by section 20156.
‘‘(d) MATCHING REQUIREMENTS.—Federal funds for any eligible project under this section shall not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of such project.
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2013 to carry out this section. Amounts appropriated pursuant to this subsection shall remain available until expended.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The chapter analysis for chapter 201, as amended by section 413 of this division, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 20166 the following:
‘‘20167. Railroad safety infrastructure improvement grants.’’.
SEC. 419. PROMPT MEDICAL ATTENTION.[edit]
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 20109 is amended—
(1) by redesignating subsections (c) through (i) as subsections (d) through (j), respectively; and
‘‘(c) PROMPT MEDICAL ATTENTION.—
‘‘(1) PROHIBITION.—A railroad carrier or person covered under this section may not deny, delay, or interfere with the medical or first aid treatment of an employee who is injured during the course of employment. If transportation to a hospital is requested by an employee who is injured during the course of employment, the railroad shall promptly arrange to have the injured employee transported to the nearest hospital where the employee can receive safe and appropriate medical care.
‘‘(2) DISCIPLINE.—A railroad carrier or person covered under this section may not discipline, or threaten discipline to, an employee for requesting medical or first aid treatment, or for following orders or a treatment plan of a treating physician, except that a railroad carrier’s refusal to permit an employee to return to work following medical treatment shall not be considered a violation of this section if the refusal is pursuant to Federal Railroad Administration medical standards for fitness of duty or, if there are no pertinent Federal Railroad Administration standards, a carrier’s medical standards for fitness for duty. For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘discipline’ means to bring charges against a person in a disciplinary proceeding, suspend, terminate, place on probation, or make note of reprimand on an employee’s record.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 20109 is amended—
(1) in subsection (d), as redesignated by subsection (a) of this section—
(A) by striking ‘‘(a) or (b)’’ in paragraph (1) and inserting ‘‘(a), (b), or (c)’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘(c)(1)’’ in paragraph (2)(A)(i) and inserting ‘‘(d)(1)’’;
(C) by striking ‘‘(a) or (b)’’ in paragraph (2)(A)(ii) and inserting ‘‘(a), (b), or (c)’’; and
(2) in subsection (e), as so redesignated—
(A) by striking ‘‘(c)’’ in paragraph (1) and inserting ‘‘(d)’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘(c)’’ in paragraph (2) and inserting ‘‘(d)’’;
(C) by striking ‘‘(c)(3)’’ in paragraph (2) and inserting ‘‘(d)(3)’’; and
(D) by striking ‘‘(c)’’ in paragraph (3) and inserting ‘‘(d)’’.
SEC. 420. EMPLOYEE SLEEPING QUARTERS.[edit]
Section 21106 is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’ before ‘‘A railroad carrier’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘sanitary and give those employees and individuals an opportunity for rest free from the interruptions caused by noise under the control of the carrier;’’ in paragraph (1) and inserting ‘‘sanitary, give those employees and individuals an opportunity for rest free from the interruptions caused by noise under the control of the carrier, and provide indoor toilet facilities, potable water, and other features to protect the health of employees;’’; and
‘‘(b) CAMP CARS.—Not later than December 31, 2009, any railroad carrier that uses camp cars shall fully retrofit or replace such cars in compliance with subsection (a).
‘‘(c) REGULATIONS.—Not later than April 1, 2010, the Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with the Secretary of Labor, shall prescribe regulations to implement subsection (a)(1) to protect the safety and health of any employees and individuals employed to maintain the right of way of a railroad carrier that uses camp cars, which shall require that all camp cars comply with those regulations by December 31, 2010. In prescribing the regulations, the Secretary shall assess the action taken by any railroad carrier to fully retrofit or replace its camp cars pursuant to this section.
‘‘(d) COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT.—The Secretary shall determine whether a railroad carrier has fully retrofitted or replaced a camp car pursuant to subsection (b) and shall prohibit the use of any non-compliant camp car. The Secretary may assess civil penalties pursuant to chapter 213 for violations of this section.’’.
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