Source: http://govpulse.us/entries/2009/12/23/E9-30439/qualification-and-certification-of-locomotive-engineers-miscellaneous-revisions
Timestamp: 2015-03-31 00:14:35
Document Index: 512621456

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 4', 'art 240', 'art 240', '§ 240', 'art 211', '§ 240', 'art 240', '§ 240']

govpulse | Qualification and Certification of Locomotive Engineers; Miscellaneous Revisions
Section 240.107Criteria for Designation of Classes of Service
Section 240.127Criteria for Examining Skill Performance
Section 240.129Criteria for Monitoring Operational Performance of Certified Engineers
Section 240.307Revocation of Certification
• Electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal, http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
John L. Conklin, Program Manager, Locomotive Engineer Certification, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, Mail Stop 25, West Building 3rd Floor West, Room W38-208, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590 (telephone:202-493-6318); or John Seguin, Trial Attorney, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal RailroadAdministration, Office of Chief Counsel, RCC-10, Mail Stop 10, West Building 3rd Floor, Room W31-217, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590 (telephone:202-493-6045).
Pursuant to the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 1988, Public Law 100-342, § 4, 102 Stat. 624, 625-27 (June 22, 1988) (recodified at 49 U.S.C. 20135), Congress conferred on the Secretary of DOT the authority to establish a locomotive engineer qualification licensing or certification program. The Secretary of Transportation delegated this authority to the Federal Railroad Administrator. 49 CFR 1.49(m). In 1991, FRA implemented this statutory provision by issuing a final rule. 56 FR 28228, 28254 (June 19, 1991) (codified at 49 CFR part 240).
By letter dated May 18, 2009, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen requested an extension of that comment period, which closed on May 14, 2009. Based on that request, FRA reopened the comment period for an additional 30 days until June 15, 2009. See74 FR 25,208 (May 27, 2009). FRA received written, post-hearing comments submitted by the Association of American Railroads, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, and the United Transportation Union. The comment period for the NPRM closed on June 15, 2009.
II. General Summary of the Comments ↑
A. Prohibiting Reclassification ↑
FRA proposed to amend 49 CFR 240.107 by adding a new paragraph (e) that would prohibit a railroad from reclassifying the certification of any type of certified engineer to a more restrictive class of certificate or to a student engineer certificate during the period in which the certification is otherwise valid. See73 FR 80349, 80351-80352 (December 31, 2008).
Reaction to the NPRM ↑
FRA's Response ↑
(3) The issue raised by some commenters regarding a railroad having to provide training to a certified person whose certificate has been restricted may be handled by seeking a waiver of the part 240 requirements. As provided in § 240.9, a railroad may apply for a waiver in accordance with the provisions of part 211 of this chapter from training, continuing education, and other requirements for a person who will not be operating as alocomotive servicing or train service engineer for that railroad. Further, this rule in no way prohibits a railroad from initiating disciplinary sanctions against its employees in the normal and customary manner, including those contained in its collective bargaining agreements. See§ 240.5.
B. Restrictions ↑
In its proposal to prohibit reclassification, FRA noted that the proposed provision would not prevent a railroad from placing restrictions on a certificate pursuant to 240.107(d). FRA further noted that restrictions are applied and reviewed in accordance with the internal railroad rules, procedures, and processes developed in coordination with its employees. See73 FR 80349, 80352 (December 31, 2008).
Contrary to the commenter's assertion, it has been FRA's understanding that a restriction is not a denial of certification or a revocation under part 240 and thus, disputes regarding restrictions are covered by the Railway Labor Act and should be handled under the procedures provided for in that Act. Furthermore, a restricted train service or locomotive servicing engineer certificate is still a valid certificate that other railroads may rely on when determining whether the person is qualified pursuant to § 240.225. Of course, any railroad that chooses to rely on a restricted certificate issued by another railroad should ensure that the person can demonstrate that they are qualified—and should certainly not ignore the restriction.
C. Revocations ↑
FRA proposed to amend 49 CFR 240.307<