Source: http://ecfr.io/Title-49/pt49.4.211
Timestamp: 2019-08-25 03:15:51
Document Index: 429844102

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 211', 'art 211', 'art 211', '§211', '§211', '§238', 'arts 235', '§211', 'art 7', '§211', '§238', 'arts 235', '§211', '§238', '§238', 'arts 235', '§211', '§211', '§211', '§211', '§211', '§211', '§211', 'art 235', 'art 236', '§211', 'art 235', '§211', '§211', 'art 211', '§20306', 'art 211', 'art 211', '§21108', 'art 211']

[49 CFR 211] Title 49 Part 211 : Code of Federal Regulations ';
Title 49 Part 211
Title 49 → Subtitle B → Chapter II → Part 211
(a) This part prescribes rules of practice that apply to rulemaking and waiver proceedings, review of emergency orders issued under 45 U.S.C. 432, and miscellaneous safety-related proceedings and informal safety inquiries. The specific time limits for disposition of proceedings apply only to proceedings initiated after December 31, 1976, under the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970 (45 U.S.C. 421 et seq.). When warranted, FRA will extend these time limits in individual proceedings. However, each proceeding under the Federal Railroad Safety Act shall be disposed of within 12 months after the date it is initiated. A proceeding shall be deemed to be initiated and the time period for its disposition shall begin on the date a petition or application that complies with the requirements of this chapter is received by the person designated in §211.7.
(3) Safety Act means the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970, as amended (45 U.S.C. 421 et seq.).
(4) Docket Clerk means the Docket Clerk, Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Mail Stop 10, Washington, DC 20590 or the Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations (M-30), West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
(a)(1) Records of the Federal Railroad Administration created after November 1, 1998, concerning each proceeding subject to this part are maintained in current docket form by the Federal Docket Management System. These records include rulemaking and waiver petitions, emergency orders, notices, comments received in response to notices, hearing transcripts, final rules, denials of rulemaking petitions, grants and denial of waiver and other petitions. Also included are records pertaining to applications for special approval under §§211.55 and 238.21 of this chapter, petitions for grandfathering approval under §238.203 of this chapter, signal applications under parts 235 and 236 of this chapter, and informal safety inquiries under §211.61.
(i) At the U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations (M-30), West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. Copies of docketed materials may be obtained upon payment of the fees prescribed by the Federal Docket Management System, or
(ii) Through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. All docketed materials are available for viewing and may be downloaded for electronic storage or printing. There is no charge for this service.
(b) Records of the Federal Railroad Administration created before November 1, 1998, concerning each proceeding subject to this part are available in FRA's Docket Office, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. Any person may examine docketed material at that location during normal business hours. Copies of docketed material may be obtained upon payment of the fees prescribed in part 7 of this title.
(b)(1) All petitions and applications subject to this part, including applications for special approval under §§211.55 and 238.21 of this chapter, petitions for grandfathering approval under §238.203 of this chapter, and signal applications under parts 235 and 236 of this chapter, shall be submitted to the FRA Docket Clerk. Each petition received shall be acknowledged in writing. The acknowledgment shall contain the docket number assigned to the petition or application and state the date the petition or application was received. Within 60 days following receipt, FRA will advise the petitioner or applicant of any deficiencies in its petition or application.
(2) All comments submitted in response to a notice and other material pertaining to proceedings subject to this part, including comments submitted in response to requests for special approval under §211.55 and §238.21 of this chapter, petitions for grandfathering approval under §238.203 of this chapter, and signal applications under parts 235 and 236 of this chapter, shall be submitted to the Federal Docket Management System and shall contain the assigned docket number for that proceeding. The form of such submissions may be in written or electronic form consistent with the standards and requirements established by the Federal Docket Management System and posted on its web site at http://www.regulations.gov.
(a) General. Each petition for rulemaking filed as prescribed in §§211.7 and 211.9 is referred to the head of the office responsible for the subject matter of the petition to review and recommend appropriate action to the Administrator. No public hearing or oral argument is held before the Administrator decides whether the petition should be granted. However, a notice may be published in the Federal Register inviting written comments concerning the petition. Each petition shall be granted or denied not later than six months after its receipt by the Docket Clerk.
(b) Grants. If the Administrator determines that a rulemaking petition complies with the requirements of §211.9 and that rulemaking is justified, he initiates a rulemaking proceeding by publishing an advance notice or notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register.
The Administrator initiates all rulemaking proceedings on his own motion by publishing an advance notice of proposed rulemaking or a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register. However, he may consider the recommendations of interested persons or other agencies of the United States. A separate docket is established and maintained for each rulemaking proceeding. Each rulemaking proceeding shall be completed not later than 12 months after the initial notice in that proceeding is published in the Federal Register. However, if it was initiated as the result of the granting of a rulemaking petition, the rulemaking proceeding shall be completed not later than 12 months after the petition was filed as prescribed in §§211.7 and 211.9.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, or when the Administrator finds for good cause that notice is impractical, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest (and incorporates the findings and a brief statement of the reasons therefore in the rules issued), an advance notice or notice of proposed rulemaking is published in the Federal Register and interested persons are invited to participate in the rulemaking proceedings with respect to each substantive rule.
Each advance notice or notice of proposed rulemaking is published in the Federal Register and includes—
(b) The Administrator grants the petition only if the petitioner shows a substantive interest in the proposed rule and good cause for the extension, and if time permits and the extension is in the public interest. Extensions will not be granted unless time permits and will not exceed one month. If an extension is granted, it is granted as to all persons and a notice of the extension is published in the Federal Register.
Whenever the Administrator adopts a final rule or withdraws an advance notice or notice of proposed rulemaking, the final rule or a notice of withdrawal is published in the Federal Register.
(a) Any person may petition the Administrator for reconsideration of any rule issued under this part. Except for good cause shown, such a petition must be submitted not later than 60 days after publication of the rule in the Federal Register, or 10 days prior to the effective date of the rule, whichever is the earlier. The petition must contain a brief statement of the complaint and an explanation as to why compliance with the rule is not possible, is not practicable, is unreasonable, or is not in the public interest.
(d) Unless the Administrator specifically provides otherwise, and publishes notice thereof in the Federal Register, the filing of a petition under this section does not stay the effectiveness of a rule.
(a) The Administrator may grant or deny, in whole or in part, any petition for reconsideration of a final rule without further proceedings. Each petition shall be decided not later than 4 months after its receipt by the Docket Clerk. In the event he determines to reconsider a rule, the Administrator may amend the rule or initiate a new rulemaking proceeding. An appropriate notice is published in the Federal Register.
(b) Whenever the Administrator determines that a petition should be granted or denied, a notice of the grant or denial of a petition for reconsideration is sent to the petitioner. When a petition is granted, a notice is published in the Federal Register.
(b) Notice and hearing. If required by statute or the Administrator or the Railroad Safety Board deems it desirable, a notice is published in the Federal Register, an opportunity for public comment is provided, and a hearing is held in accordance with §211.25, before the petition is granted or denied.
(e) Notification. Whenever the Railroad Safety Board grants or denies a petition, a notice of that grant or denial is sent to the petitioner. When a petition has been decided, interested persons are also notified or a notice is published in the Federal Register.
(b) Notice and hearing. If required by statute or the Administrator deems it desirable, a notice is published in the Federal Register, an opportunity for public comment is provided, and a hearing is held in accordance with §211.25, before the petition is granted or denied.
(e) Notification. Whenever the Administrator grants or denies a petition, a notice of the grant or denial is sent to the petitioner. When a petition has been decided, interested persons are also notified or a notice is published in the Federal Register.
(e) Content of petitions for emergency waivers. Petitions submitted to FRA pursuant to this section should specifically address how the petition is related to the emergency, and to the extent practicable, contain the information required under §211.9(a) and (b). The petition should at a minimum describe the following: how the petitioner or public is affected by the emergency (including the impact on railroad operations); what FRA regulations are implicated by the emergency (e.g., movement of defective equipment); how waiver of the implicated regulations would benefit petitioner during the emergency; and how long the petitioner expects to be affected by the emergency.
(1) E-mail to FRA at: [email protected];
(h) Comments. Although the Administrator may waive compliance with any part of a regulation prescribed or order issued without prior notice and comment, comments may be submitted. Comments should be submitted as soon as possible, after a petition is available on the FeP. Any comment received will be considered to the extent practicable. All comments should identify the appropriate ERD and should identify the specific document number of the petition designated by the FeP in the ERD. Interested parties commenting on a petition under this section should also include in their comments to the ERD telephone numbers at which their representatives may be reached. Interested parties may submit their comments using any of the following methods:
(1) E-mail to FRA at: [email protected]
(a) As specified in section 203, Public Law 91-458, 84 Stat. 972 (45 U.S.C. 432), opportunity for review of Emergency orders issued under that section will be provided in accordance with section 554 of title 5 of the U.S.C. Petitions for such review must be submitted in writing to the Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Railroad Administration, Washington, DC 20590. Upon receipt of a petition, FRA will immediately contact the petitioner and make the necessary arrangements for a conference to be held at the earliest date acceptable to the petitioner. At this conference, the petitioner will be afforded an opportunity to submit facts, arguments and proposals for modification or withdrawal of the Emergency order. If the controversy is not resolved at the conference and a hearing is desired, the petitioner must submit a written request for a hearing within 15 days after the conference. The hearing will commence within 14 calendar days f receipt of the request and will be conducted in accordance with sections 556 and 575, title 5, U.S.C. Each petition for review shall be decided not later than 3 months after receipt.
(a) Pursuant to the Department of Transportation Act (80 Stat. 931, 49 U.S.C. 1651 et seq.), the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970 (84 Stat. 971, 45 U.S.C. 421, 431-441), or both, the Administrator may temporarily suspend compliance with a substantive rule of the Federal Railroad Administration, if:
(b) When required by statute, a notice is published in the Federal Register, an opportunity is provided for public comment, and a hearing is held in accordance with §211.25, before the FRA approved test program is implemented.
(c) When the Administrator approves suspension of compliance with any rule in connection with a test program, a description of the test program containing an explanatory statement responsive to paragraph (a) of this section is published in the Federal Register.
Applications for approval of discontinuance or material modification of a signal system authorized by part 235 or waiver of a requirement of part 236 of this chapter must be submitted in accordance with §211.7, handled in accordance with procedures set forth in part 235 or 236, respectively, and decided not later than 9 months after receipt. When a decision is issued, the applicant and other interested parties are notified or a notice is published in the Federal Register.
Requests for special approval pertaining to safety not otherwise provided for in this chapter, must be submitted in accordance with §211.7; specifying the action requested. These requests shall be considered by the Railroad Safety Board and appropriate action shall be taken not later than 9 months after receipt. When a decision is issued, the requestor and other interested parties are notified or a notice is published in the Federal Register.
(d) Unless the Administrator specifically provides otherwise, and gives notice to interested parties or publishes notice in the Federal Register, the filing of a petition under this section does not stay the effectiveness of the action sought to be reconsidered.
(b) The Administrator may reaffirm, modify, or revoke the final action without further proceedings and shall issue notification of his decision to the petitioner and other interested parties or publish a notice in the Federal Register. Each petition for reconsideration shall be decided not later than 4 months after receipt. Petitions for reconsideration relating to the same rule may be consolidated for decision. In the event the Administrator determines to reconsider a final action, and appropriate notice is published in the Federal Register.
The Administrator may conduct informal safety inquiries to collect information on selected topics relating to railroad safety. A notice of each such inquiry will be published in the Federal Register outlining the area of inquiry and inviting interested persons to assist by submitting written material or participating in informal public conferences and discussions. Upon completion of the inquiry, the Administrator will review the information obtained and may, on his own motion, initiate a rulemaking proceeding under §211.13 or take whatever other action he deems appropriate.
Authority: Secs. 203 and 208(a), 84 Stat. 972, 974-975 (45 U.S.C. 432, 437(a)) and 5 U.S.C. 554-559.
(b) Proceedings under this subpart are subject to the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 554-559.
F. Safety appliance laws (49 U.S.C. 20301-20305). (1) Since certain safety appliance requirements (e.g., automatic couplers) are statutory, they can only be “waived” by FRA under the exemption conditions set forth in 49 U.S.C. 20306. Because exemptions requested under this statutory provision do not involve a waiver of a safety rule, regulation, or standard (see 49 CFR 211.41), FRA is not required to follow the rules of practice for waivers contained in part 211. However, whenever appropriate, FRA will combine its consideration of any request for an exemption under §20306 with its review under part 211 of a light rail operation's petition for waivers of FRA's regulations.
G. Hours of service laws (49 U.S.C. 21101-21108). (1) The hours of service laws apply to all railroads subject to FRA's jurisdiction, and govern the maximum work hours and minimum off-duty periods of employees engaged in one or more of the three categories of covered service described in 49 U.S.C. 21101. If an individual performs more than one kind of covered service during a tour of duty, then the most restrictive of the applicable limitations control. Under current law, a light rail operation could request a waiver of the substantive provisions of the hours of service laws only under the “pilot project” provision described in 49 U.S.C. 21108, provided that the request is based upon a joint petition submitted by the railroad and its affected labor organizations. Because waivers requested under this statutory provision do not involve a waiver of a safety rule, regulation, or standard (see 49 CFR 211.41), FRA is not required to follow the rules of practice for waivers contained in part 211. However, whenever appropriate, FRA will combine its consideration of any request for a waiver under §21108 with its review under part 211 of a light rail operation's petition for waivers of FRA's regulations.
213 Track safety standards Comply (assuming light rail operator owns track or has been assigned responsibility for it) If the conventional RR owns the track, light rail will have to observe speed limits for class of track.
233, 235, 236 Signal and train control Comply (assuming light rail operator or its contractor has responsibility for signal maintenance) If conventional RR maintains signals, light rail will have to abide by operational limitations and report signal failures.
234 Grade crossing signals Comply (assuming light rail operator or its contractor has responsibility for crossing devices) If conventional RR maintains devices, light rail will have to comply with sections concerning crossing accidents, activation failures, and false activations.
213, Appendix C Bridge safety policy Not a rule. Compliance voluntary.
210 Noise emission Waive State safety oversight.
215 Freight car safety standards Waive State safety oversight.
221 Rear end marking devices Waive State safety oversight.
223 Safety glazing standards Waive State safety oversight.
229 Locomotive safety standards Waive, except for arrangement of auxiliary lights, which is important for grade crossing safety State safety oversight.
231* Safety appliance standards Waive State safety oversight; see note below on statutory requirements.
238 Passenger equipment standards Waive State safety oversight.
214 Bridge worker Waive OSHA standards.
214 Roadway worker safety Comply
217 Operating rules Waive State safety oversight.
218 Operating practices Waive, except for prohibition on tampering with safety devices related to signal system, and blue signal rules on shared track State safety oversight.
219 Alcohol and drug Waive if FTA rule otherwise applies FTA rule may apply.
220 Radio communications Waive, except to extent communications with freight trains and roadway workers are necessary State safety oversight.
225 Accident reporting and investigation Comply with regard to train accidents and crossing accidents; waive as to injuries; FRA accident investigation authority not subject to waiver Employee injuries would be reported under FTA or OSHA rules.
228** Hours of service recordkeeping Waive (in concert with waiver of statute); waiver not likely for personnel who dispatch conventional RR or maintain signal system on shared use track See note below on possible waiver of statutory requirements.
239 Passenger train emergency preparedness Waive State safety oversight.
240 Engineer certification Waive State safety oversight.
*Safety appliance statute. Certain safety appliance requirements (e.g., automatic couplers) are statutory and can only be waived under the conditions set forth in 49 U.S.C. 20306, which permits exemptions if application of the requirements would “preclude the development or implementation of more efficient railroad transportation equipment or other transportation innovations.” If consistent with employee safety, FRA could probably rely on this provision to address most light rail equipment that could not meet the standards.
**Hours of service statute. Currently, 49 U.S.C. 21108 permits FRA to waive substantive provisions of the hours of service laws based upon a joint petition by the railroad and affected labor organizations, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing. This is a “pilot project” provision, so waivers are limited to two years but may be extended for additional two-year periods after notice and an opportunity for comment.