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Report on DOT Significant Rulemakings

Table of Contents

Federal Railroad Administration

38. Amendments to Design Standards for Pressurized Railroad Tank Cars

39. Grant Program for Local Rail Line Relocation and Improvement Projects

40. Regulatory Relief for Electronically Controlled Pneumatic Brake System Implementation

41. Hours of Service Record Keeping

42. Amendments to the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) Program



Federal Railroad Administration
Federal Railroad Administration
38. 
Amendments to Design Standards for Pressurized Railroad Tank Cars Red
Popular Title: Pressurized Tank Cars
RIN 2130-AB69
Stage: NPRM
Previous Stage:None
Abstract: This rulemaking would amend the existing design standards for pressurized tank cars pursuant to section 9005 of SAFETEA-LU. This rulemaking would improve the crashworthiness protection of railroad tank cars designed to transport poisonous by inhalation (PIH) materials by establishing enhanced tank car performance standards for head and shell impacts, as well as operational restrictions for trains transporting PIH materials.
Effects:
  Economically Significant
Major
Information Collection
Prompting action: Statute
Legal Deadline:  NPRM : 02/10/2007
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 08/10/2005
Docket Number: FRA-2006-25169
Dates for NPRM:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST 04/30/2008  11/02/2007  11/05/2007 
To OMB 05/28/2008  12/16/2007  12/19/2007 
OMB Clearance 08/26/2008  03/17/2008  03/26/2008 
Publication Date 08/29/2008  03/31/2008  04/01/2008 
End of Comment Period 10/28/2008  05/29/2008  06/02/2008 
Explanation for any delay: Awaiting development of additional data
Unanticipated impacts requiring further analysis
Federal Register Citation for NPRM: 73 FR 17818


Federal Railroad Administration
39. 
Grant Program for Local Rail Line Relocation and Improvement Projects Red
Popular Title: Rail Relocation and Improvement
RIN 2130-AB74
Stage: Final Rule
Previous Stage: NPRM: Publication Date 01/17/2007;End of Comment Period 03/05/2007.
Abstract: This rulemaking would address the establishment of a grant program authorizing the Secretary to provide financial assistance to States for local rail line relocation and improvement projects. This rulemaking would create a new part to title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations; establish regulations governing financial assistance under Part 261, including the project selection criteria; and solicit applications for Capital Grants for Rail Line Relocation Projects. This rulemaking is required by Section 9002 of the Safe Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Act: A legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). Section 9002 authorizes, but does not appropriate, $350,000,000 per year for each of the fiscal years (FY) 2006 through 2009 for the purpose of funding a grant program to provide financial assistance for local rail line relocation and improvement projects. For FY 2008, Congress authorized $20,040,200 for the grant program and allocated $5,135,200 of that amount towards specific projects.
Effects:
  Economically Significant
Major
Prompting action: Statute
Legal Deadline:  Temporary Rules : 04/01/2006
Final Rule : 10/01/2006
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 08/10/2005
Docket Number: FRA-2006-23774
Dates for Final Rule:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST 07/03/2007    07/02/2007 
Returned to Mode     07/27/2007 
Resubmitted to OST   08/29/2007  08/29/2007 
Returned to Mode/2     09/11/2007 
Resubmitted to OST/2   03/03/2008  03/26/2008 
To OMB 08/11/2007  04/28/2008   
OMB Clearance 11/11/2007  07/28/2008   
Publication Date 11/27/2007  08/05/2008   
Explanation for any delay: Additional coordination necessary
Federal Register Citation for Final Rule: None


Federal Railroad Administration
40. 
Regulatory Relief for Electronically Controlled Pneumatic Brake System Implementation Green
Popular Title: ECP Brake Systems
RIN 2130-AB84
Stage: Final Rule
Previous Stage: NPRM: 09/04/2007; End of Comment Period; 11/05/2007.
Abstract: This rulemaking would establish criteria for operating trains equipped with Electronically Controlled Pneumatic Brake System technology. This rulemaking would also provide regulatory relief, when necessary, to promote the transition to Electronically Controlled Brake System technology within the rail industry. This rulemaking relates to, but is separate from, the waiver proceeding under Docket No. FRA-2006-26435.
Effects:
  Economically Significant
Major
Prompting action: Secretarial/Head of Operating Administration Decision
Legal Deadline: None
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 08/17/2006
Docket Number: FRA-2006-26175
Dates for Final Rule:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST 06/03/2008     
To OMB 07/03/2008     
OMB Clearance 10/01/2008     
Publication Date 10/15/2008     
Explanation for any delay: N/A
Federal Register Citation for Final Rule: None


Federal Railroad Administration
41. 
Hours of Service Record Keeping Green
Popular Title: Hours of Service Record Keeping
RIN 2130-AB85
Stage: NPRM
Previous Stage:None
Abstract: This rulemaking would revise the hours of service record keeping regulations to allow for the use of electronic record keeping systems. It would also clarify the existing hours of service recordkeeping regulations to ensure that they are applied consistently to both paper and electronic records. It would also ensure that all records, whether created manually or electronically, would allow for proper enforcement of the hours of service law.
Effects:
  None
Prompting action: None
Legal Deadline: None
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 08/02/2006
Docket Number: FRA-2006-26176
Dates for NPRM:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST 12/31/2007  07/28/2008   
To OMB 02/08/2008  09/05/2008   
OMB Clearance 05/08/2008  12/05/2008   
Publication Date 05/15/2008  12/30/2008   
End of Comment Period 06/16/2008  01/30/2009   
Explanation for any delay: Additional coordination necessary
Federal Register Citation for NPRM: None


Federal Railroad Administration
42. 
Amendments to the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) Program Black
Popular Title: Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing
RIN 2130-AB91
Stage: NPRM
Previous Stage:None
Abstract: This rulemaking would amend eligibility and application form and content criteria for the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) Program to ensure the long-term sustainability of the program, promote competition in the railroad industry, and reduce the risk of default for applicants and the Government.
Effects:
  None
Prompting action: None
Legal Deadline: None
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 11/09/2007
Docket Number:
Dates for NPRM:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST 04/11/2008    04/11/2008 
To OMB 04/23/2008  05/06/2008   
OMB Clearance 06/23/2008  07/06/2008   
Publication Date 06/29/2008  07/12/2008   
End of Comment Period 08/28/2008  09/12/2008   
Explanation for any delay: N/A
Federal Register Citation for NPRM: None