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Report on DOT Significant Rulemakings

Table of Contents

Federal Railroad Administration

41. Amendments to Design Standards for Pressurized Railroad Tank Cars

42. Passenger Train Emergency Systems

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

44. Regulatory Relief for Electronically Controlled Pneumatic Brake System Implementation

45. Hours of Service Record Keeping



Federal Railroad Administration
Federal Railroad Administration
41. 
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 by : 02/10/2007
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 08/10/2005
Docket Number:
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   
OMB Clearance 08/26/2008  03/17/2008   
Publication Date 08/29/2008  03/21/2008   
End of Comment Period 10/28/2008  05/21/2008   
Explanation for any delay: Awaiting development of additional data
Unanticipated impacts requiring further analysis
Federal Register Citation for NPRM: None


Federal Railroad Administration
42. 
Passenger Train Emergency Systems Red
Popular Title: Passenger Train Emergency Systems
RIN 2130-AB72
Stage: Final Rule
Previous Stage: NPRM: Publication Date 08/24/2006;End of Comment Period 10/23/2006.
Abstract: This rulemaking would promote the safety of passengers and crew members in passenger train emergencies by enhancing FRA's regulations for passenger train emergency systems. The rulemaking would address passenger train emergency communication systems (public address and intercom systems), emergency evacuation systems (doors, emergency window exits, rescue access windows, and emergency roof access locations), and marking signage systems.
Effects:
  None
Prompting action: None
Legal Deadline: None
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 08/26/2005
Docket Number: FRA-2006-25273
Dates for Final Rule:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST 03/08/2007  11/16/2007   
To OMB 04/27/2007  01/25/2008   
OMB Clearance 07/27/2007  04/18/2008   
Publication Date 08/06/2007  05/02/2008   
Explanation for any delay: Additional coordination necessary
Lack of resources
Federal Register Citation for Final Rule: None


Federal Railroad Administration
43. 
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. Congress has not appropriated any funding for the program for FY 2006.
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:
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   10/03/2007  10/24/2007 
To OMB 08/11/2007  11/09/2007   
OMB Clearance 11/11/2007  02/09/2008   
Publication Date 11/27/2007  02/20/2008   
Explanation for any delay: Additional coordination necessary
Federal Register Citation for Final Rule: None


Federal Railroad Administration
44. 
Regulatory Relief for Electronically Controlled Pneumatic Brake System Implementation Red
Popular Title: ECP Brake Systems
RIN 2130-AB84
Stage: NPRM
Previous Stage:None
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 NPRM:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST 01/24/2007  03/12/2007  03/12/2007 
Returned to Mode   04/04/2007  04/04/2007 
Resubmitted to OST   04/06/2007  04/11/2007 
To OMB 02/23/2007  05/16/2007  05/21/2007 
OMB Clearance 05/24/2007  08/21/2007  08/21/2007 
Publication Date 05/31/2007  09/04/2007  09/04/2007 
End of Comment Period 07/31/2007  11/05/2007  11/05/2007 
Explanation for any delay: Additional coordination necessary
Awaiting development of additional data
Federal Register Citation for NPRM: 72 FR 50820


Federal Railroad Administration
45. 
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     
To OMB 02/08/2008     
OMB Clearance 05/08/2008     
Publication Date 05/15/2008     
End of Comment Period 06/16/2008     
Explanation for any delay: N/A
Federal Register Citation for NPRM: None