I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 30 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 5, 2011 Mrs. Biggert (for herself, Mr. Walsh of Illinois, and Mr. Manzullo) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To require Surface Transportation Board consideration of the impacts of certain railroad transactions on local communities, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Taking Responsible Action for Community Safety Act.

2.

Effect of mergers on local communities and rail passenger transportation

Section 11324 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1)in subsection (a)— (A)by striking the last sentence and inserting The Board shall hold public hearings on the proposed transaction, including public hearings in the affected communities, unless the Board determines that public hearings are not necessary in the public interest.; (2)in subsection (b)— (A)by striking which involves the merger or control of at least two Class I railroads, and inserting with respect to a transaction that involves at least one Class I railroad,; (B)by inserting the effect on the public interest, including after the Board shall consider; (C)in paragraph (2), by striking on the public interest; (D)by striking and at the end of paragraph (4); (E)by striking the period at the end of paragraph (5) and inserting a semicolon; and (F)by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: (6)the safety and environmental effects of the proposed transaction, including the effects on local communities, such as public safety, grade crossing safety, hazardous materials transportation safety, emergency response time, noise, and socioeconomic impacts; and (7)the effect of the proposed transaction on intercity rail passenger transportation and commuter rail passenger transportation, as defined by section 24102 of this title. ; (3)by redesignating subsections (c), (d), (e), and (f) as subsections (d), (e), (f), and (g) and inserting a new subsection (c) as follows: (c)The Board shall approve and authorize a transaction under this section when it finds the transaction is consistent with the public interest. The Board shall not approve a transaction described in subsection (b) if it finds that the transaction’s impacts on safety and on all affected communities, as defined under subsection (b), outweigh the transportation benefits of the transaction. The Board may impose conditions governing a transaction under this section, including conditions to mitigate the effects of the transaction on local communities. ; (4)in subsection (d), as redesignated, by striking The Board shall approve and all that follows through the transaction, including and inserting The conditions the Board may impose under this section include; and (5)in subsection (e), as redesignated, by striking the merger or control of at least two Class I railroads, as defined by the Board and inserting a transaction described in subsection (b).