[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 148 (Tuesday, August 1, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 46884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19397]



[[Page 46884]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

49 CFR Parts 222 and 229

[Docket No. FRA-1999-6439, Notice No. 2]
RIN 2130-AA71


Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Proposed rule; notification of congressional contacts.

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SUMMARY: On January 13, 2000, FRA published in the Federal Register a 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding the use of locomotive 
horns at highway-rail grade crossings (65 FR 2230). This document 
provides information pertaining to contacts that FRA officials have had 
with various with members of Congress regarding the NPRM.

ADDRESSES: The public docket is available at DOT's Docket Management 
Facility at room PL-401, 400 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. All 
documents are also available at the docket facilities web site at 
http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark H. Tessler, Office of Chief 
Counsel, FRA, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20590 
(telephone: 202-493-6061).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Backgrounds

Congressional Meeting

    In the NPRM published on January 13, 2000, FRA established a 
comment period during which the public could provide its views on the 
NPRM. FRA stated: ``Comments must be received by May 26, 2000. Comments 
received after that date will be considered to the extent possible 
without incurring additional expense or delay.''
    On June 22, 2000, Federal Railroad Administrator Jolene Molitoris 
met with certain members of Congress at their request to discuss the 
pending rulemaking. At the meeting, attended by Administrator 
Molitoris, FRA Chief Counsel S. Mark Lindsey, Speaker Dennis Hastert, 
Senator Richard Durbin, and Representatives William Lipinski, Judy 
Biggert, and John Porter, the FRA officials received a proposal from 
the Members concerning the proposed locomotive horn rule.
    A summary of the discussion, together with the proposal presented 
to the Administrator has been placed in the public docket of this 
proceeding and is identified as Document Number 2316 of Docket No. FRA-
1999-6439. This document, together with all other documents contained 
in the public docket is available at DOT's Docket Management Facility 
at room PL-401, 400 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. All 
documents are also available at the docket facilities web site 
at http://dms.dot.gov.

Congressional Hearing

    On July 18, 2000, Deputy Administrator John V. Wells testified 
before the House Subcommittee on Ground Transportation of the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure regarding the NPRM. FRA will 
submit to the docket a copy of the transcript of that hearing when it 
is made available to FRA.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 25, 2000.
S. Mark Lindsey,
Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 00-19397 Filed 7-31-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-M