[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 208 (Friday, October 26, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 54326]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-26991]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[FRA Docket No. FRA-1999-6689, Notice No. 2]


Reflectorization of Rail Rolling Stock

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: FRA announces that a preliminary analysis evaluating the costs 
and benefits of placing retro-reflective material on certain rail 
rolling stock in order to reduce collisions at highway-rail crossings 
has been placed in the public docket established to receive information 
on this topic. Public comment is invited.

ADDRESSES: The public is invited to submit both relevant information 
and relevant comments to the docket. Written comments should refer to 
the docket number of this notice and be submitted in duplicate to: DOT 
Central Docket Management Facility located in room PL-401 at the Plaza 
level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590. All docket material will be available for inspection at the 
Central Docket Management Facility during regular business hours and on 
the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. Those desiring notification of 
receipt of comments must include a self-addressed, stamped envelope or 
postcard.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1982, FRA conducted a study to determine 
whether reflective materials would enhance railcar conspicuity and 
thereby reduce the number of accidents involving railcars. That study 
demonstrated that, although the use of reflective material enhanced 
railcar conspicuity, the reflective material was not durable enough to 
withstand the harsh railroad environment.
    Beginning in 1990, FRA initiated additional research in response to 
improvements in the retroreflective qualities and durability of 
reflective materials. Subsequently, under the Federal Railroad Safety 
Authorization Act of 1994 (``the Act''), Pub. L. No. 103-440, 108 Stat. 
4622-23 (November 2, 1994), Congress required FRA to revisit the issue 
of railcar conspicuity. The statute, codified at 49 U.S.C. 20148, 
provides that if the review establishes that enhanced railroad car 
visibility would likely improve safety in a cost-effective manner, the 
Secretary of Transportation shall initiate a rulemaking to prescribe 
regulations requiring enhanced visibility standards for railroad cars. 
FRA has completed its review of costs and benefits and is now placing 
it in the docket.
    After extensive analysis, FRA has concluded that, because of 
technological advances developed since 1982, the reflectorization of 
railroad freight equipment appears to be a viable and cost-effective 
method of reducing the number of collisions at highway-rail grade 
crossings and the casualties and property damages which result from 
those collisions. FRA's analysis supports the conclusion that declines 
in the cost of reflective material, in combination with better 
performance and lower maintenance costs, have created a situation in 
which the benefits of reflectorization now appear to exceed its costs.
    FRA invites all interested parties to review the cost-benefit 
analysis and to comment on the information contained therein and 
conclusions drawn from that information. FRA will review information 
that is submitted prior to the date on which FRA determines whether to 
institute rulemaking. Any responses can be sent to the docket. 
Instructions for doing so are described above under Addresses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Plache, Industry Economist, 
Office of Safety, FRA, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mailstop 17, Washington, 
DC 20590 (telephone 202-493-6297) or John A. Winkle, Esq., Office of 
Chief Counsel, FRA, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mailstop 10, Washington, DC 
20590 (telephone 202-493-6067).

    Issued in Washington, DC on October 22, 2001.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program 
Development.
[FR Doc. 01-26991 Filed 10-25-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P