[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 85 (Monday, May 3, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24219-24220]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-9930]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2000-7257; Notice No. 32]


Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (``RSAC''); Working Group 
Activity Update

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

ACTION: Announcement of Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC) 
Working Group Activities.

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SUMMARY: FRA is updating its announcement of RSAC's working group 
activities to reflect their current status. For additional details on 
completed activities see prior working group activity notices (68 FR 
25677).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Butera, RSAC Coordinator, 
FRA, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW., Mailstop 25, Washington, DC 20590, (202) 
493-6212 or Grady Cothen, Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety 
Standards and Program Development, FRA, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW., 
Mailstop 25, Washington, DC 20590, (202) 493-6302.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice serves to update FRA's last 
announcement of working group activities and status reports of December 
1, 2003, (68 FR 54777). The twenty-second full Committee meeting was 
held December 2, 2003. The twenty-third meeting is scheduled for April 
27, 2004, at the Washington Plaza Hotel.
    Since its first meeting in April of 1996, the RSAC has accepted 
eighteen tasks. Status for each of the tasks is provided below:

Open Tasks

    Task 96-4--Reviewing the appropriateness of the agency's current 
policy regarding the applicability of existing and proposed regulations 
to tourist, excursion, scenic, and historic railroads. This Task was 
accepted on April 2, 1996, and a Working Group was established. The 
Working Group monitored the steam locomotive regulations task. Planned 
future activities involve the review of other regulations for possible 
adaptation to the safety needs of tourist and historic railroads. 
Contact: Grady Cothen (202) 493-6302.
    Task 97-1--Developing crashworthiness specifications to promote the 
integrity of the locomotive cab in accidents resulting from collisions. 
This Task was accepted on June 24, 1997. On April 14, 2004, RSAC 
reached consensus on the NPRM. FRA is finalizing the accompanying 
regulatory analysis so it can be forwarded for review and clearance 
within the Executive Branch. The NPRM is a new standard to increase the 
crashworthiness of conventional wide- and narrow-nose locomotives and 
codifies requirements for monocoque locomotives. Contact: Charles 
Bielitz (202) 493-6314.
    Task 97-2--Evaluating the extent to which environmental, sanitary, 
and other working conditions in locomotive cabs affect the crew's 
health and the safe operation of locomotives, proposing standards where 
appropriate. This Task was accepted June 24, 1997.
    (Sanitation) (Completed)
    (Noise exposure) The Cab Working Conditions Working Group met most 
recently in Chicago, November 12-14, 2002. A tentative consensus was 
reached on the draft rule text. The Working Group approved the NPRM. On 
June 27, 2003, the full RSAC gave consensus by ballot on NPRM. The NPRM 
is in review at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
    (Cab Temperature) (Completed)

    Note: Additional related topics may be further considered by the 
Working Group in the future, including effect of vibrations and

[[Page 24220]]

crew emergency egress. Contact: Jeffrey Horn (202) 493-6283.


    Task 97-3--Developing event recorder data survivability standards. 
This Task was accepted on June 24, 1997. On November 12, 2003, the RSAC 
gave consensus by ballot on the NPRM. The NPRM is currently in review 
at OMB with a target date for issuance of April 30, 2004. The National 
Transportation Safety Board noted the loss of data from event recorders 
in several accidents due to fire, water and mechanical damage. NTSB 
requested performance standards for data survivability. Contact: Edward 
Pritchard (202) 493-6247.
    Task 97-4 and Task 97-5--Defining Positive Train Control (PTC) 
functionalities, describing available technologies, evaluating costs 
and benefits of potential systems, and considering implementation 
opportunities and challenges, including demonstration and deployment.
    Task 97-6--Revising various regulations to address the safety 
implications of processor-based signal and train control technologies, 
including communications-based operating systems. These three tasks 
were accepted on September 30, 1997, and assigned to a single Working 
Group.
    (Report to the Administrator.) A Data and Implementation Task 
Force, formed to address issues such as assessment of costs and 
benefits and technical readiness, completed a report on the future of 
PTC systems. The report was accepted as RSAC's Report to the 
Administrator at the September 8, 1999, meeting. FRA enclosed the 
report with a letter Report to Congress signed May 17, 2000.
    (Regulatory development.) The Standards Task Force, formed to 
develop PTC standards assisted in developing draft recommendations for 
performance-based standards for processor-based signal and train 
control systems. The NPRM was approved by consensus at the full RSAC 
meeting held on September 14, 2000. The NPRM was published in the 
Federal Register on August 10, 2001. A meeting of the Working Group was 
held December 4-6, 2001, in San Antonio, Texas to formulate 
recommendations for resolution of issues raised in the public comments. 
Agreement was reached on most issues raised in the comments. A meeting 
was held May 14-15, 2002, in Colorado Springs, Colorado at which the 
Working Group approved creation of teams to further explore issues 
related to the ``base case'' issue. Briefing of the full RSAC on the 
``base case'' issue was completed on May 29, 2002, and consultations 
continued within the working group. The full Working Group met October 
22-23, 2002, and again March 4-6, 2003. Resolution of the remaining 
issues was considered by the Working Group at the July 8-9, 2003, 
meeting. The Working Group achieved consensus on recommendations for 
resolution of a portion of the issues in the proceeding. The full 
Committee considered the Working Group recommendations by mail ballots 
scheduled for return on August 14, 2003; however, a majority of the 
members voting did not concur. FRA has proceeded with preparation of a 
final rule, which is currently being reviewed in the Executive Branch. 
(Other program development activities.) Task forces on Human Factors 
and the Axiomatic Safety-Critical Assessment Process (risk assessment) 
continue to work toward development of a risk assessment toolkit, and 
the Working Group continues to meet to monitor the implementation of 
PTC and related projects. Contact: Grady Cothen (202) 493-6302.
    Task 00-1--Determining the need to amend regulations protecting 
persons who work on, under, or between rolling equipment and persons 
applying, removing or inspecting rear end marking devices (Blue Signal 
Protection). The Working Group held its first meeting on October 16-18, 
2000, and six meetings have been held since then. The Working Group 
significantly narrowed the issues, but did not reach full consensus on 
recommendations for regulatory action. The Administrator announced at 
the full RSAC meeting on December 2, 2003, that the task is withdrawn 
and the issue may be pursued at a later date. Contact: Doug Taylor 
(202) 493-6255.
    Task 03-01 Passenger Safety. This Task was accepted May 20, 2003, 
and a Working Group was established. The Working Group held its first 
meeting September 9-10, 2003. At the second meeting held November 6-7, 
2003, four task forces were established: mechanical; crashworthiness/
glazing; emergency preparedness; and Track/Vehicle Interaction. Task 
forces to meet and report on activities for Working Group consideration 
at third meeting scheduled for May 11-12, 2004.

Completed Tasks

    Task 96-1--(Completed) Revising the Freight Power Brake 
Regulations.
    Task 96-2--(Completed) Reviewing and recommending revisions to the 
Track Safety Standards (49 CFR Part 213).
    Task 96-3--(Completed) Reviewing and recommending revisions to the 
Radio Standards and Procedures (49 CFR Part 220).
    Task 96-5--(Completed) Reviewing and recommending revisions to 
Steam Locomotive Inspection Standards (49 CFR Part 230).
    Task 96-6--(Completed) Reviewing and recommending revisions to 
miscellaneous aspects of the regulations addressing Locomotive Engineer 
Certification (49 CFR Part 240).
    Task 96-7--(Completed) Developing Roadway Maintenance Machines (On-
Track Equipment) Safety Standards.
    Task 96-8--(Completed) This Planning Task evaluated the need for 
action responsive to recommendations contained in a report to Congress 
entitled, Locomotive Crashworthiness & Working Conditions.
    Task 97-7--(Completed) Determining damages qualifying an event as a 
reportable train accident.
    Task 01-1--(Completed) Developing conformity of FRA's regulations 
for accident/incident reporting (49 CFR Part 225) to revised 
regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration 
(OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor, and to make appropriate revisions to 
the FRA Guide for Preparing Accident/Incident Reports (Reporting 
Guide).
    Please refer to the notice published in the Federal Register on 
March 11, 1996, (61 FR 9740) for more information about the RSAC.

    Issued in Washington, DC on April 26, 2004.
Grady C. Cothen,
Acting Associate Administrator for Safety.
[FR Doc. 04-9930 Filed 4-30-04; 8:45 am]
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