[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 115 (Wednesday, June 15, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 34890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14835]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

49 CFR Part 213

[Docket No. FRA-2009-0007, Notice No. 3]
RIN 2130-AC01


Track Safety Standards; Concrete Crossties

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

ACTION: Final rule; delay of effective date.

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SUMMARY: This document delays the effectiveness of the final rule, 
which mandates specific requirements for effective concrete crossties, 
for rail fastening systems connected to concrete crossties, and for 
automated inspections of track constructed with concrete crossties. The 
Track Safety Standards were amended via final rule on April 1, 2011, 
and the final rule was scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2011. FRA 
received two petitions for reconsideration in response to the final 
rule that contain substantive issues requiring a detailed response. 
Accordingly, in order to fully respond to the petitions for 
reconsideration, this document delays the effective date of the final 
rule until October 1, 2011.

DATES: The effective date for the final rule published April 1, 2011, 
at 76 FR 18073, effective July 1, 2011, is delayed until October 1, 
2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Rusk, Staff Director, Office 
of Railroad Safety, FRA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 
20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6236); or Veronica Chittim, Trial Attorney, 
Office of Chief Counsel, FRA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, 
DC 20950 (telephone: (202) 493-0273).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 1, 2011, FRA published a final rule 
mandating specific requirements for effective concrete crossties, for 
rail fastening systems connected to concrete crossties, and for 
automated inspections of track constructed with concrete crossties. See 
76 FR 18073. The effective date of this final rule was to be July 1, 
2011. FRA received two petitions for reconsideration in response to the 
final rule that contain substantive issues requiring a detailed 
response from FRA. Accordingly, in order to allow FRA appropriate time 
to consider and fully respond to the petitions for reconsideration, 
this document delays the effective date of the final rule until October 
1, 2011. Therefore, any requirements imposed by the final rule need not 
be complied with until October 1, 2011.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 213

    Penalties, Railroad safety, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

The Final Rule

    In consideration of the foregoing, FRA delays the effective date of 
the final rule until October 1, 2011.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 9, 2011.
Joseph C. Szabo,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2011-14835 Filed 6-10-11; 4:15 pm]
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