[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 155 (Monday, August 12, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 48931]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19471]



[[Page 48931]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2000-7257; Notice No. 75]


Railroad Safety Advisory Committee; Notice of Emergency Meeting

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

ACTION: Announcement of Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC) 
Emergency Meeting.

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SUMMARY: FRA announces the forty-ninth meeting of the RSAC, a Federal 
Advisory Committee that develops railroad safety recommendations 
through a consensus process. The topic of the RSAC meeting will be the 
July 6, 2013, derailment involving an unattended freight train 
containing hazardous materials that rolled down a descending grade and 
subsequently derailed in Lac-M[eacute]gantic, Quebec, Canada. At this 
time, it is estimated that this accident resulted in 42 fatalities, and 
5 persons are still reported to be missing. Remarks will be given by 
the FRA Administrator, Committee members will be briefed on the 
preliminary findings of the accident, and discussions will involve the 
safety issues related to the July 6 accident.

DATES: The RSAC meeting is scheduled to commence at 9:00 a.m. on 
Thursday, August 29, 2013, and will adjourn by 4:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The RSAC meeting will be held at the National Housing 
Center, 1201 15th Street NW., Washington, DC 20005. The meeting is open 
to the public on a first-come, first-served basis and is accessible to 
individuals with disabilities. Sign and oral interpretation can be made 
available if requested 10 calendar days before the meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Woolverton, RSAC Administrative 
Officer/Coordinator, FRA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Mailstop 25, 
Washington, DC 20590, (202) 493-6212; or Robert Lauby, Deputy Associate 
Administrator for Regulatory and Legislative Operations, FRA, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Mailstop 25, Washington, DC. 20590, (202) 493-6474.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463), FRA is giving notice of a 
meeting of the RSAC. The RSAC was established to provide advice and 
recommendations to FRA on railroad safety matters. The RSAC is composed 
of 54 voting representatives from 32 member organizations, representing 
various rail industry perspectives. In addition, there are non-voting 
advisory representatives from the agencies with railroad safety 
regulatory responsibility in Canada and Mexico, the National 
Transportation Safety Board, and the Federal Transit Administration. 
The diversity of the Committee ensures the requisite range of views and 
expertise necessary to discharge its responsibilities. See the RSAC Web 
site for details on prior RSAC activities and pending tasks: http://rsac.fra.dot.gov/. Please refer to the notice published in the Federal 
Register on March 11, 1996 (61 FR 9740), for additional information 
about the RSAC.
    At the August 29 meeting, FRA intends to address the safety 
requirements that were issued in FRA Emergency Order No. 28 (EO 28) and 
the recommendations made in Safety Advisory 2013-06. FRA also plans to 
discuss the safety implications and potential costs and benefits of the 
requirements contained in Transport Canada's emergency directives, and 
safety-related initiatives, including possible new RSAC tasks to 
implement such initiatives.
    FRA requests that both freight and passenger railroads be prepared 
to discuss Transport Canada's directive requiring that two-person crews 
operate trains carrying hazardous materials on main track. FRA believes 
that initiatives to require a minimum of two crewmembers for over-the-
road trains (including both passenger and freight trains) could enhance 
safety. FRA expects to discuss formulating a task statement about 
appropriate train crew size for an RSAC working group to consider.
    FRA also requests that RSAC representatives be specifically 
prepared to discuss two other requirements contained in EO 28. First, 
FRA intends to discuss the appropriate types and quantities of 
hazardous materials and the circumstances under which trains 
transporting such materials should not be left unattended on main track 
and sidings. EO 28 specifies certain types and quantities of hazardous 
materials that trigger requirements about train attendance and 
securement procedures, but FRA, in conjunction with the Pipeline and 
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, would like to explore these 
issues in more detail. This will include a discussion of the various 
criteria and evaluation processes railroads have used, or intend to 
use, to formulate plans that they may choose to adopt to identify 
locations and circumstances where it is safe and suitable to leave 
trains unattended and secured on main track or sidings outside of yards 
or terminals.

Robert C. Lauby,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Regulatory and Legislative 
Operations.
[FR Doc. 2013-19471 Filed 8-9-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P