[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 29, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53961-53962]
[FR Doc No: 2021-21189]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OA-2008-0701; FRL-8796-01-OA]

Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Focus
Groups as Used by EPA for Economics Projects (Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an
information collection request (ICR), ``Focus Groups as used by EPA for
Economics Projects (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 2205.22, OMB Control No.
2090-0028) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and
approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. Before doing
so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the
proposed information collection as described below. This is a proposed
renewal of the ICR, which is currently approved through March 31, 2022.
An Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently
valid OMB control number.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 29, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OA-
2008-0701, online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by
email to<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or by mail to: EPA Docket Center,
Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460.
    EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the
public docket without change including any personal information
provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information
claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nathalie Simon, Office of Policy, (MC
1809T), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number:<PHONE_NUMBER>; fax number: 202-
566-2363; email address<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents which explain in detail
the information that the EPA will be collecting are available in the
public docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at
www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West,
Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. The telephone
number for the Docket Center is<PHONE_NUMBER>. For additional
information about EPA's public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA is soliciting
comments and information to enable it to: (i) Evaluate whether the
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility; (ii) evaluate the accuracy of
the Agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions
used; (iii) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (iv) minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who are to respond, including
through the use of appropriate automated electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. EPA
will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as appropriate.
The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for review and
approval. At that time, EPA will issue another Federal Register notice
to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to
submit additional comments to OMB.
    Abstract: EPA is seeking renewal of a generic information
collection request (ICR) for the conduct of focus groups and protocol
interviews (hereafter jointly referred to as focus groups) related to
economics projects. Over the next three years, the Agency anticipates
engaging in survey development efforts associated with a variety of
economics projects including those related to valuation of water
quality benefits, health risk reductions, coastal adaptation and
restoration, to name a few. Focus groups are an important part of any
survey development process, allowing researchers to directly gauge what
specific issues are important to the public and providing a means for
explicitly testing draft survey materials. Through these focus groups,
the Agency will be able to gain a more in-depth understanding of the
public's attitudes, beliefs, motivations and feelings regarding
specific issues and will provide valuable information regarding the
quality of draft survey instruments.
    The information collected in the focus groups will be used
primarily to develop and improve economics-related surveys. To the
extent that these surveys are ultimately approved and successfully
administered, they will serve to expand the Agencies understanding of
benefits and costs of a variety of actions and could provide the means
to quantitatively assess the effects of others. Participation in the
focus groups will be voluntary and the identity of the participants
will be kept confidential.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: Individuals.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary.
    Estimated number of respondents: 1,008 (total).
    Frequency of response: Once.
    Total estimated burden: 2,592 hours (per year). Burden is defined
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $0 (per year), includes $0 annualized capital
or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in Estimates: There is no change in the total estimated
respondent

burden compared with the ICR currently approved by OMB.

Albert McGartland,
Office Director, National Center for Environmental Economics, Office of
Policy.
[FR Doc. 2021-21189 Filed 9-28-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


[Federal Register: July 2, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 126)]
[Notices]
[Page 31740-31741]
[DOCID:fr02jy09-62]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. FDA-2008-D-0339]

Guidance for Industry on Updating Labeling for Susceptibility
Test Information in Systemic Antibacterial Drug Products and
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Devices; Availability

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the
availability of a guidance for industry entitled ``Updating Labeling
for Susceptibility Test Information in Systemic Antibacterial Drug
Products and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Devices.'' The Food
and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 (FDAAA) includes a
requirement that FDA identify and periodically update susceptibility
test interpretive criteria for antibacterial drug products and make
those findings publicly available. This guidance describes how FDA will
comply with the FDAAA requirement and procedures for application
holders to update the labeling of antibacterial drug products and
antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) devices.

DATES: Submit written or electronic comments on agency guidances at any
time.

ADDRESSES: Submit written requests for single copies of this guidance
to the Division of Drug Information, Center for Drug Evaluation and
Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg.
51, rm. 2201, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002 or the Division of Small
Manufacturers Assistance (HFZ-220), Center for Devices and Radiological
Health, Food and Drug Administration, 1350 Piccard Dr., Rockville, MD
20850-4307. Send one self-addressed adhesive label to assist that
office in processing your requests. Submit written comments on the
guidance to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug
Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
Submit electronic comments to http://www.regulations.gov. See the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for electronic access to the guidance
document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Regarding antibacterial drug products: Edward Cox, Center for Drug
Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New
Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 22, rm. 6212, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, 301-
796-1300; or
    Regarding AST devices: Freddie Poole, Center for Devices and
Radiological Health (HFZ-440), Food and Drug Administration, 2098
Gaither Rd., Rockville, MD 20850,<PHONE_NUMBER>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    FDA is announcing the availability of a guidance for industry
entitled ``Updating Labeling for Susceptibility Test Information in
Systemic Antibacterial Drug Products and Antimicrobial Susceptibility
Testing Devices.'' Antibacterial susceptibility testing is used to
determine if bacteria that are isolated from a patient with an
infection are likely to be killed or inhibited by a particular
antibacterial drug product at the concentrations of the drug that are
attainable at the site of infection using the dosing regimen(s)
indicated in the drug product's labeling. The results from
antibacterial susceptibility testing generally categorize bacteria as
``susceptible,'' ``intermediate,'' or ``resistant'' to each
antibacterial drug tested. When available, culture and susceptibility
testing results are one of the factors that physicians consider when
selecting an antimicrobial drug product for treating a

patient. The numerical values generated by susceptibility testing to
determine whether a particular microorganism is susceptible to a
particular antimicrobial drug--the antimicrobial susceptibility test
interpretive criteria--are commonly referred to as breakpoints. These
breakpoints are specified in the antimicrobial drug product's label.
The antimicrobial susceptibility test interpretive criteria can be used
to interpret results from either manual or automated AST devices.
    On September 27, 2007, FDAAA (Public Law 110-85) was signed into
law. Section 1111 of FDAAA requires FDA to identify and periodically
update susceptibility test interpretive criteria for antibacterial drug
products and to make those findings publicly available. By enacting
section 1111 of FDAAA, Congress recognized the importance of
maintaining updated susceptibility test interpretive criteria.
    In the Federal Register of June 12, 2008 (73 FR 33438), FDA issued
a draft guidance entitled ``Updating Labeling for Susceptibility Test
Information in Systemic Antibacterial Drug Products and Antimicrobial
Susceptibility Testing Devices.'' The draft guidance described
procedures for FDA, drug application holders, and AST device
manufacturers to ensure that updated susceptibility test information is
available to health care providers. The draft guidance explained that
where appropriate, FDA intends to identify susceptibility test
interpretive criteria, quality control parameters, and susceptibility
test methods by recognizing annually, in a Federal Register notice,
standards developed by one or more nationally or internationally
recognized standard development organizations. The draft guidance
described, for holders of applications for approved antibacterial drug
products, the option of relying on such standards to update their
product labeling. The draft guidance explained that the agency intends
to make the updated information available by publicly posting changes
to the drug product labeling within 30 days following approval of a
supplement that includes a change to the Microbiology subsection of the
product labeling. The draft guidance also described, for manufacturers
of in vitro diagnostic AST devices, the process for updating the
susceptibility test information in their labeling to conform with
updated labeling for a relevant antibacterial drug product.
    FDA has carefully reviewed comments received on the draft guidance
(11 comments were submitted to the public docket). This final version
of the guidance reflects our consideration of these comments, as well
as our experience updating the labeling of susceptibility test
information in systemic antibacterial drug products and AST devices.
Most of the changes to the guidance were made to clarify statements in
the draft guidance. The following changes in the final version of the
guidance are noteworthy:
     The guidance clarifies that FDA is not imposing new
requirements by recommending that drug application holders submit
revised labeling or an explanation of why revisions are not needed
within a specific time period after FDA recognizes a standard that is
different from the information in the Microbiology subsection of the
labeling for the application holder's drug product. (See 21 CFR
201.56(a)(2).)
     The agency revised the recommended time period for
submitting revised labeling by extending the period from 60 days to 90
days.
    Certain requests that the guidance provide greater detail regarding
the procedures for updating in vitro AST devices have not been
addressed in this guidance but will be addressed when FDA updates
``Class II Special Controls Guidance Document: Antimicrobial
Susceptibility Test (AST) Systems; Guidance for Industry and FDA.''
This guidance is being issued consistent with FDA's good guidance
practices regulation (21 CFR 10.115). The guidance represents the
agency's current thinking on this topic. It does not create or confer
any rights for or on any person and does not operate to bind FDA or the
public. An alternative approach may be used if such approach satisfies
the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations.

II. Comments

    Interested persons may submit to the Division of Dockets Management
(see ADDRESSES) written or electronic comments regarding this document.
Submit a single copy of electronic comments or two paper copies of any
mailed comments, except that individuals may submit one paper copy.
Comments are to be identified with the docket number found in brackets
in the heading of this document. Received comments may be seen in the
Division of Dockets Management between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday
through Friday.

III. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    This guidance contains information collection provisions that are
subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). The
collection of information in this guidance was approved under OMB
control number 0910-0638.

IV. Electronic Access

    Persons with access to the Internet may obtain the document at
either http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/
GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/default.htm or http:/
/www.regulations.gov.

    Dated: June 26, 2009.
David Horowitz,
Assitant Commissioner for Policy
[FR Doc. E9-15682 Filed 7-1-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4160-01-S


[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 237 (Friday, December 9, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76961-76962]
[FR Doc No: 2011-31610]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Combined Notice of Filings 1

    Take notice that the Commission received the following electric
rate filings:

    Docket Numbers: ER12-212-000.
    Applicants: Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc.
    Description: Supplemental Attachment of Midwest Independent
Transmission System Operator, Inc. and American Transmission Company,
LLC.
    Filed Date: 11/30/2011.
    Accession Number: 20111130-5353.
    Comment Date: 5 p.m. ET 12/7/11.

    Docket Numbers: ER12-495-000.

    Applicants: Bangor Hydro Electric Company.
    Description: Filing of an Amended Interconnection Agreement to be
effective 11/1/2011.
    Filed Date: 11/30/11.
    Accession Number: 20111130-5236.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 12/21/11.

    Docket Numbers: ER12-496-000.
    Applicants: New England Power Pool Participants Committee, ISO New
England Inc.
    Description: ISO New England Inc. and New England Power Pool,
Filing of Installed Capacity Requirements, Hydro Quebec Interconnection
Capability Credits and Related Values for 2012/2013 and 2013/2014
Annual Reconfiguration Auctions.
    Filed Date: 11/30/11.
    Accession Number: 20111130-5246.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 12/21/11.

    Docket Numbers: ER12-497-000.
    Applicants: Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
    Description: Western WDT November 2011 Biannual Filing to be
effective 2/1/2012.
    Filed Date: 11/30/2011.
    Accession Number: 20111130-5245
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 12/21/11.

    Docket Numbers: ER12-498-000.
    Applicants: Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
    Description: Western IA November 2011 Biannual Filing to be
effective 2/1/2012.
    Filed Date: 11/30/11.
    Accession Number: 20111130-5257.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 12/21/11.

    Docket Numbers: ER12-499-000.
    Applicants: Southwestern Electric Power Company.
    Description: ETEC and NTEC PSA to be effective 12/17/2010.
    Filed Date: 11/30/11.
    Accession Number: 20111130-5280.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 12/21/11.

    Docket Numbers: ER12-500-000.
    Applicants: Southwestern Electric Power Company.
    Description: TexLa ERCOT Restated PSA to be effective 12/17/2010.
    Filed Date: 11/30/11.
    Accession Number: 20111130-5285.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 12/21/11.

    Docket Numbers: ER12-501-000.
    Applicants: New England Power Pool Participants Committee.
    Description: Dec 2011 Membership Filing to be effective 11/1/2011.
    Filed Date: 11/30/11.
    Accession Number: 20111130-5319.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 12/21/11.

    Docket Numbers: ER12-502-000.
    Applicants: California Independent System Operator Corporation
    Description: 2011-11-30 CAISO GIP Phase II Amendment to be
effective 1/31/2012.
    Filed Date: 11/30/11.
    Accession Number: 20111130-5325.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 12/21/11.

    Take notice that the Commission received the following PURPA
210(m)(3) filings:

    Docket Numbers: QM12-2-000.
    Applicants: Public Service Company of New Mexico.
    Description: Application to Terminate PURPA Purchase Obligation for
Qualifying Facility of Public Service Company of New Mexico.
    Filed Date: 11/30/11.
    Accession Number: 20111130-5342.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 12/28/11.

    The filings are accessible in the Commission's eLibrary system by
clicking on the links or querying the docket number.
    Any person desiring to intervene or protest in any of the above
proceedings must file in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the
Commission's Regulations (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214) on or before 5
p.m. Eastern time on the specified comment date. Protests may be
considered, but intervention is necessary to become a party to the
proceeding.
    eFiling is encouraged. More detailed information relating to filing
requirements, interventions, protests, service, and qualifying
facilities filings can be found at: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For other information, call<PHONE_NUMBER>
(toll free). For TTY, call<PHONE_NUMBER>.

    Dated: December 1, 2011.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-31610 Filed 12-8-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


[Federal Register: June 19, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 117)]
[Notices]
[Page 29268-29272]
[DOCID:fr19jn09-143]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2000-7257; Notice No. 54]

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: The FRA is updating its announcement of RSAC's Working Group
activities to reflect its current status.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Woolverton, RSAC Coordinator,
FRA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Mailstop 25, Washington, DC 20590,
(202) 493-6212; or Grady Cothen, Deputy Associate Administrator for
Safety, FRA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Mailstop 25, Washington, DC
20590,<PHONE_NUMBER>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice serves to update FRA's last
announcement of working group activities and status reports of March
17, 2009 (74 FR 11401). The 38th full RSAC Committee meeting was held
April 2, 2009, and the 39th meeting is scheduled for June 25, 2009, at
the Wardman Park Marriott Hotel, 2660 Woodley Road, NW., Washington, DC
20008.
    Since its first meeting in April of 1996, the RSAC has accepted 31
tasks. The status for each of the open tasks (neither completed nor
terminated) is provided below:

Open Tasks

    Task 96-4--Tourist and Historic Railroads. 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 regulation 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,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Task 03-01--Passenger Safety. This task includes updating and
enhancing the regulations pertaining to passenger safety, based on
research and experience. This Task was accepted on May 20, 2003, and a
Working Group was established. Prior to embarking on substantive
discussions of a specific task, the Working Group set forth in writing
a specific description of the task. The Working Group reports planned
activities to the full Committee at each scheduled full RSAC meeting,
including milestones for completion of projects and progress toward
completion. At the first meeting, held September 9-10, 2003, a
consolidated list of issues was completed. At the second meeting, held
November 6-7, 2003, four task groups were established: Emergency
Preparedness; Mechanical; Crashworthiness; and Track/Vehicle
Interaction. The task forces met and reported on activities for Working
Group consideration at the third meeting held May 11-12, 2004, and a
fourth meeting was held October 26-27, 2004. The Working Group met on
March 21-22, 2006, and again on September 12-13, 2006, at which time
the group agreed to establish a task force on General Passenger Safety.
The full Passenger Safety Working Group met on April 17-18, 2007,
December 11-12, 2007, November 13, 2008, and June 8, 2009. Contact:
Charles Bielitz,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Emergency Preparedness Task Force: At the Working Group meeting of
March 9-10, 2005, the Working Group received and approved the consensus
report of the Emergency Preparedness Task Force related to emergency
communication, emergency egress, and rescue access. These
recommendations were presented to and approved by the full RSAC
Committee on May 18, 2005. The Working Group met on September 7-8,
2005, and additional, supplementary recommendations were presented to
and accepted by the full RSAC on October 11, 2005. The Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) was published on August 24, 2006 (71 FR
50275), and was open for comment until October 23, 2006. The Working
Group agreed upon recommendations for the final rule, including
resolution of final comments received, during the April 17-18, 2007,
meeting. The recommendations were presented to and approved by the full
RSAC on June 26, 2007. The Passenger Train Emergency Systems final
rule, focusing on emergency communication, emergency egress, and rescue
access, was published on February 1, 2008 (73 FR 6370). The Task Force
met on October 17-18, 2007, and reached consensus on draft rule text
for a followup NPRM on Passenger Train Emergency Systems, focusing on
low-location emergency exit path marking, emergency lighting, and
emergency signage. The Task Force presented the draft rule text to the
Passenger Safety Working Group on December 11-12, 2007, and the
consensus draft rule text was presented to and approved by full RSAC
vote during the February 20, 2008, meeting. At its most recent meeting,
held May 13-14, 2008, the Task Force recommended clarifying the
applicability of backup emergency communication system requirements in
the February 1, 2008, final rule, and FRA announced its intention to
exercise limited enforcement discretion for a new provision amending
instruction requirements for emergency window exit removal. The Working
Group ratified these recommendations on June 19, 2008. The Task Force
met on March 31, 2009, to clarify issues related to the followup NPRM
raised by members. The rule text was modified to better reflect the
intent of the Task Force and the revised rule text was presented to and
approved by the Passenger Safety Working Group on June 8, 2009. The
Working Group proposed adding language to address an issue left open by
the Task Force related to daily inspection of removable panels/windows
in vestibule doors and is sending this back to the Task Force for
review. The Working Group will finalize the open issue via mail ballot.
No additional Task Force meetings are currently scheduled. Contact:
Brenda Moscoso,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Mechanical Task Force: (Completed.) Initial recommendations on
mechanical issues (revisions to Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR) Part 238) were approved by the full Committee on January 26,
2005. At the Working Group meeting of September 7-8, 2005, the Task
Force presented additional perfecting amendments and the full RSAC
approved them on October 11, 2005. An NPRM was published in the Federal
Register on December 8, 2005 (70 FR 73070). Public comments were due by
February 17, 2006. The final rule was published in the Federal Register
on October 19, 2006 (71 FR 61835), effective December 18, 2006.
    Crashworthiness Task Force: Among its efforts, the Crashworthiness
Task Force provided consensus recommendations on static end strength
that were adopted by the Working Group on September 7-8, 2005. The full
Committee accepted the recommendations on October 11, 2005. The Front-
End Strength of Cab Cars and Multiple-Unit Locomotives NPRM was
published in the Federal Register on August 1, 2007 (72 FR 42016), with
comments due by October 1, 2007. A number of comments were entered into
the docket, and a Crashworthiness Task Force meeting was held September
9, 2008, to resolve comments on the

NPRM. Based on the consensus language agreed to at the meeting, FRA has
prepared the text of the final rule incorporating the resolutions made
at the Task Force meeting and the final rule language was adopted at
the Passenger Safety Working Group meeting held on November 13, 2008.
The language was presented and approved at the December 10, 2008, full
RSAC meeting and the rule will go forward with a target publication
date of June 25, 2009. Contact: Gary Fairbanks,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Vehicle/Track Interaction Task Force: The Task Force is developing
proposed revisions to 49 CFR parts 213 and 238, principally regarding
high-speed passenger service. The Task Force met on October 9-11, 2007,
and again on November 19-20, 2007, in Washington, DC, and presented the
final Task Force Report and final recommendations and proposed rule
text for approval by the Passenger Safety Working Group at the December
11-12, 2007, meeting. The final report and the proposed rule text were
approved by the Working Group and was presented to and approved by full
RSAC vote during the February 20, 2008, meeting. The group last met on
February 27-28, 2008, and FRA is currently crafting an NPRM with a
target publication date of September 2009. The Task Force may be
reconvened to review comments on the NPRM, but no further meetings are
currently scheduled. Contact: John Mardente,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    General Passenger Safety Task Force: At the Working Group meeting
on April 17-18, 2007, the Task Force presented a progress report to the
Working Group. The Task Force met on July 18-19, 2007, and afterwards,
it reported proposed reporting cause codes for injuries involving the
platform gap, which were approved by the Working Group by mail ballot
in September 2007. The full RSAC approved the recommendations for
changes to 49 CFR part 225 accident/incident cause codes on October 25,
2007. The Task Force continues work on passenger train door securement,
``second train in station,'' trespasser incidents, and System Safety-
based solutions by developing a regulatory approach to System Safety.
The System Safety regulation will cover all passenger railroads,
including high-speed rail, and it is expected that the System Safety
regulation will satisfy the risk reduction-mandated requirements for
passenger railroads in the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA)
(Pub. L. 110-432).
    The General Passenger Safety Task Force presented draft guidance
material for management of the gap that was considered and approved by
the Working Group during the December 11-12, 2007, meeting and was
presented and approved by full RSAC vote during the February 20, 2008,
meeting. The group met on April 23-24, 2008, December 3-4, 2008, and
April 21-23, 2009, and continues to work on emergency preparedness,
door securement, and System Safety issues. The door securement team
will meet in July and August 2009 and the System Safety group will hold
``GoTo meetings'' by teleconference in July with the American Public
Transportation Association and commuter railroads. The next full
meeting of the General Passenger Safety Task Force is scheduled for
October 2009. Contact: Dan Knote,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Task 05-01--Review of Roadway Worker Protection Issues. This Task
was accepted on January 26, 2005, to review 49 CFR Part 214, Subpart C,
Roadway Worker Protection (RWP), and related sections of Subpart A. The
RSAC agreed to recommend consideration of specific actions to advance
the on-track safety of railroad employees and contractors engaged in
maintenance-of-way activities throughout the general system of railroad
transportation, including clarification of existing requirements. A
Working Group was established and reported to the RSAC any specific
actions identified as appropriate. The first meeting of the Working
Group was held on April 12-14, 2005. The Working Group was able to come
to consensus on 32 separate items. However, prior to the full RSAC vote
in June 2007, which confirmed working group recommendations on 31 of
those items, two parties raised technical concerns regarding the draft
language concerning electronic display of track authorities. In
addition, there were eight items discussed by the Working Group, which
led to valuable insight but over which the Working Group was unable to
come to consensus. FRA intends to address all the items discussed
through two rulemakings: (1) A relatively compact rulemaking that will
address adjacent track protection and (2) a longer, catchall rulemaking
that will address all consensus items and be broad enough in scope to
raise the nonconsensus items for further discussion and comment. The
decision to issue a separate adjacent track rule was due to an increase
in roadway worker fatalities that occurred on adjacent track.
Consequently, a draft NPRM to address adjacent track protection was
published in the Federal Register on July 17, 2008, but due to concern
that parts of the NPRM failed to accurately capture the consensus
recommendations of the RSAC, the NPRM was withdrawn by FRA on August
13, 2008. FRA will address discrepancies between the consensus language
and the adjacent track protection NPRM to clarify the essential issues,
and intends to publish a second NPRM by August 31, 2009. FRA is also
working on the longer, catchall rulemaking and plans to publish an NPRM
in late 2009. Contact: Christopher Schulte,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Task 05-02--Reduce Human Factor-Caused Train Accident/Incidents.
This Task was accepted on May 18, 2005, to reduce the number of human
factor-caused train accidents/incidents and related employee injuries.
The Railroad Operating Rules Working Group was formed and the Group
extensively reviewed the issues presented. The final Working Group
meeting devoted to developing a proposed rule was held February 8-9,
2006. The Working Group was not able to deliver a consensus regulatory
proposal, but did recommend that it be used to review comments on FRA's
NPRM, which was published in the Federal Register on October 12, 2006
(FR 71 60372), with public comments due by December 11, 2006. Two
reviews were held, one on February 8-9, 2007, the other on April 4-5,
2007. Consensus was reached on four items and those items were
presented and accepted by the full RSAC Committee at the June 26, 2007,
meeting. A final rule was published in the Federal Register on February
13, 2008 (73 FR 8442), with an effective date of April 14, 2008. FRA
received four petitions for reconsideration of that final rule. The
final rule that responded to the petitions for consideration was
published in the Federal Register on June 16, 2008, and concluded the
rulemaking. Working group meetings were held September 27-28, 2007,
January 17-18, 2008, May 21-22, 2008, and September 25-26, 2008. The
Working Group has considered issues related to issuance of Emergency
Order No. 26 (prohibition on use of certain electronic devices while on
duty) and ``after arrival mandatory directives,'' among other issues.
The working group continues to work on after arrival orders and at the
September 25, 2008, meeting voted to create a Highway-Rail Grade
Crossing Task Force to review highway-rail grade crossing accident
reports regarding incidents of crossing warning systems providing
``short or no warning'' resulting from or contributed to ``by train
operational issues'' with the intent to recommend new accident/incident
reporting codes that would better explain such events, and which

may provide information for remedial action going forward. A follow-on
task is to review and provide recommendations regarding supplementary
reporting of train operations-related, no-warning, or short-warning
incidents that are not technically warning system activation failures
but which result in an accident/incident or a near miss. The Task Force
has been formed and is scheduled to meet in the late 2009 timeframe.
Contact: Douglas Taylor,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Task 06-01--Locomotive Safety Standards. This task was accepted on
February 22, 2006, to review 49 CFR Part 229, Railroad Locomotive
Safety Standards, and revise as appropriate. A Working Group was
established with the mandate to report any planned activity to the full
Committee at each scheduled full RSAC meeting, to include milestones
for completion of projects and to progress toward completion. The first
Working Group meeting was held May 8-10, 2006. Working Group meetings
were held on August 8-9, 2006, September 25-26, 2006, October 30-31,
2006, and the Working Group presented recommendations regarding
revisions to requirements for locomotive sanders to the full RSAC on
September 21, 2006. The NPRM regarding sanders was published in the
Federal Register on March 6, 2007 (72 FR 9904). Comments received were
discussed by the Working Group for clarification, and FRA published a
Final Rule on October 19, 2007 (72 FR 59216). The Working Group is
continuing the review of Part 229 with work in the areas of locomotive
cab temperature standards, alerters, remote control locomotives, and
critical locomotive electronics, with a view to proposing further
revisions to update the Standards. The Working Group met on January 9-
10, 2007, November 27-28, 2007, February 5-6, 2008, May 20-21, 2008,
August 5-6, 2008, October 22-23, 2008, January 6-7, 2009, and April 15-
16, 2009. The group has completed the review of Part 229 and was unable
to reach consensus regarding locomotive cab temperature standards,
locomotive alerters, and remote control locomotives. The group reached
consensus regarding critical locomotive electronic standards, updated
annual/biennial air brake standards, clarification of the ``air brakes
operate-as-intended requirement, locomotive pilot clearance within hump
classification yards, clarification of the high-voltage warning
requirement, updated headlight lamp requirements, and language to allow
locomotive records to be stored electronically. FRA will brief the full
RSAC and proceed to an NPRM. There are no meetings planned for the
immediate future but the group may be called back into service to
address comments received on the NPRM. Contact: George Scerbo, (202)
493-6249.
    Task 06-02--Track Safety Standards and Continuous Welded Rail
(CWR). Section 9005 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (Pub. L. 109-59), the
2005 Surface Transportation Authorization Act, requires FRA to issue
requirements for inspection of joint bars in CWR to detect cracks that
could affect the integrity of the track structure (49 U.S.C. 20142(e)).
FRA published an interim final rule (IFR) establishing new requirements
for inspections on November 2, 2005 (70 FR 66288). On October 11, 2005,
FRA offered the RSAC a task to review comments on this IFR, but the
conditions could not be established under which the Committee could
have undertaken this with a view toward consensus. Comments on the IFR
were received through December 19, 2005. FRA reviewed the comments. On
February 22, 2006, the RSAC accepted this task to review and revise the
CWR related to provisions of the Track Safety Standards, with
particular emphasis on reduction of derailments and consequent injuries
and damage caused by defective conditions, including joint failures, in
track using CWR. A Working Group was established. The first Working
Group meeting was held April 3-4, 2006, at which time the Working Group
reviewed comments on the IFR. The second Working Group meeting was held
April 26-28, 2006. The Working Group also met May 24-25, 2006, and July
19-20, 2006. The Working Group reported consensus recommendations for
the final rule that were accepted by the full RSAC Committee by mail
ballot on August 11, 2006. The final rule was published in the Federal
Register on October 11, 2006 (71 FR 59677). The Working Group continued
review of 49 CFR Section 213.119, with a view to proposing further
revisions to update the standards. The Working Group met January 30-31,
2007, April 10-11, 2007, June 27-28, 2007, August 15-16, 2007, October
23-24, 2007, and January, 8-9, 2008. The Working Group reported
consensus recommendations for revisions to 49 CFR Section 213.119
regulations to the full RSAC Committee on February 20, 2008, and the
Working Groups recommendations were accepted and incorporated into
FRA's publication of an NPRM on December 1, 2008 (73 FR 73077). The
NPRM proposes specific requirements for the qualification of persons
designated to inspect CWR track, or supervise the installation,
adjustment, or maintenance of CWR track. FRA is also proposing to
clarify the procedures associated with the submission of CWR plans to
FRA by track owners. FRA proposes that these plans focus on inspecting
CWR for pull-apart prone conditions, and focus more specifically on CWR
joint installation and maintenance procedures. FRA is preparing a final
rule with a target publication date of July 2009. See Tasks 07-01 and
08-03, below. Contact: Ken Rusk,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Task 06-0--Medical Standards for Safety-Critical Personnel. This
task was accepted on September 21, 2006, to enhance the safety of
persons in the railroad operating environment and the public by
establishing standards and procedures for determining the medical
fitness for duty of personnel engaged in safety-critical functions. The
Medical Standards Working Group has met 10 times since December 2006;
the last Working Group meeting was held April 22-23, 2008. A Medical
Standards Physicians Task Force was established in May 2007 to provide
medical support for this task and had met four times prior to the last
Working Group meeting held April 22-23, 2008. It was noted by FRA
during the April 2008 Working Group meeting that although general
agreement about the general structure of the medical standards had been
achieved by the Working Group, significant points of departure remained
unresolved among Working Group members despite efforts to achieve
consensus. FRA announced that the agency would take the Working Group's
products through April 2008, including information provided by the
Medical Standards Physicians Task Force, and endeavor to produce a
draft medical standards document by June 30, 2009. The Physicians Task
Force met June 22-23, 2008, and began the process of development of
mandatory medical guidelines, which will be the specific medical
criteria used by railroad Chief Medical Officers and railroad
physicians to assess whether safety-critical employees, who have
specific medical conditions and/or take certain categories of
medications, are medically fit for duty. Since meeting on June 22-23,
2008, the Physicians Task Force has met on September 8-10, 2008,
October 8, 2008, November 12-13, 2008, December 8-10, 2008, January 27-
28, 2009, February 24-25, March 11-12, and March 31-April 1, 2009, to
continue development of the mandatory

medical guidelines. The Physicians Task Force is developing medical
criteria and protocols for safety critical positions for the Working
Group and FRA is drafting the regulation text. The completed draft
medical standards language and the accompanying Mandatory Medical
Guidelines document will be presented to the Working Group, when
complete. There are currently no Medical Standards Working Group
meetings scheduled. Contact: Dr. Bernard Arseneau,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Task 07-01--Track Safety Standards. This task was accepted on
February 22, 2007, to consider specific improvements to the Track
Safety Standards or other responsive actions, supplementing work
already underway on CWR, specifically to review controls applied to
reuse of rail in CWR ``plug rail''; review the issue of cracks
emanating from bond wire attachments; consider improvements in the
Track Safety Standards related to fastening of rail to concrete ties;
and to ensure a common understanding within the regulated community
concerning requirements for internal rail flaw inspections. The tasks
were assigned to the Track Safety Standards Working Group. The Working
Group will report any planned activity to the full Committee at each
scheduled full RSAC meeting, including milestones for completion of
projects and progress toward completion. The first Working Group
meeting was held on June 27-28, 2007 and the group met again on August
15-16, 2007, and October 23-24, 2007. Two Task Forces were created
under the Working Group: Concrete Ties and Rail Integrity Task Forces.
The Concrete Ties Task Force met on November 26-27, 2007, February 13-
14, 2008, April 16-17, 2008, July 9-10, 2008, and September 17-18,
2008. The Concrete Ties Task Force finalized consensus language
regarding concrete crossties (49 CFR Part 213) and presented a
recommendation to the Track Standards Working Group at the November 20,
2008, Working Group meeting. The language was approved by both the
Working Group and the December 10, 2008, RSAC meeting and the Task
Force was dissolved. FRA is preparing a NPRM with a target publication
date of July 2009. Contact: Ken Rusk,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Task 08-03--Track Safety Standards Rail Integrity. This Task was
accepted on September 10, 2008, to consider specific improvements to
the Track Safety Standards or other responsive actions designed to
enhance rail integrity. The Rail Integrity Task Force was created in
October 2007 under Task 07-01 and first met on November 28-29, 2007.
The Task Force met on February 12-13, 2008, April 15-16, 2008, July 8-
9, 2008, September 16-17, 2008, and February 3-4, 2009. Consensus has
been achieved on bond wires and a common understanding on internal rail
flaw inspections has been reached; however, more work remains before a
recommendation for possible regulatory action is made. The next Rail
Integrity Task Force meeting is scheduled for June 16-17, 2009.
Contact: Ken Rusk,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Task No. 08-04--Positive Train Control. This task was accepted on
December 10, 2008, to provide advice regarding development of
implementing regulations for Positive Train Control (PTC) systems and
their deployment under the RSIA. The task included a requirement to
convene an initial meeting not later than January 2009 and to report
recommendations back to the RSAC no later than April 24, 2009. The PTC
Working Group was created in December 2008 by working group member
nominations from Committee member organizations under Task 08-04 and
the kickoff meeting was held on January 26-27, 2009. The group met
again on February 11-13, 2009, February 25-27, 2009, March 17-18, 2009,
and March 31-April 1, 2009. On April 2, 2009, the RSAC approved the
request by the Working Group for agreement to vote on the draft rule
text recommendations from the working group by mail ballot. On May 11,
2009, by majority vote via mail ballot, the RSAC Committee accepted the
recommendations of the PTC Working Group and will forward those
recommendations to the Administrator, with the understanding that there
are other issues for which FRA will be making proposals with respect to
its resolution. The NPRM is currently in coordination with a target
publication date of June 30, 2009. If time permits, the PTC Working
Group will be reconvened to discuss any comments received on the NPRM.
An additional Task Force was formed to assist FRA in developing a model
template for a successful PTC Implementation Plan, which are to be
submitted by April 16, 2010, under the mandates of the RSIA of 2008.
FRA provided a draft template to the Task Force for comment on May 20,
2009, and received an alternative draft on June 10, 2009, for review
and consideration along with a proposed model for risk-based
implementation prioritization. Contact: Grady Cothen,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Task No. 08-05--Railroad Bridge Safety Assurance. This Task was
accepted on December 10, 2008, to develop a draft rule encompassing the
requirements of Section 417 of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008,
Railroad Bridge Safety Assurance. This Section directs the Secretary of
Transportation to promulgate regulations, not later than 12 months
after the October 16, 2008, date of enactment, requiring owners of
track carried on one or more railroad bridges to adopt a bridge safety
management program to reduce the risk of human casualties,
environmental damage, and disruption to the Nation's railroad
transportation system that would result from a catastrophic bridge
failure. The Railroad Bridge Working Group created under Task 08-01 was
directed to reconvene and the kickoff meeting was held January 28-29,
2009. The Working Group also met on February 23-24, 2009, where they
reached agreement on consensus language covering all but two issues
that remain to be resolved pending comments on the NPRM. The working
group presented the draft language to the full Committee at the April
2, 2009, meeting and the Committee approved the consensus
recommendations by vote as the recommendations of the Committee to the
FRA Administrator. The resulting NPRM is currently in coordination,
with a target publication date of September 1, 2009. The Working Group
may be reconvened to address comments received on the NPRM. Contact:
Gordon Davids,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Task No. 08-06--Hours of Service Recordkeeping and Reporting. This
Task was accepted on December 10, 2008, to develop revised
recordkeeping and reporting requirements for hours of service of
railroad employees. The Hours of Service Working Group was formed in
January 2009 by member nominations from Committee member organizations
and the first meeting was held on January 22-23, 2009. The working
group met again on February 4-6, 2009, February 18-20, 2009 and March
23-25, 2009. At the full RSAC meeting held on April 2, 2009, the
working group reported that partial consensus was reached on the draft
rule text and the Committee approved the consensus recommendations by
vote as the recommendations of the Committee to the FRA Administrator
and the final rule was published on May 27, 2009, with an effective
date of July 16, 2009 (74 FR 25330). Contact: Mark McKeon, (202) 493-
6350.
    Task No. 08-07--Conductor Certification. This task was accepted on
December 10, 2008, to develop regulations for certification of railroad
conductors, as required by the RSIA, and to consider any appropriate
related amendments to existing regulations and

report recommendations for proposed or IFR (as determined by FRA in
consultation with the Office of the Secretary of Transportation and the
Office of Management and Budget) by October 16, 2009. The group has
been tasked to review safety data bearing on opportunities for reducing
risk associated with the duties performed by freight and passenger
conductors and to assist FRA in developing regulations responsive to
the legislative mandate and to consider any revisions to 49 CFR part
240 appropriate to conform and update the certification programs for
locomotive engineers and conductors. The Conductor Certification
Working Group has been officially formed through the Committee member
nomination process and the first meeting is scheduled for July 21-23,
2009, with follow-on meetings planned for August 25-27, 2009, and
September 15-17, 2009. Contact: Mark McKeon,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Task No. 09-01--Passenger Hours of Service. This Task was accepted
on April 2, 2009, to provide advice regarding development of
implementing regulations for the hours of service of operating
employees of commuter and intercity passenger railroads under the RSIA.
The group has been tasked to review available data concerning the
effects of fatigue on the performance of subject employees and to
consider the role of fatigue prevention in determining maximum hours of
service. The group has also been tasked to consider the potential for
alternative approaches to hour of service using available tools for
evaluating the impact of various crew schedules, and determine the
effect of alternative approaches on the availability of employees to
support passenger service. The group is charged to report whether
existing hours of service restrictions are effective in preventing
fatigue among subject employees, whether an alternative approach to
hours of service for the subject employees would enhance safety, and
whether alternative restrictions on hours of service could be coupled
with other fatigue countermeasures to promote the fitness of employees
for safety-critical duties. The Passenger Hours of Service Working
Group has been officially formed through the formal Committee member
nomination process and the first meeting is scheduled for June 24,
2009. Contact: Grady Cothen,<PHONE_NUMBER>.

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 97-1--(Completed.) Developing crashworthiness specifications
(49 CFR Part 229) to promote the integrity of the locomotive cab in
accidents resulting from collisions.
    Task 97-2--(Completed.) 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.
    Task 97-3--(Completed.) Developing event recorder data
survivability standards.
    Task 97-4 and Task 97-5--(Completed.) Defining 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--(Completed.) Revising various regulations to address the
safety implications of processor-based signal and train control
technologies, including communications-based operating systems.
    Task 97-7--(Completed.) Determining damages qualifying an event as
a reportable train accident.
    Task 00-1--(Task withdrawn.) 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).
    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, U.S.
Department of Labor, and to make appropriate revisions to the FRA Guide
for Preparing Accident/Incident Reports.
    Task 08-01--(Completed.) Report on the Nation's Railroad Bridges.
Report to the FRA Administrator on the current state of railroad bridge
safety management, update the findings and conclusions of the 1993
Summary Report of the FRA Railroad Bridge Safety Survey, and include
recommendations for further action.
    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 June 15, 2009.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program
Development.
[FR Doc. E9-14390 Filed 6-18-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-06-P