Comment Info: =================

General Comment:A 75 day time period to review the proposed regulations is insufficient, as is a 30 day extension to this period. I am requesting that the review period be extended to a full 180 days.


[Federal Register: March 5, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 44)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 11812-11814]
[DOCID:fr05mr08-2]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0195; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-008-AD;
Amendment 39-15387; AD 2008-04-15]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Cameron Balloons Ltd. Models AX5-42
(S.1), AX5-42 BOLT, AX6-56 (S.1), AX6-56A, AX6-56Z, AX6-56 BOLT, AX7-65
(S.1), AX7-65Z, AX7-65 BOLT, AX7-77 (S.1.), AX7-77A, AX7-77Z, AX7-77
BOLT, AX8-90 (S.1), AX8-90 (S.2), AX8-105 (S.1), AX8-105 (S.2), AX9-120
(S.1), AX9-120 (S.2), AX9-140 (S.2), AX10-160 (S.1), AX10-160 (S.2),
AX10-180 (S.1), AX10-180 (S.2), AX210 (S.2), AX11-225 (S.2), and AX11-
250 (S.2) Balloons

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the
products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of
another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an
aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

    Defective inlet self-seal valves have been identified.
Detachment of a seal inside the valve could result in partial or
complete blockage of the burner supply.
    On a hopper balloon this failure would result in an uncontrolled
descent. In some circumstances this could result in serious injury.

This AD requires actions that are intended to address the unsafe
condition described in the MCAI.

DATES: This AD becomes effective March 25, 2008.
    On March 25, 2008, the Director of the Federal Register approved
the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this
AD.
    We must receive comments on this AD by April 4, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax:<PHONE_NUMBER>.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Examing the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://
www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation,
any comments received, and other information. The street address for
the Docket Office (telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>) is in the ADDRESSES
section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after
receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Taylor Martin, Aerospace Engineer, 901
Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-
4138; fax:<PHONE_NUMBER>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    The Civil Aviation Authority, which is the aviation authority for
the United Kingdom, has issued AD No: G-2008-0002, dated January 14,
2008 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe
condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

    Defective inlet self-seal valves have been identified.
Detachment of a seal inside the valve could result in partial or
complete blockage of the burner supply.
    On a hopper balloon this failure would result in an uncontrolled
descent. In some circumstances this could result in serious injury.

    The MCAI requires you inspect fuel gas cylinder to identify whether
the cylinder liquid valve is from the affected batch of valves and
replace any self-seal valve found from the affected batch.
    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Cameron Balloons Ltd. has issued Service Bulletin No. SB16, dated
January 8, 2008; and Service Bulletin No. SB17, dated January 8, 2008.
The actions described in this service information are intended to
correct the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, they
have notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and
service information referenced above. We are issuing this AD because we
evaluated all information provided by the State of Design Authority and
determined the unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or
develop on other products of the same type design.
    This design cylinder liquid valve may also be installed on balloon
models of Cameron Balloons USA. The corrective actions in the AD are
specified to Cameron Balloons Ltd. Models, for which the United Kingdom
is the State of Design. We are currently evaluating other valve
installations on Cameron Balloons USA, for which the United States is
the State of Design. We are evaluating these other installations and,
based on the evaluation, may consider additional rulemaking on this
subject.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information

    We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in
general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it
necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the
AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these
changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information
provided in the MCAI and related service information.
    We might have also required different actions in this AD from those
in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are
described in a separate paragraph of the AD. These requirements take
precedence over those copied from the MCAI.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk of the flying public justifies
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because
detachment of a seal inside the valve could result in partial or
complete blockage of the burner supply. This failure could result in an
uncontrolled descent and serious injury. Therefore, we determined that
notice and opportunity for public comment before issuing this AD are
impracticable and that good cause exists for making this amendment
effective in fewer than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2008-0195; Directorate
Identifier 2008-CE-008-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all
comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD of those
comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://
www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this AD.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the
authority of the FAA Administrator. ``Subtitle VII: Aviation
Programs,'' describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's
authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in
``Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We determined that this AD will not have federalism implications
under Executive Order 13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct
effect on the States, on the relationship between the national
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various levels of government.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866;
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
    (3) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this AD and placed in the AD docket.

Lists of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator,
the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2008-04-15 Cameron Balloons Ltd.: Amendment 39-15387; Docket No.
FAA-2008-0195; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-008-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective March
25, 2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all of the balloon models listed below,
certificated in any category, that incorporate Cameron Balloons Ltd.
fuel cylinders fitted with rego-type cylinder liquid valves part
number (P/N) CB-0824-0001 that are date-stamped from 12/05 through
08/06: Models AX5-42 (S.1), AX5-42 BOLT, AX6-56 (S.1), AX6-56A, AX6-
56Z, AX6-56 BOLT, AX7-65 (S.1), AX7-65Z, AX7-65 BOLT, AX7-77 (S.1),
AX7-77A, AX7-77Z, AX7-77 BOLT, AX8-90 (S.1), AX8-90 (S.2), AX8-105
(S.1), AX8-105 (S.2), AX9-120 (S.1), AX9-120 (S.2), AX9-140 (S.2),
AX10-160 (S.1), AX10-160 (S.2), AX10-180 (S.1), AX10-180 (S.2),
AX210 (S.2), AX11-225 (S.2), and AX11-250 (S.2) balloons.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 28: Fuel.

Reason

    (e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI)
states:
    Defective inlet self-seal valves have been identified.
Detachment of a seal inside the valve could result in partial or
complete blockage of the burner supply.
    On a hopper balloon this failure would result in an uncontrolled
descent. In some circumstances this could result in serious injury.
    The MCAI requires you inspect the fuel cylinder to identify
whether the cylinder liquid valve is from the affected batch of
valves and replace any self-seal valve found from the affected
batch.

Actions and Compliance

    (f) Unless already done, do the following actions.
    (1) Before further flight as of March 25, 2008. (the effective
date of this AD), inspect any gas cylinder to identify whether the
cylinder liquid valve is from the affected batch of valves following
Cameron Balloons Ltd. Service Bulletin No. SB16, dated January 8,
2008; and Cameron Balloons Ltd. Service Bulletin No. SB17, dated
January 8, 2008.
    (2) For single cylinder balloons or multi-cylinder hopper
balloons: Before further flight, if you find any cylinder liquid
valve from the affected batch (rego-type cylinder liquid valve P/N
CB-0824-0001 which is date-stamped from 12/05 through 08/06)
installed as a result of the inspection required by paragraph (f)(1)
of this AD, replace the self-seal valve following Cameron Balloons
Ltd. Service Bulletin No. SB16, dated January 8, 2008; and Cameron
Balloons Ltd. Service Bulletin No. SB17, dated January 8, 2008.

FAA AD Differences

    Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information
as follows: No differences.

Other FAA AD Provisions

    (g) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
Standards Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this
AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send
information to ATTN: Taylor Martin, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri
64106; telephone:<PHONE_NUMBER>; fax:<PHONE_NUMBER>. Before using
any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify
your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight
Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO.
    (2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product
is airworthy before it is returned to service.
    (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in
this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has
approved the information collection requirements and has assigned
OMB Control Number 2120-0056.

Special Flight Permit

    (h) We are not issuing any special flight permit for you to
operate any single cylinder or multi-cylinder (used on a hopper
balloon) balloon which has any rego-type cylinder liquid valve P/N
CB-0824-0001 fitted and which is date-stamped from 12/05 through 08/
06.

Related Information

    (i) Refer to MCAI United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority AD
No.: G-2008-0002, dated January 14, 2008; Cameron Balloons Ltd.
Service Bulletin No. SB16, dated January 8, 2008; and Cameron
Balloons Ltd. Service Bulletin No. SB17, dated January 8, 2008, for
related information.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use Cameron Balloons Ltd. Service Bulletin No.
SB16, dated January 8, 2008; and Cameron Balloons Ltd. Service
Bulletin No. SB17, dated January 8, 2008, to do the actions required
by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Cameron Balloons Ltd., St. Johns Street, Bedminster, Bristol; BS3
4NH; telephone: +44 (0)<PHONE_NUMBER>; fax: +44 (0) 177 966168; or
Cameron Balloons, P.O. Box 3672, Ann Arbor, Michigan 46106;
telephone:<PHONE_NUMBER>; fax:<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    (3) You may review copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of
the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri
64106; or at the National Archives and Records Administration
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at
NARA, call<PHONE_NUMBER>, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-
register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 14, 2008.
David R. Showers,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 08-786 Filed 3-4-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-M


[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4346-4347]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01612]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[File No. 500-1]

In the Matter of 99 Cent Stuff, Inc., Bizzingo, Inc., Clicker,
Inc., Incentra Solutions, Inc., Maxray Optical Technology Co. Ltd., and
Peer Review Mediation & Arbitration, Inc., Order of Suspension of
Trading

January 22, 2016.
    It appears to the Securities and Exchange Commission
(``Commission'') that there is a lack of current and accurate
information concerning the securities of 99 Cent Stuff, Inc. (``NNCT
\1\'') (CIK No. 1176435), a dissolved Florida corporation located in
Boca Raton, Florida with a class of securities registered with the
Commission pursuant to Exchange Act Section 12(g) because it is
delinquent in its periodic filings with the Commission, having not
filed any periodic reports since it filed a Form 10-Q for the period
ended June 30, 2006. On February 19, 2015, the Commission's Division of
Corporation Finance (``Corporation Finance'') sent a delinquency letter
to NNCT requesting compliance with its periodic filing requirements but
NNCT did not receive the delinquency letter due to its failure to
maintain a valid address on file with the Commission as required by
Commission rules (Rule 301 of Regulation S-T, 17 CFR 232.301 and
Section 5.4 of EDGAR Filer Manual). As of January 13, 2016, the common
stock of NNCT was quoted on OTC Link operated by OTC Markets Group Inc.
(formerly ``Pink Sheets'') (``OTC Link''), had four market makers, and
was eligible for the ``piggyback'' exception of Exchange Act Rule 15c2-
11(f)(3).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The short form of each issuer's name is also its stock
symbol.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    It appears to the Securities and Exchange Commission
(``Commission'') that there is a lack of current and accurate
information concerning the securities of Bizzingo, Inc. (``BIZZ'') (CIK
No. 1359504), a defaulted Nevada corporation located in San Francisco,
California with a class of securities registered with the Commission
pursuant to Exchange Act Section 12(g) because it is delinquent in its
periodic filings with the Commission, having not filed any periodic
reports since it filed a Form 10-Q for the period ended August 31,
2012. On April 22, 2015, the Commission's Division of Corporation
Finance (``Corporation Finance'') sent a delinquency letter to BIZZ
requesting compliance with its periodic filing requirements but BIZZ
did not receive the delinquency letter due to its failure to maintain a
valid address on file with the Commission as required by Commission
rules (Rule 301 of Regulation S-T, 17 CFR 232.301 and Section 5.4 of
EDGAR Filer Manual). As of January 13, 2016, the common stock of BIZZ
was quoted on OTC Link operated by OTC Markets Group Inc. (formerly
``Pink Sheets'') (``OTC Link''), had six market makers, and was
eligible for the ``piggyback'' exception of Exchange Act Rule 15c2-
11(f)(3).
    It appears to the Commission that there is a lack of current and
accurate information concerning the securities of Clicker, Inc.
(``CLKZ'') (CIK No. 1107998), a revoked Nevada corporation located in
Bay Harbor Islands, Florida with a class of securities registered with
the Commission pursuant to Exchange Act Section 12(g) because it is
delinquent in its periodic filings with the Commission, having not
filed any periodic reports since it filed a Form 10-Q for the period
ended February 28, 2013. On April 22, 2015, Corporation Finance sent a
delinquency letter to CLKZ requesting compliance with its periodic
filing requirements but CLKZ did not receive the delinquency letter due
to its failure to maintain a valid address on file with the Commission
as required by Commission rules (Rule 301 of Regulation S-T, 17 CFR
232.301 and Section 5.4 of EDGAR Filer Manual). As of January 13, 2016,
the common stock of CLKZ was quoted on OTC Link, had five market
makers, and was eligible for the ``piggyback'' exception of Exchange
Act Rule 15c2-11(f)(3).
    It appears to the Commission that there is a lack of current and
accurate information concerning the securities of Incentra Solutions,
Inc. (``ICNSQ'') (CIK

No. 1025707), a permanently revoked Nevada corporation located in
Boulder, Colorado with a class of securities registered with the
Commission pursuant to Exchange Act Section 12(g) because it is
delinquent in its periodic filings with the Commission, having not
filed any periodic reports since it filed a Form 10-Q for the period
ended September 30, 2008.On April 28, 2015, Corporation Finance sent a
delinquency letter to ICNSQ requesting compliance with its periodic
filing requirements but ICNSQ did not receive the delinquency letter
due to its failure to maintain a valid address on file with the
Commission as required by Commission rules (Rule 301 of Regulation S-T,
17 CFR 232.301 and Section 5.4 of EDGAR Filer Manual). As of January
13, 2016, the common stock of ICNSQ was quoted on OTC Link, had six
market makers, and was eligible for the ``piggyback'' exception of
Exchange Act Rule 15c2-11(f)(3).
    It appears to the Commission that there is a lack of current and
accurate information concerning the securities of Maxray Optical
Technology Co. Ltd. (``MXOP'') (CIK No. 1395695), a void Delaware
corporation located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada with a class of
securities registered with the Commission pursuant to Exchange Act
Section 12(g) because it is delinquent in its periodic filings with the
Commission, having not filed any periodic reports since it filed a Form
10-Q for the period ended December 31, 2010. On April 28, 2015,
Corporation Finance sent a delinquency letter to MXOP requesting
compliance with its periodic filing requirements but MXOP did not
receive the delinquency letter due to its failure to maintain a valid
address on file with the Commission as required by Commission rules
(Rule 301 of Regulation S-T, 17 CFR 232.301 and Section 5.4 of EDGAR
Filer Manual). As of January 13, 2016, the common stock of MXOP was
quoted on OTC Link, had four market makers, and was eligible for the
``piggyback'' exception of Exchange Act Rule 15c2-11(f)(3).
    It appears to the Commission that there is a lack of current and
accurate information concerning the securities of Peer Review Mediation
& Arbitration, Inc. (``PRVW'') (CIK No. 1311627), a dissolved Florida
corporation located in Pompano Beach, Florida with a class of
securities registered with the Commission pursuant to Exchange Act
Section 12(g) because it is delinquent in its periodic filings with the
Commission, having not filed any periodic reports since it filed a Form
10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2012. On February 19, 2015,
Corporation Finance sent a delinquency letter to PRVW requesting
compliance with its periodic filing requirements but PRVW did not
receive the delinquency letter due to its failure to maintain a valid
address on file with the Commission as required by Commission rules
(Rule 301 of Regulation S-T, 17 CFR 232.301 and Section 5.4 of EDGAR
Filer Manual). As of January 13, 2016, the common stock of PRVW was
quoted on OTC Link, had five market makers, and was eligible for the
``piggyback'' exception of Exchange Act Rule 15c2-11(f)(3).
    The Commission is of the opinion that the public interest and the
protection of investors require a suspension of trading in the
securities of the above-listed companies. Therefore, it is ordered,
pursuant to Section 12(k) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, that
trading in the securities of the above-listed companies is suspended
for the period from 9:30 a.m. EST on January 22, 2016, through 11:59
p.m. EST on February 4, 2016.

    By the Commission.
Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-01612 Filed 1-22-16; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 78 (Monday, April 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24257-24264]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9625]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2000-7257; Notice No. 69]

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 the RSAC Working Group
activities to reflect its current status.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Woolverton, RSAC Designated
Federal Officer/Administrative Officer, FRA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue
SE., Mailstop 25, Washington, DC 20590,<PHONE_NUMBER>; or Robert
Lauby, Acting Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety/Chief Safety
Officer, 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 November
28, 2011 (76 FR 72997). The 45th full RSAC meeting was held December 8,
2011, and the 46th meeting is scheduled for April 26, 2012, at the
National Association of Home Builders, National Housing Center, located
at 1201 15th Street NW., Washington, DC 20005.
    Since its first meeting in April 1996, the RSAC has accepted 38
tasks. 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: Robert Lauby,<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
activity to the full RSAC at each scheduled full RSAC meeting,
including milestones for completion of projects and progress toward
completion. At the first meeting, held on September 9-10, 2003, a
consolidated list of issues was completed. At the second meeting, held
on 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 on 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. On August 5,
2009, the working group was requested to establish an Engineering Task
Force (ETF) to consider technical criteria and procedures for
qualifying alternative passenger equipment designs as equivalent in
safety to equipment meeting the design standards in the Passenger
Equipment Safety Standards. Consensus Tier III recommendations of the
ETF were developed and were approved at a meeting on October 6-7, 2011,
by the Passenger Safety Working Group, and these recommendations were
approved by the full RSAC Committee by electronic vote on March 2,
2012. These recommendations address safety issues related to high-speed
rail trainsets used in the United States. No additional meetings are
currently scheduled. Contact: Charles Bielitz,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Engineering Task Force. The Passenger Safety Working Group approved
a request from FRA to establish an ETF under the Passenger Safety
Working Group in August 2009. The mission of the task force is to
produce a set of technical evaluation criteria and procedures for
passenger rail equipment built to alternative designs. The technical
evaluation criteria and procedures would provide a means of
establishing whether an alternative design would result in performance
at least equal to the structural design standards set forth in the
Passenger Equipment Safety Standards (Title 49 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) Part 238). The initial focus of this effort will be
on Tier I standards. When completed, the criteria and procedures would
form a technical basis for making determinations concerning equivalent
safety pursuant to 49 CFR 238.201, and provide a technical framework
for presenting evidence to FRA in support of any request for waiver of
the compressive (buff) strength requirement, as set forth in 49 CFR
238.203. See 49 CFR Part 211, Rules of Practice. The criteria and
procedures could be incorporated into Part 238 at a later date after
notice and opportunity for public comment. The ETF was formed and a
kickoff meeting was held on September 23-24, 2009. The group held
follow-on meetings November 3-4, 2009; January 7-8, 2010; and March 9-
10, 2010. A followup GoTo/Webinar meeting was held on July 12, 2010.
The ETF developed a draft ``Criteria and Procedures Report,'' that was
approved by the Passenger Safety

Working Group during the September 16, 2010, meeting and by the RSAC
Committee during the September 23, 2010, meeting. The document has been
placed on the FRA Web site at the following address: http://www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/safety/RSAC_REPORT-%209-16-10.pdf.
    Engineering Task Force II. To build on the success of the ETF in
developing a set of alternative technical criteria and procedures for
evaluating the crashworthiness and occupant protection performance of
passenger rail equipment in service at conventional operating speeds,
FRA requested that the Passenger Safety Working Group re-task the group
to concentrate on developing crashworthiness and occupant protection
safety recommendations for high-speed passenger trains. The Passenger
Safety Working Group accepted the task on July 28, 2010, by electronic
vote. Under the new task, the task force may address any safety
features of the equipment, including but not limited to
crashworthiness, interior occupant protection, glazing, emergency
egress, and fire safety features. Any type of equipment may be
addressed, including conventional locomotives, high-speed power cars,
cab cars, multiple-unit (MU) locomotives, and coach cars. The equipment
addressed may be used in any type of passenger service, from
conventional-speed to high-speed. Recommendations may take the form of
criteria and procedures, revisions to existing regulations, or adoption
of new regulations, including rules of particular applicability. The
work of the re-tasked ETF is intended to assist FRA in developing
appropriate safety standards for the high-speed rail projects planned
in California and Nevada. The ETF II held a kickoff meeting on October
21-22, 2010, to begin work on the new high-speed task, and had follow-
on meetings on January 11-12, 2011, February 14-15, March 30-31, June
16-17, and October 6-7, 2011. Consensus Tier III recommendations of the
ETF were developed and were accepted by vote during the meeting on
October 6-7, 2011. The ETF II has formed two additional Task Groups to
work in the areas of track worthiness and brakes. The Track Worthiness
Task Group is tasked to identify potential safety issues related to
operation of high-speed trainsets on conventional track and to make
recommendations on how best to mitigate any consequences. The Task
Group includes experts and key stakeholders such as international
operators of high-speed equipment, car builders, wheel/rail interaction
dynamics specialists, and other RSAC working group members involved in
vehicle/track interaction. The Brakes Task Group is tasked to review
braking system requirements and international braking system
requirements versus existing U.S. requirements including inspection and
maintenance and identify common features, determine basic parameters,
and consider use of service proven braking systems. The Task Group will
also consider performance-based provisions/requirements with
consideration for operators to develop maintenance, inspection, and
service plans, and make recommendations regarding brakes to the ETF II
as related to Tier III. The next ETF meeting will be scheduled for June
2012. Contact: Robert Lauby,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Emergency Preparedness Task Force. At the working group meeting on
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 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 the 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. During the May 13-14, 2008, meeting, the
task force recommended clarifying the applicability of back-up
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
again on March 31, 2009, to clarify issues related to the followup NPRM
raised by members. The modified rule text was presented to and approved
by the Passenger Safety Working Group on June 8, 2009. The working
group requested that FRA draft the rule text requiring daily inspection
of removable panels or windows in vestibule doors and entrust the
Emergency Preparedness Task Force with reviewing the text. FRA sent the
draft text to the task force for review and comment on August 4, 2009.
The draft rule text was approved by the Passenger Safety Working Group
by mail ballot on December 23, 2009, and the resultant NPRM was
published January 3, 2012 (77 FR 154). No additional task force
meetings are currently scheduled. Contact: Brenda Moscoso, (202) 493-
6282.
    Mechanical Task Force--Completed. Initial recommendations on
mechanical issues (revisions to 49 CFR Part 238) were approved by the
full RSAC on January 26, 2005. At the working group meeting on
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--Completed. 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 RSAC accepted the recommendations on October 11,
2005. The front-end strength of cab cars and MU 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. The final rule
was issued on December 31, 2009, and published on January 8, 2010 (75
FR 1180). 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 were presented to and approved by
full RSAC vote during the February 20, 2008, meeting. The group met on
February 27-28, 2008, and by teleconference on March 18, 2010, to
address unresolved issues, and the NPRM was published on May 10, 2010
(75 FR 25928). The task force was called back into session on August 5-
6, 2010, to review and consider NPRM comments. The final rule will
amend the Track Safety Standards and Passenger Equipment Safety
Standards for high-speed train operations and train operations at high
cant deficiencies to promote the safe interaction of rail vehicles with
the track over which they operate. It will revise both the safety
limits for these operations and the process to qualify them. It
accounts for a range of vehicle types that are currently used and may
likely be used on future high-speed or high cant deficiency rail
operations, and would provide safety assurance for train operations in
all classes of track. It is based on the results of simulation studies
designed to identify track geometry irregularities associated with
unsafe wheel forces and acceleration, thorough reviews of vehicle
qualification and revenue service test data, and consideration of
international practices. The draft final rule was sent to the task
force for final consensus on November 11, 2011, and was approved by
electronic vote on November 21, 2011. The draft final rule was then
approved by electronic vote by the Passenger Safety Working Group on
December 12, 2011, and by the full RSAC Committee by electronic vote on
January 6, 2012. Target publication date of the final rule is June
2012. Contact: John Mardente,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    General Passenger Safety Task Force. At the Passenger Safety
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 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 to and approved by full RSAC vote
during the February 20, 2008, meeting. The group met April 23-24, 2008,
December 3-4, 2008, April 21-23, 2009, October 7-8, 2009, and July 30,
2010, by GoTo/Webinar teleconference. 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 task force has created two
task groups to focus on these issues.
    The Door Safety Task Group has reached consensus on 47 out of 48
safety issues and had five items that have been remanded to the task
force for vote. The issues are addressed in the area of passenger train
door mechanical and operational requirements and presented draft
regulatory language to the Passenger Safety Working Group at the
September 16, 2010, meeting. More work remains to ensure the 49 CFR
Part 238 door rule consensus document and the proposed American Public
Transit Association (APTA) door standard (APTA SS-M-18-10) uses uniform
language. The document was approved by the Passenger Safety Working
Group by electronic vote on March 31, 2011, and approved by the RSAC on
May 20, 2011. This rulemaking would amend the passenger equipment
safety standards to enhance safety standards as they relate to
passenger door securement while a passenger train is in service based
on research and experiences of FRA safety inspectors. Specifically, FRA
would incorporate by reference APTA standard: ``APTA SS-M-18-10
Standard for Powered Exterior Side Door System Design for New Passenger
Cars.'' A draft NPRM is currently under development with a target
publication date of May 2012. No additional Door Task Group meetings
are currently scheduled. Contact: Brian Hontz,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    The System Safety Task Group has produced draft regulatory language
for a System Safety Rule, but work on this rulemaking was delayed until
a study of legal protections for Risk Reduction Program (RRP) and
System Safety Program (SSP) risk analysis data that is required by the
Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA) was completed. The System
Safety rulemaking would improve passenger railroad safety through
structured, proactive processes and procedures developed by passenger
railroad operators. It would require passenger railroads to establish
an SSP that would systematically evaluate and manage risks in order to
reduce the number and rates of railroad accidents, incidents, injuries,
and fatalities. FRA continued to work on a draft NPRM while waiting for
the legal review of protection of hazard analysis information, required
by Section 109 of the RSIA. RCC completed a legal study and posted it
on the FRA Web site and in the docket. The General Passenger Safety
Task Force including the members of the System Safety Task Group met on
February 1-2, 2012, and continued work on finalizing the draft NPRM
language. A draft NPRM is being prepared with a target date of August
2012 for publication. No additional System Safety Task Group meetings
are currently scheduled. 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; 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. Over the course of 2 years, the
group drafted and reached consensus on regulatory language for various
revisions, clarifications, and additions to 32 separate items in 19
sections of the rule. However, two parties raised technical concerns
regarding one of those items, namely, the draft language concerning
electronic display of track authorities. The working group presented
and received approval on all of its consensus recommendations for draft
rule text to the full RSAC at the June 26, 2007, meeting. FRA will
address the electronic display of track authorities issue, along with
eight additional items that the working group was unable to reach
consensus, through the traditional

NPRM process. In early 2008, the external working group members were
solicited to review the consensus rule text for errata review. In order
to address the heightened concerns raised with the current regulations
for adjacent-track, on-track safety, FRA decided to issue, on an
accelerated basis, a separate NPRM that would focus on this element of
the RWP rule alone. An NPRM with an abbreviated comment period
regarding adjacent-track, on-track safety was published on July 17,
2008, but was later withdrawn on August 13, 2008, to permit further
consideration of the RSAC consensus language. A second NPRM concerning
adjacent-controlled-track, on-track safety was published on November
25, 2009, and comments were due to the docket by January 25, 2010.
Comments were reviewed and considered by FRA, and the final rule was
published on November 30, 2011 (76 FR 74586). In response to the final
rule, FRA received two petitions for reconsideration that raise a
number of substantive issues requiring a detailed response. A delay of
the effective date of the final rule and a request for comments was
published on March 8, 2012 (77 FR 13978). This document delays the
effective date of the final rule until July 1, 201,3 and establishes a
60-day comment period in order to permit interested parties an
opportunity to respond to the submitted petitions for reconsideration.
    The remaining larger NPRM relating to the various revisions,
clarifications, and additions to 31 separate items in 19 sections of
the rule, and FRA's recommendations for 9 nonconsensus items is now
planned for early 2012. Contact: Joe Riley,<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 working
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 it 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, and one on
April 4-5, 2007. Consensus was reached on four items and those items
were presented and accepted by the full RSAC 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 25-26, 2008, meeting voted to create a Highway-Rail Grade
Crossing Task Force to review highway-rail grade crossing accident
reports regarding incidents of grade 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 followup 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 that result in an accident/incident or a near miss. The task force
has been formed and will begin work after other RSIA priorities are
met. 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 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 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 working group has now completed the review of 49
CFR Part 229 and was unable to reach consensus regarding locomotive cab
temperatures 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, an update of
``headlight lamp'' requirements, and language to allow locomotive
records to be stored electronically. The working group presented a
draft 49 CFR Part 229 rule text revision covering these items to the
RSAC for consideration at the September 10, 2009, meeting and received
approval. The NPRM was delayed due to competing RSIA priorities and the
need for additional language. The NPRM was published on January 12,
2011 (76 FR 2200), and the final rule is scheduled to be published in
early 2012. This rulemaking would amend the rules pertaining to the
Locomotive Safety Standards. The proposed amendments would update,
consolidate, and clarify existing rules, and adopt existing industry
and engineering best practices. The proposed amendments include:
updating locomotive inspection recordkeeping requirements by permitting
electronic records; consolidating locomotive air brake maintenance into
a single provision; clarifying locomotive headlight requirements to
address new technology; and, establishing locomotive electronics
standards based on existing industry and engineering best practices, as
well as other existing Federal electronics standards. This action is
taken by FRA in an effort to improve its safety regulator program. The
working group may be called back to address comments received on the
final rule after publication. Contact: Steve Clay,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Task 06-03--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. A
working group was established by the full RSAC and reports its
activities and progress toward completion of this task to the full RSAC
during each meeting of the full RSAC. The first working group meeting
was held December 12-13, 2006, and the working group has held follow-on
meetings on February 20-21, 2007; July 24-25, 2007; August 29-30, 2007;
October 31-November 1, 2007; December 4-5, 2007; February 13-14, 2008;
March 26-27, 2008; April 22-23, 2008; December 8-9, 2009; February 16-
17, 2010; March 11-12, 2010; May 24-26, 2010; August 31-September 1,
2010; November 18-19, 2010; and September 27-28, 2011. During the
working group's September 2011 meeting, the working group discussed
stakeholder positions on the draft rule text and draft medical
qualification criteria and protocols, and a preliminary cost-benefit
analysis was presented to the working group by the FRA economist. The
working group tentatively agreed to proceed to revise its draft
recommendations to include a proposed option that the medical
qualification criteria be issued as medical qualification guidelines
rather than standards. The working group established a task force to
draft proposed revisions to working draft documents to be presented to
the working group for review and comment. The next working group
meeting has not currently been scheduled due to other priority RSIA
projects. Contact: Dr. Bernard Arseneau,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Physicians Task Force. A Physicians Task Force was established by
the working group in May 2007, and tasked to draft recommended medical
qualification criteria and protocols for locomotive engineers and
conductors. The Physicians Task Force has had meetings or conference
calls on July 24, 2007; August 20, 2007; October 15, 2007; October 31,
2007; June 23-24, 2008; September 8-10, 2008; October 8, 2008; November
12-13, 2008; December 8-10, 2008; January 27-28, 2009; February 24-25,
2009; March 11-12, 2009; March 31-April 1, 2009; April 15, 2009; April
22, 2009; May 13, 2009; May 20, 2009; June 17, 2009; January 21-22,
2010; March 3, 2010; August 16-17, 2010; and October 25-26, 2010;
December 17, 2010; January 11, 2011; March 3-4, 2011; May 16-17, 2011;
August 18, 2011; August 25, 2011; August 31, 2011. On September 1,
2011, the task force notified working group members that it had made
significant progress in completing its task and requested that the
working group participate in clarifying a limited number of remaining
operational issues relevant to the task that merited review by industry
management, labor, and other stakeholders. No further meetings of the
Physicians Task Force are currently scheduled. Contact: Dr. Bernard
Arseneau,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Critical Incident Task Force. The Medical Standards Working Group
accepted RSAC Task 2009-02, Critical Incident Response, during the
December 8-9, 2010, meeting. The working group has been tasked to
provide advice regarding development of implementing regulations for
critical incident stress plans as required by the RSIA. A Critical
Incident Task Force was established by the working group during the May
24-26, 2010, Medical Standards Working Group meeting. The scheduled
kickoff meeting for the Critical Incident Task Force scheduled for
September 2, 2010, was postponed at the request of industry
participants. In late March 2011, FRA leadership decided to request
that the RSAC be asked to amend the Critical Incident task statement to
remove reference to the Medical Standards Working Group and to allow
the group to assume full working group status to expedite the work. The
Committee approved the revised task statement with a target date for
recommendations to the Committee of December 2011, and the task force
transitioned to the Critical Incident Working Group. (See Critical
Incident Working Group entry.) Contact: Dr. Bernard Arseneau, (202)
493-6002.
    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; February 3-4, 2009; June 16-17, 2009;
October 29-30, 2009; January 20-21, 2010; March 9-11, 2010; and April
20, 2010. Consensus has been achieved on bond wires and a common
understanding on internal rail flaw inspections has been reached. The
task force has reached consensus to recommend to the working group that
the item regarding ``the effect of rail head wear, surface conditions
and other relevant factors on the acquisition and interpretation of
internal rail flaw test results'' be closed. The task force does not
recommend regulatory action concerning head wear. Surface conditions
and their affect on test integrity has been discussed and understood
during dialogue concerning common understanding on internal rail flaw
inspections. The task force believes that new technology has been
developed that improves test performance and will impact the affect of
head wear and surface conditions on interpretation of internal rail
flaw test results. Consensus text was developed on recommended changes
that would approach a performance-based approach to flaw detection
scheduling. However, the group did not reach consensus on what length
of segment of track is practical to use on determining test cycles.
Consensus text has been finalized for recommended changes to 49 CFR
213.113, Defective rails; 213.237, Rail inspection; and 213.241,
Inspection records. The task force has developed a new 49 CFR 213.238,
Qualified operator language, that defines the minimum requirements for
the training of a rail flaw detector car operator. The task force
presented the consensus language to the Track Standards Working Group
during the July 28-30, 2010, meeting and the Track Standards Working
Group presented its consensus recommendations to the RSAC for approval
during the September 23, 2010, Committee meeting. By majority vote, the
RSAC accepted the recommendations of the Track Standards Working Group
and forwarded those recommendations to the Administrator completing
RSAC Task 08-03. The associated NPRM is currently in the final stages
of development with an anticipated spring issue date, and RSAC Task 08-
03 will be complete once the final rule is issued. Contact: Carlo
Patrick,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    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 interim final rule (as determined by FRA in
consultation with the Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST)
and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)) by October 16, 2009. The
Conductor Certification Working Group was officially formed by
nominations from member organizations in April 2009, and the first
meeting was held on July 21-23, 2009. Additional meetings were held on
August 25-27, 2009; September 15-17, 2009; October 20-22, 2009;
November 17-19, 2009; and December 16-18, 2009. Tentative consensus was
reached on the vast majority of the regulatory text. The working group
approved the draft rule

text by electronic ballot and the consensus draft language was approved
by the RSAC on March 18, 2010, by unanimous vote as the recommendation
from the Committee to the FRA Administrator. The resulting NPRM was
published in the Federal Register on November 10, 2010 (75 FR 69166),
the working group was called back to meet and review comments received
on May 12, 2011, and the final rule is currently under development with
a target publication date of November 2012. This rulemaking would
provide rules and guidance for requisite train conductor certification
to ensure that individuals have the knowledge and skills necessary to
perform the duties of a train conductor. This rulemaking may propose
that each railroad adopt and comply with a written program for
certifying and recertifying the qualifications of conductors. After the
final rule is published, the working group will reconvene to make
conforming amendments to the locomotive engineer certification
regulation as appropriate. Contact: Mark McKeon,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Task No. 09-02--Critical Incident Programs. This task was accepted
on September 10, 2009, to provide advice regarding development of
implementing regulations for Critical Incident Stress Plans as required
by the RSIA. The group has been tasked to define what a ``critical
incident'' is that requires a response; review available data,
literature, and standards of practice concerning critical incident
programs to determine appropriate action when a railroad employee is
involved in or directly witnesses a critical incident; review any
evaluation studies available for existing railroad critical incident
programs; describe program elements appropriate for the rail
environment, including those requirements set forth in the RSIA;
provide an example of a suitable plan (template); and assist in the
preparation of an NPRM no later than December 2010. In late March 2011,
FRA leadership requested that the RSAC amend the Critical Incident task
statement to remove reference to the Medical Standards Working Group
and to allow the group to assume full working group status to expedite
the work. The Committee approved the revised task statement with a
target date for recommendations to the Committee of December 2011. The
Critical Incident Working Group kickoff meeting was held on June 24,
2011. The draft report assessing current knowledge of post-traumatic
interventions and to advance evidence-based recommendations for
controlling the risks associated with traumatic exposure in the
railroad setting was completed and distributed to the working group
prior to the September 8-9, 2011, working group meeting. Due to the
aggressive timeline, the working group held its second meeting on
October 11-12, 2011, and held a follow-on meeting December 13, 2011.
The grantee provided a report entitled ``Proposed Key Elements of
Critical Incident Intervention Program for Reducing the Effects of
Potentially Traumatic Exposure on Train Crews to Grade Crossing and
Trespasser Incidents'' to the Critical Incident Working Group on
December 13, 2011. A proposed rule based on the study recommendations
is currently under development with the assistance of the Critical
Incident Working Group. Contact: Ron Hynes,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Task No. 10-01--Minimum Training Standards and Plans. This task was
accepted on March 18, 2010, to establish minimum training standards for
each class and craft of safety-related railroad employee and their
railroad contractor and subcontractor equivalents, as required by the
RSIA. The group has been tasked to assist FRA in developing regulations
responsive to the legislative mandate, while ensuring that generally
accepted principles of adult learning are employed in training and
development and delivery; determine a reasonable method for submission
and FRA review of training plans, which takes human resource
limitations into account; establish reasonable oversight criteria to
ensure training plans are effective, using the operational tests and
inspections requirements of 49 CFR Part 217 as a model. The Training
Standards Working Group was officially formed through the formal
Committee member nomination process in March 2010, and the first
meeting was held on April 13-14, 2010. A followup working group meeting
was held on June 2-3, 2010, and additional followup meetings were held
August 17-18 and September 21-22, 2010. A Task Analysis Task Force was
formed under the working group to develop a task analysis template and
met in Florence, KY, on June 22-23, 2010, with CSX Transportation
hosting the event. The group developed a 21-page task analysis document
for an outbound train yard carman position, which is complete regarding
FRA railroad safety laws, regulations, and orders. The working group
met August 17-18, and October 19-20, 2010, and by GoTo/Webinar on
November 15-16, 2010. The working group reached consensus and the
resulting training standards draft regulatory language was presented to
and approved by the RSAC Committee on December 14, 2010. This
rulemaking will (1) establish minimum training standards for each class
or craft of safety-related employee and equivalent railroad contractor
and subcontractor employee that require railroads, contractors, and
subcontractors to qualify or otherwise document the proficiency of such
employees in each such class and craft regarding their knowledge and
ability to comply with Federal railroad safety laws and regulations and
railroad rules and procedures intended to implement those laws and
regulations, etc.; (2) require submission of railroads', contractors',
and subcontractors' training and qualification programs for FRA
approval; and (3) establish a minimum training curriculum and ongoing
training criteria, testing, and skills evaluation measures for track
and equipment inspectors employed by railroads and railroad contractor
and subcontractors. The resulting NPRM was published February 7, 2012
(77 FR 6411), with comments on the proposed rule due by April 9, 2012.
No additional working group meetings are scheduled at this time.
Contact: Rob Castiglione,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Task No. 10-02--Safety Technology in Dark Territory. This task was
accepted on September 23, 2010, to provide advice regarding development
of standards, guidance, regulations, or orders governing the
development, use, and implementation of rail safety technology in dark
territory, as required by Section 406 of the RSIA. Specifically, to
assist FRA in developing regulations responsive to the legislative
mandate and to report recommendations to the FRA Administrator for
proposed or interim final rule (as determined by FRA in consultation
with the Office of the Secretary of Transportation and the Office of
Management and Budget) by September 30, 2011. This rulemaking would
issue standards or guidance governing development and deployment of
technology to promote safe operation in non-signaled territory in
arrangements not defined in signal inspection law. The delay in
starting this effort was caused by the PTC rulemaking, which required
the same key personnel both in government and industry. With the PTC
effort maturing, resources became available and the Dark Territory
Working Group was formed to assist FRA in developing regulations
responsive to the legislative mandate and to report recommendations to
the FRA Administrator for proposed or interim final rule (as determined
by FRA in consultation with OST and OMB). The working group met on

March 3-4, 2011, May 9-10, 2011, and September 6-7, 2011, and created
four task forces to investigate specific subject areas. A follow-on
meeting was held November 17-18, 2011, and a proposed rule is currently
under development with the assistance of the Dark Territory Working
Group. Contact: Olga Cataldi,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Task No. 11-01--Preventing Railroad Employee Distractions Caused by
Personal Electronic Devices. This task was accepted on May 20, 2011, to
prescribe mitigation strategies, programs, and processes for governing
the use of personal electronic devices that could cause distractions to
railroad employees engaged in safety-critical activities. This working
group will explore additional methods to achieve compliance through
education, peer-to-peer coaching, counseling, and other cooperative,
non-regulatory/punitive methods. The Electronic Device Distraction
Working Group was formed and held its kickoff meeting on October 25-26,
2011, and held follow-on meetings on January 11-12, and March 27, 2012.
Work on this task has progressed well and the working group is on
target to present its recommendations to the Committee during the April
2012 RSAC meeting. Contact: Miriam Kloeppel,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Task No. 11-02--Track Inspection Time Study. This task was accepted
by the Committee electronically on August 16, 2011, to consider
specific improvements to the Track Safety Standards or other responsive
actions related to the Track Inspection Time Study required by Sections
403(a)-(c) of the RSIA and other relevant studies and resources.
Sections 403(a) and (b) of the RSIA required a study of inspection
practices and the amount of time required for inspections under the
Track Safety Standards, and another set of revisions to those
regulations. The report was due by October 16, 2010, on the results of
a specified track inspection time and track safety study. FRA is
expected to make recommendations for rule changes and, under Section
403(c), not later than 2 years after completion of the study, prescribe
regulations based on its results. FRA organized an independent study by
an outside contractor and developed a questionnaire used to get
information from railroad track inspectors throughout the country;
interviews with railroad and union officials were also conducted for
additional perspectives. The Track Inspection Time Study was completed
and signed by the Secretary on May 2, 2011, starting the 2-year
timeline for rulemaking. The task was given to the Track Standards
Working Group and it held a kickoff meeting on October 20, 2011, and
follow-on meetings were held on December 20-21, 2011; and February 7-8,
2012. No further meetings are currently scheduled and the working group
is on schedule to provide recommendations to the Committee no later
than May 2, 2012. Contact: Michael Lestingi,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Task No. 11-03--Fatigue Management Plans. This task was accepted by
the Committee on December 8, 2011, to provide advice regarding
development of implementing regulations for Fatigue Management Plans
and their deployment under the RSIA. The working group was formed and
held its kick-off meeting on March 27, 2012. The working group is
tasked to report recommendations to the Committee no later than
February 2013. Contact: Miriam Kloeppel,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Task No. 11-04--Risk Reduction Program. This task was accepted by
the Committee on December 8, 2011, to develop requirements for certain
railroads to develop a Risk Reduction Program as mandated by the RSIA.
The working group was formed and held its kick-off meeting on January
31-February 1, 2012, and a follow-on meeting is scheduled for April 10-
11, 2012. Contact: Miriam Kloeppel,<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
titled, 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--(Completed-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 (Reporting Guide).
    Task 06-02--(Completed) Track Safety Standards and CWR. Issue
requirements for inspection of joint bars in CWR to detect cracks that
could affect the integrity of the track structure published a final
rule on August 25, 2009, with correcting amendment published on October
21, 2009.
    Task 07-01--(Completed) Track Safety Standards. Consider specific
improvements to the Track Safety Standards or other responsive actions,
supplementing work already underway on continuous welded rail (CWR)
specifically to: Review controls applied to the 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 ensure a common

understanding within the regulated community concerning requirements
for internal rail flaw inspections. The Concrete Crossties NPRM was
published on August 26, 2010 (75 FR 52490), and the final rule was
issued on April 1, 2011 (76 FR 18073), with an effective date of July
1, 2011. FRA received two petitions for reconsideration in response to
the final rule, and as a result published a second final rule on June
15, 2011 (76 FR 34890), delaying the effective date of the final rule
until October 1, 2011.
    Task 08-01--(Completed) Report on the Nation's railroad bridges.
Report to FRA 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.
    Task No. 08-04--(Completed) Positive Train Control. Provide advice
regarding development of implementing regulations for PTC systems and
their deployment under the RSIA. The PTC consensus rule text was
approved by majority RSAC vote by electronic ballot on September 24,
2009, and the final rule was published on January 15, 2010 (75 FR
2598). Final rule amendments were published on September 27, 2010 (75
FR 59108). An NPRM proposing amendments to the PTC Final Rule that
would remove various regulatory requirements that require railroads to
either conduct further analyses or meet certain risk-based criteria in
order to avoid PTC system implementation on track segments that do not
transport poison- or toxic-by-inhalation hazardous materials traffic,
and are not used for intercity or commuter rail passenger
transportation, as of December 31, 2015, was published on August 24,
2011 (76 FR 52918), with comments due by October 24, 2011.
    Task No. 08-05--(Completed) Railroad Bridge Safety Assurance.
Develop a rule encompassing the requirements of Section 417 of the RSIA
(Railroad Bridge Safety Assurance), of RSIA bridge failure. Final rule
published July 15, 2010 (75 FR-41282).
    Task No. 08-06--(Completed) Hours of Service Recordkeeping and
Reporting. Develop revised recordkeeping and reporting requirements for
hours of service of railroad employees. Final rule published May 27,
2009, with an effective date of July 16, 2009. (74 FR 25330).
    Task No. 09-01--(Completed) Passenger Hours of Service. 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 NPRM was published on March 22, 2011 (76
FR 16200), and the final rule was published on August 12, 2011 (76 FR
50360), with an effective date of October 15, 2011.
    Please refer to the notice published in the Federal Register on
March 11, 1996 (61 FR 9740), for more information about the RSAC.

Robert C. Lauby,
Acting Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety/Chief Safety
Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-9625 Filed 4-20-12; 8:45 am]
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