80 FR 35715 - Audits of Subway Tunnel Environments

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 119 (June 22, 2015)

Page Range		35715-35716
FR Document		2015-15256

On June 17, 2015, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued Safety Advisory 15-1 to advise rail fixed guideway public transportation systems (RFGPTS) with subway tunnel environments of forthcoming audits to be conducted by State Safety Oversight Agencies (SSOAs) with oversight jurisdiction in the assessment of tunnel ventilation systems, emergency procedures for fire and smoke events, training programs to ensure compliance with those emergency procedures, and application of industry best standards in maintenance and emergency procedures. Additionally, FTA instructed all State Safety Oversight Agencies to conduct inspections of the rail transit agencies' tunnel ventilation systems, and to audit the rail transit agencies within their jurisdiction for the purpose of determining the mileage and characteristics of subway tunnels, assessing the adequacy of the rail transit agencies' emergency procedures, ensuring compliance with those emergency procedures, and determining compliance with industry best standards in maintenance and emergency procedure. The FTA issued Safety Advisory 15-1 in response to an urgent safety recommendation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The FTA Safety Advisory 15-1, ``Audit All Rail Fixed Guideway Public Transportation Systems (RFGPTS) with Subway Tunnel Environments,'' is available on the FTA public Web site, http://www.fta.dot.gov/tso.html.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 119 (Monday, June 22, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 119 (Monday, June 22, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35715-35716]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15256]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

[Safety Advisory 15-1]


Audits of Subway Tunnel Environments

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of safety advisory.

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SUMMARY: On June 17, 2015, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 
issued Safety Advisory 15-1 to advise rail fixed guideway public 
transportation systems (RFGPTS) with subway tunnel environments of 
forthcoming audits to be conducted by State Safety Oversight Agencies 
(SSOAs) with oversight jurisdiction in the assessment of tunnel 
ventilation systems, emergency procedures for fire and smoke events, 
training programs to ensure compliance with those emergency procedures, 
and application of industry best standards in maintenance and emergency 
procedures. Additionally, FTA instructed all State Safety Oversight 
Agencies to conduct inspections of the rail transit agencies' tunnel 
ventilation systems, and to audit the rail transit agencies within 
their jurisdiction for the purpose of determining the mileage and 
characteristics of subway tunnels, assessing the adequacy of the rail 
transit agencies' emergency procedures, ensuring compliance with those 
emergency procedures, and determining compliance with industry best 
standards in maintenance and emergency procedure. The FTA issued Safety 
Advisory 15-1 in response to an urgent safety recommendation by the 
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The FTA Safety Advisory 
15-1, ``Audit All Rail Fixed Guideway Public Transportation Systems 
(RFGPTS) with Subway Tunnel Environments,'' is available on the FTA 
public Web site, http://www.fta.dot.gov/tso.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For program matters, Thomas Littleton, 
Associate Administrator for Transit Safety and Oversight, (202) 366-
1738 or [email protected]. For legal matters, Scott Biehl, 
Senior Counsel, (202) 366-0826 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 12, 2015, at 3:15 p.m., Eastern 
Standard Time, a southbound Yellow Line rapid rail train number 302 
operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) 
stopped after encountering heavy smoke in a subway tunnel between the 
L'Enfant Plaza station and the Potomac River Bridge. After stopping, 
the rear car of train 302 was about 386 feet from the south end of the 
L'Enfant Plaza station platform. The operator of train 302 informed 
WMATA's Operation Control Center (OCC) that the train had stopped due 
to heavy smoke. A following Yellow Line train, number 510, stopped 
about 100 feet short of the south end of the same platform, but its 
cars were entirely within the L'Enfant Plaza station. At

[[Page 35716]]

3:16 p.m., WMATA's OCC activated the under-platform fans at the 
L'Enfant Plaza Green and Yellow Line platforms, but because the fans 
were in exhaust mode--not supply mode--the activation of the fans 
pulled smoke toward rather than away from both trains. Moreover, the 
operator of train 302 had not shut off the train ventilation system 
that draws outside air into the train cars. WMATA procedure required 
the train operator to receive permission from the OCC to shut off the 
train ventilation system. Since both the station and vent shaft fans 
were all activated in exhaust mode--not supply mode--there was not a 
supply of fresh air to help move the smoke through the tunnel.
    A post- accident inspection found that two of the four fans had 
tripped an overload circuit breaker and were non-operational.
    Police and emergency responders assisted in the evacuation of both 
trains and the L'Enfant Plaza station. A limited number of passengers 
aboard train 302 were able to self-evacuate. One passenger died and 86 
others were transported to local medical facilities for treatment for 
smoke inhalation. The WMATA incurred an estimated $120,000 in damage to 
assets. During its investigation, the NTSB determined the cause of the 
smoke to have been an electrical arcing incident, and the source of the 
smoke to have been about 1,100 feet ahead (south) of train 302. 
Further, as part of its investigation, the NTSB determined that WMATA 
did not have a written ventilation procedure for smoke and fire events 
in a tunnel, and that the ventilation strategy WMATA deployed during 
this accident was not consistent with best practice.
    On February 11, 2015, the NTSB issued three urgent safety 
recommendations to WMATA, two urgent safety recommendations to the 
American Public Transportation Association, and urgent safety 
recommendation R-15-007 to FTA, calling for audits for all rail transit 
agencies that have subway tunnel environments to assess the state of 
good repair of their tunnel ventilation systems, their written 
emergency procedures for fire and smoke events, and their training 
programs to ensure compliance with those procedures, and to verify that 
the rail transit agencies are applying industry best standards, such as 
the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Code 130, Standards for 
Fixed Guideway Transit and Passenger Rail Systems, in their maintenance 
and emergency procedures. The FTA responded to the NTSB safety 
recommendation by letter of March 13, 2015, stating, in part, that we 
have identified the rail transit agencies with operational subway 
tunnel environments and will engage the State Safety Oversight Agencies 
(SSOAs) that have safety oversight jurisdiction over these rail transit 
agencies, in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 5329 and 5330 and 49 CFR part 
659, for the purpose of addressing R-15-007.
    To that end, on June 17, 2015, the FTA Office of Transit Safety and 
Oversight issued Safety Advisory 15-1, addressed to the RFGPTS that 
have operational subway tunnel environments, and a letter addressed to 
the SSOAs that have safety oversight jurisdiction over these the rail 
transit agencies, with instructions to conduct audits to (1) determine 
the extent of subway tunnel mileage at each such rail transit agency, 
and the characteristics of its operational subway tunnel environments; 
(2) assess each rail transit agency's written emergency procedures for 
fire and smoke events; (3) assess each rail transit agency's training 
programs for ensuring compliance with those emergency procedures; and 
(4) determine each rail transit agency's compliance with industry best 
standards, such as NFPA Code 130, in their maintenance and emergency 
procedures. Additionally, the SSOAs were instructed to complete a 
Tunnel Ventilation System Inspection of each such rail transit agency, 
using the audit tools provided by FTA, and to submit the results of 
their audits with supporting documentation no later than August 31, 
2015. For additional guidance, FTA referred the SSOAs to the joint FTA/
Federal Highway Administration Highway and Rail Transit Tunnel 
Inspection Manual, 2005 Edition, which sets forth established industry 
inspection standards. The FTA will use the data and information from 
these audits by the SSOAs in conducting a broader analysis for 
responding to NTSB recommendation R-15-007, and potentially, for future 
rulemaking and guidance to the rail transit industry. Both the FTA 
Safety Advisory 15-1 and the June 17, 2015 letter addressed to the 
SSOAs are available on the FTA public Web site, http://www.fta.dot.gov/tso.html.
    The FTA's issuance of Safety Advisory 15-1 is in accordance with 
FTA's authority to ``investigate public transportation accidents and 
incidents and provide guidance to recipients regarding prevention of 
accidents and incidents.'' 49 U.S.C. 5329(f) (5). The requests for 
information and data from the SSOAs and the rail transit agencies 
within their jurisdiction are based on FTA's authority to request 
program information pertinent to rail transit safety under the State 
Safety Oversight rule, 49 CFR 659.39(d).
    Readers who have an interest in the January 12, 2015, WMATA 
accident that led to the urgent recommendations by the NTSB and FTA's 
issuance of Safety Advisory 15-1 can obtain further information about 
that accident in two reports issued on June 17, 2015: A Safety 
Management Inspection that FTA conducted of WMATA from March 16 to 
April 3, 2015, and a Safety Management System gap analysis FTA 
performed for WMATA from March 3 to March 5, 2015. Both documents are 
available on the FTA public Web site, http://www.fta.dot.gov/tso.html.

Therese W. McMillan,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015-15256 Filed 6-19-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 119 / Monday, June 22, 2015 / Notices 35715

Title: FRA Emergency Order No. 31, curve at Frankford Junction in curves. Amtrak also had to install
Notice No. 1. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where a additional wayside passenger train
OMB Control Number: 2130–0611. fatal accident occurred on May 12, 2015. speed limit signage at appropriate
Abstract: On May 21, 2015, FRA Amtrak was also required to identify all locations on its Northeast Corridor right-
issued Emergency Order No. 31 (EO or other curves on the Northeast Corridor of-way. FRA is continuing this
Order) to require that the National where there is a significant reduction Emergency Order in full force and
Railroad Passenger Corporation (more than 20 miles per hour (mph)) effect, and is now seeking regular
(Amtrak) take actions to control from the maximum authorized approach clearance for the information collection
passenger train speed at certain speed to those curves for passenger associated with this Emergency Order.
locations on main line track in the trains. Amtrak was then required to Form Number(s): N/A.
Northeast Corridor (as defined by 49 develop and comply with an FRA- Affected Public: Businesses.
U.S.C. 24905(c)(1)(A)). Amtrak was approved action plan to modify its
required to immediately implement existing ATC System or other signal Respondent Universe: 1 Railroad.
code changes to its Automatic Train systems (or take alternative operational Frequency of Submission: On
Control (ATC) System to enforce the actions) to enable enforcement of occasion.
passenger train speed limit ahead of the passenger train speeds at the identified Reporting Burden:

Emergency Order Average time per Total annual
Respondent universe Total annual responses
No. 31—Item: response burden hours

(1) Amtrak survey of Northeast Corridor (NEC) 1 Railroad ..................... 1 list .............................. 32 hours ....................... 32
main line track system to create list identifying
each main track curve where there is a reduc-
tion of more than 20 mph from the maximum
authorized speed to that curve.
(2) Development and submission of Amtrak Ac- 1 Railroad ..................... 1 action plan ................ 80 hours ....................... 80
tion Plan to FRA.
(3) Installation of Additional Wayside Signs 1 Railroad ..................... 186 NEC wayside signs 15.4839 minutes per 48
throughout NEC, particularly along curve loca- sign.
tions, to alert engineers and conductors of
maximum authorized train speed.
—Notice by Amtrak to FRA of Installation of 1 Railroad ..................... 6 notices ....................... 15 minutes ................... 2
Signs along NEC designated in its.
(4) Relief Petition to FRA to take action not in 1 Railroad ..................... 1 petition request ......... 80 hours ....................... 80
Accordance with this Emergency Order.

Total Estimated Annual Responses: Safety Advisory 15–1 to advise rail fixed Public Transportation Systems
195. guideway public transportation systems (RFGPTS) with Subway Tunnel
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 242. (RFGPTS) with subway tunnel Environments,’’ is available on the FTA
Status: Regular Review. environments of forthcoming audits to public Web site, http://www.fta.dot.gov/
Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 be conducted by State Safety Oversight tso.html.
CFR 1320.5(b), 1320.8(b)(3)(vi), FRA Agencies (SSOAs) with oversight FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
informs all interested parties that it may jurisdiction in the assessment of tunnel program matters, Thomas Littleton,
not conduct or sponsor, and a ventilation systems, emergency Associate Administrator for Transit
respondent is not required to respond procedures for fire and smoke events, Safety and Oversight, (202) 366–1738 or
to, a collection of information unless it training programs to ensure compliance Thomas.Littleton@dot.gov. For legal
displays a currently valid OMB control with those emergency procedures, and matters, Scott Biehl, Senior Counsel,
number. application of industry best standards in (202) 366–0826 or Scott.Biehl@dot.gov.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501–3520. maintenance and emergency SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
procedures. Additionally, FTA January 12, 2015, at 3:15 p.m., Eastern
Rebecca Pennington,
instructed all State Safety Oversight Standard Time, a southbound Yellow
Chief Financial Officer. Agencies to conduct inspections of the Line rapid rail train number 302
[FR Doc. 2015–15214 Filed 6–19–15; 8:45 am] rail transit agencies’ tunnel ventilation operated by the Washington
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P systems, and to audit the rail transit Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
agencies within their jurisdiction for the (WMATA) stopped after encountering
purpose of determining the mileage and heavy smoke in a subway tunnel
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION characteristics of subway tunnels, between the L’Enfant Plaza station and
assessing the adequacy of the rail transit the Potomac River Bridge. After
Federal Transit Administration
agencies’ emergency procedures, stopping, the rear car of train 302 was
[Safety Advisory 15–1] ensuring compliance with those about 386 feet from the south end of the
emergency procedures, and determining L’Enfant Plaza station platform. The
Audits of Subway Tunnel compliance with industry best operator of train 302 informed
Environments
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

standards in maintenance and WMATA’s Operation Control Center
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, emergency procedure. The FTA issued (OCC) that the train had stopped due to
DOT. Safety Advisory 15–1 in response to an heavy smoke. A following Yellow Line
ACTION: Notice of safety advisory. urgent safety recommendation by the train, number 510, stopped about 100
National Transportation Safety Board feet short of the south end of the same
SUMMARY: On June 17, 2015, the Federal (NTSB). The FTA Safety Advisory platform, but its cars were entirely
Transit Administration (FTA) issued 15–1, ‘‘Audit All Rail Fixed Guideway within the L’Enfant Plaza station. At

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35716 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 119 / Monday, June 22, 2015 / Notices

3:16 p.m., WMATA’s OCC activated the we have identified the rail transit safety under the State Safety Oversight
under-platform fans at the L’Enfant agencies with operational subway rule, 49 CFR 659.39(d).
Plaza Green and Yellow Line platforms, tunnel environments and will engage Readers who have an interest in the
but because the fans were in exhaust the State Safety Oversight Agencies January 12, 2015, WMATA accident that
mode—not supply mode—the activation (SSOAs) that have safety oversight led to the urgent recommendations by
of the fans pulled smoke toward rather jurisdiction over these rail transit the NTSB and FTA’s issuance of Safety
than away from both trains. Moreover, agencies, in accordance with 49 U.S.C. Advisory 15–1 can obtain further
the operator of train 302 had not shut 5329 and 5330 and 49 CFR part 659, for information about that accident in two
off the train ventilation system that the purpose of addressing R–15–007. reports issued on June 17, 2015: A
draws outside air into the train cars. To that end, on June 17, 2015, the Safety Management Inspection that FTA
WMATA procedure required the train FTA Office of Transit Safety and conducted of WMATA from March 16 to
operator to receive permission from the Oversight issued Safety Advisory 15–1, April 3, 2015, and a Safety Management
OCC to shut off the train ventilation addressed to the RFGPTS that have System gap analysis FTA performed for
system. Since both the station and vent operational subway tunnel WMATA from March 3 to March 5,
shaft fans were all activated in exhaust environments, and a letter addressed to 2015. Both documents are available on
mode—not supply mode—there was not the SSOAs that have safety oversight the FTA public Web site, http://
a supply of fresh air to help move the jurisdiction over these the rail transit www.fta.dot.gov/tso.html.
smoke through the tunnel. agencies, with instructions to conduct
A post- accident inspection found that audits to (1) determine the extent of Therese W. McMillan,
two of the four fans had tripped an subway tunnel mileage at each such rail Acting Administrator.
overload circuit breaker and were non- transit agency, and the characteristics of [FR Doc. 2015–15256 Filed 6–19–15; 8:45 am]
operational. its operational subway tunnel BILLING CODE P
Police and emergency responders environments; (2) assess each rail transit
assisted in the evacuation of both trains agency’s written emergency procedures
and the L’Enfant Plaza station. A limited for fire and smoke events; (3) assess DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
number of passengers aboard train 302 each rail transit agency’s training
were able to self-evacuate. One programs for ensuring compliance with National Highway Traffic Safety
passenger died and 86 others were those emergency procedures; and (4) Administration
transported to local medical facilities for determine each rail transit agency’s
treatment for smoke inhalation. The compliance with industry best [Docket No. NHTSA–2015–0047]
WMATA incurred an estimated standards, such as NFPA Code 130, in
$120,000 in damage to assets. During its their maintenance and emergency Supplemental Notice of Public Hearing
investigation, the NTSB determined the procedures. Additionally, the SSOAs To Determine Whether Fiat Chrysler
cause of the smoke to have been an were instructed to complete a Tunnel Has Reasonably Met Its Obligations To
electrical arcing incident, and the Ventilation System Inspection of each Remedy Recalled Vehicles and To
source of the smoke to have been about such rail transit agency, using the audit Notify NHTSA, Owners, and
1,100 feet ahead (south) of train 302. tools provided by FTA, and to submit Purchasers of Recalls
Further, as part of its investigation, the the results of their audits with
NTSB determined that WMATA did not AGENCY: National Highway Traffic
supporting documentation no later than
have a written ventilation procedure for Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.
August 31, 2015. For additional
smoke and fire events in a tunnel, and guidance, FTA referred the SSOAs to ACTION: Supplemental notice of public
that the ventilation strategy WMATA the joint FTA/Federal Highway hearing.
deployed during this accident was not Administration Highway and Rail
consistent with best practice. SUMMARY: NHTSA will hold a public
Transit Tunnel Inspection Manual, 2005
On February 11, 2015, the NTSB hearing on whether Fiat Chrysler
Edition, which sets forth established
issued three urgent safety Automobiles US LLC (Fiat Chrysler) has
industry inspection standards. The FTA
recommendations to WMATA, two reasonably met its obligations to remedy
will use the data and information from
urgent safety recommendations to the recalled vehicles and to notify NHTSA,
these audits by the SSOAs in
American Public Transportation conducting a broader analysis for owners, and purchasers of recalls. This
Association, and urgent safety responding to NTSB recommendation notice provides supplemental
recommendation R–15–007 to FTA, R–15–007, and potentially, for future information on the subject matter of the
calling for audits for all rail transit rulemaking and guidance to the rail hearing.
agencies that have subway tunnel transit industry. Both the FTA Safety DATES: The public hearing will be held
environments to assess the state of good Advisory 15–1 and the June 17, 2015 beginning at 10 a.m. ET on July 2, 2015,
repair of their tunnel ventilation letter addressed to the SSOAs are at the U.S. Department of
systems, their written emergency available on the FTA public Web site, Transportation, 1200 New Jersey
procedures for fire and smoke events, http://www.fta.dot.gov/tso.html. Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. If
and their training programs to ensure The FTA’s issuance of Safety you wish to attend or speak at the
compliance with those procedures, and Advisory 15–1 is in accordance with hearing, you must register in advance no
to verify that the rail transit agencies are FTA’s authority to ‘‘investigate public later than June 30, 2015 (and June 26,
applying industry best standards, such transportation accidents and incidents 2015, for non-U.S. citizens), by
as the National Fire Protection and provide guidance to recipients following the instructions in the
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Association (NFPA) Code 130, regarding prevention of accidents and Procedural Matters section of this
Standards for Fixed Guideway Transit incidents.’’ 49 U.S.C. 5329(f) (5). The notice. NHTSA will consider late
and Passenger Rail Systems, in their requests for information and data from registrants to the extent time and space
maintenance and emergency the SSOAs and the rail transit agencies allows, but cannot ensure that late
procedures. The FTA responded to the within their jurisdiction are based on registrants will be able to attend or
NTSB safety recommendation by letter FTA’s authority to request program speak at the hearing. To ensure that
of March 13, 2015, stating, in part, that information pertinent to rail transit NHTSA has an opportunity to consider

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Document Created: 2018-02-22 11:13:49
Document Modified: 2018-02-22 11:13:49

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of safety advisory.
Contact		For program matters, Thomas Littleton, Associate Administrator for Transit Safety and Oversight, (202) 366- 1738 or [email protected] For legal matters, Scott Biehl, Senior Counsel, (202) 366-0826 or [email protected]
FR Citation		80 FR 35715

80 FR 35715 - Audits of Subway Tunnel Environments

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONFederal Transit Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 119 (June 22, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration