80 FR 45500 - Risk Reduction Program; Public Hearing and Reopening of Comment Period

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 146 (July 30, 2015)

On February 27, 2015, FRA published a notice of proposed rulemaking that would require certain railroads to develop a Risk Reduction Program (RRP). FRA is announcing a public hearing to provide interested persons an opportunity to provide oral comments on the proposal. The Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 requires the development and implementation of railroad safety risk reduction programs. Risk reduction is a comprehensive, system-oriented approach to safety that: (1) Determines an operation's level of risk by identifying and analyzing applicable hazards; and (2) involves the development of plans to mitigate that risk. Each RRP is statutorily required to be supported by a risk analysis and a Risk Reduction Program Plan (RRPP), which must include a Technology Implementation Plan and a Fatigue Management Plan. FRA is also reopening the comment period for this proceeding to allow time for interested parties to submit comments after the public hearing.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 146 (Thursday, July 30, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 45500]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18396]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

49 CFR Part 271

[Docket No. FRA-2009-0038]
RIN 2130-AC11


Risk Reduction Program; Public Hearing and Reopening of Comment 
Period

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public hearing and reopening of 
comment period.

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SUMMARY: On February 27, 2015, FRA published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking that would require certain railroads to develop a Risk 
Reduction Program (RRP). FRA is announcing a public hearing to provide 
interested persons an opportunity to provide oral comments on the 
proposal. The Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 requires the 
development and implementation of railroad safety risk reduction 
programs. Risk reduction is a comprehensive, system-oriented approach 
to safety that: (1) Determines an operation's level of risk by 
identifying and analyzing applicable hazards; and (2) involves the 
development of plans to mitigate that risk. Each RRP is statutorily 
required to be supported by a risk analysis and a Risk Reduction 
Program Plan (RRPP), which must include a Technology Implementation 
Plan and a Fatigue Management Plan. FRA is also reopening the comment 
period for this proceeding to allow time for interested parties to 
submit comments after the public hearing.

DATES: A public hearing will be held on August 27, 2015, in Washington, 
DC and will commence at 9 a.m. The comment period for the proposed rule 
published on February 27, 2015 (80 FR 10950) is reopened. Comments must 
be received by September 10, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Public Hearing. The public hearing will be held at the 
Marriott Renaissance Hotel, 999 9th St. NW., Washington, DC 20001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Miriam Kloeppel, Staff Director, Risk 
Reduction Program Division, Office of Safety Analysis, FRA, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 20590; telephone: 202-
493-6224; email: [email protected]; or Elizabeth Gross, Trial 
Attorney, Office of Chief Counsel, FRA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Mail Stop 10, Washington, DC 20590; telephone: 202-493-1342; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested parties are invited to present 
oral statements and to offer information and views at the hearing. The 
hearing will be informal and will be conducted by a representative FRA 
designates under FRA's Rules of Practice (49 CFR 211.25). The hearing 
will be a non-adversarial proceeding. Therefore, there will be no cross 
examination of persons presenting statements or offering evidence. An 
FRA representative will make an opening statement outlining the scope 
of the hearing. After all initial statements are completed, those 
persons wishing to make a brief rebuttal will be given the opportunity 
to do so in the same order in which the initial statements were made. 
FRA will announce additional procedures necessary to conduct of the 
hearing at the hearing. The purpose of this hearing is to receive oral 
comments in response to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that 
requested public comment on a potential risk reduction rulemaking. See 
80 FR 10950, February 27, 2015. FRA will add a transcript of the 
discussions to the public docket in this proceeding.
    Public Participation Procedures. Any persons wishing to make a 
statement at the hearing should notify Miriam Kloeppel, Staff Director, 
Risk Reduction Program Division, by telephone, email, or in writing, at 
least five business days before the date of the hearing and submit 
three copies of the oral statement that he or she intends to make at 
the proceeding. The notification should identify the party the person 
represents, the particular subject(s) the person plans to address, and 
the time requested. The notification should also provide the 
participant's mailing address and other contact information. FRA 
reserves the right to limit participation in the hearing of persons who 
fail to provide such notification. FRA also reserves the right to limit 
the duration of presentations if necessary to afford all persons with 
the opportunity to speak. Ms. Kloeppel's contact information is as 
follows: Staff Director, Risk Reduction Program Division, Office of 
Safety Analysis, FRA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590; 
telephone: 202-493-6224; email: [email protected].
    For information on facilities or services for persons with 
disabilities, or to request special assistance at the hearing, contact 
FRA Program Analyst, Kenton Kilgore; by telephone, email, or in 
writing; at least five business days before the date of the hearing. 
Mr. Kilgore's contact information is as follows: FRA, Office of 
Railroad Safety, Mail Stop 25, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 
DC 20590; (202) 493-6286; [email protected].
    Reopening of Comment Period. A public hearing is scheduled after 
the close of the comment period specifically provided for in the notice 
of proposed rulemaking. To accommodate the public hearing and afford 
interested parties the opportunity to submit comments in response to 
views or information provided at the public hearing, FRA is reopening 
the comment period for the proposed rule published on February 27, 2015 
(80 FR 10950), comments must be received by September 10, 2015.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-18396 Filed 7-29-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P