83 FR 28013 - Investigative Hearing

NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 116 (June 15, 2018)

Page Range		28013-28014
FR Document		2018-12846
Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 116 (Friday, June 15, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 116 (Friday, June 15, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28013-28014]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-12846]


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NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD


Investigative Hearing

    Two recent Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corporation) 
accidents have motivated this investigative hearing: First, an Amtrak 
overspeed derailment in a 30 mph curve that occurred in DuPont, 
Washington, and, second, an Amtrak head-on collision with a standing 
freight train in Cayce, South Carolina.
    The first accident occurred on December 18, 2017, at 7:33 a.m., 
Pacific standard time, and involved southbound Amtrak passenger train 
501, consisting of a leading and trailing locomotive, a power car, 10 
passenger railcars, and a luggage car. Train 501 was traveling at 78 
mph when it derailed from a highway overpass near DuPont, Washington. 
The train was on its first regular passenger service trip on a single 
main track (Lakewood subdivision) at milepost (MP) 19.86. The lead 
locomotive, the power car, and two passenger railcars derailed onto 
Interstate 5. Fourteen highway vehicles came into contact with the 
derailed equipment. At the time of the accident, 77 passengers, 5 
Amtrak employees, and a Talgo Incorporated technician were on the 
train.\1\ Of these individuals, 3 passengers were killed and 62 
passengers and crewmembers were injured. Eight individuals in highway 
vehicles were also injured. The damage is estimated to be more than $40 
million. At the time of the accident, the temperature was 
48[emsp14][deg]F, the wind was from the south at 9 mph, and the 
visibility was 10 miles in light rain.
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    \1\ Talgo Incorporated, which was the original manufacturer of 
the passenger railcars, has the service and maintenance contract.
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    The second accident occurred on February 4, 2018, about 2:27 a.m. 
eastern standard time, and involved southbound Amtrak train 91, 
operating on a track warrant. Train 91 was diverted from the main track 
through a hand-thrown switch into a siding and collided head-on with 
stationary CSX Transportation (CSX) local freight train F777 03.\2\ The 
accident occurred on the CSX Columbia subdivision in Cayce, South 
Carolina. The engineer and conductor of the Amtrak train died in the 
collision, and at least 92 passengers and crewmembers on the Amtrak 
train were transported to medical facilities. The engineer of the 
stopped CSX train had exited the lead locomotive before the Amtrak 
train entered the siding, ran to safety, and was not injured. The 
conductor of the CSX lead locomotive saw the Amtrak train approaching 
in the siding and ran to the back of locomotive.
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    \2\ Track warrant is a method of authorizing movements or 
protecting employees or on-track equipment in signaled or 
nonsignaled territory on controlled track within specified signals. 
These movements are under the jurisdiction of the train dispatcher.
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    The investigative hearing will discuss the following issue areas:
     Amtrak Operations on Host Railroads.
     Addressing Safety in Preparation for the Point Defiance 
Bypass.
     Managing Safety on Passenger Railroads.
     International Approach to Passenger Train Operations on 
Shared Use and Safety Management Principles From Other Industries.
    Parties to hearing are the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA); 
Amtrak; CSX; Sound Transit; Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and 
Trainmen; Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen; International Association 
of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers; Washington State 
Utilities and Transportation Commission; and the Washington State 
Department of Transportation.

Order of Proceedings

1. Opening Statement by the Chairman of the Board of Inquiry
2. Introduction of the Board of Inquiry and Technical Panel
3. Introduction of the Parties to the Hearing
4. Introduction of Exhibits by Hearing Officer
5. Overview of the incident and the investigation by Investigator-In-
Charge
6. Calling of Witnesses by Hearing Officer
7. Closing Statement by the Chairman of the Board of Inquiry

    The investigative hearing will be held in the NTSB Board Room and 
Conference Center, located at 429 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC on

[[Page 28014]]

Tuesday, July 10, 2018, and Wednesday, July 11, 2018, beginning at 8:30 
a.m. Media planning to cover the investigative hearing are asked to 
contact the NTSB's chief of media relations, Chris O'Neil at 202-314-
6133 or [email protected].
    The investigative hearing will be transmitted live via the NTSB's 
website at http://www.capitolconnection.net/capcon/ntsb/ntsb.htm. A 
link for webcast will be available shortly before the start of the 
hearing. An archival video of the hearing will be available via the 
website for 30 days after the hearing.
    Individuals requiring reasonable accommodation and/or wheelchair 
access directions should contact Ms. Rochelle McCallister at (202) 314-
6305 or by email at [email protected].
    NTSB Investigative Hearing Officer: Mr. Robert ``Joe'' Gordon_
[email protected].

Candi R. Bing,
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-12846 Filed 6-14-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7533-01-P
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 116 / Friday, June 15, 2018 / Notices 28013

by Telephone: 202–653–4718 Fax: 202– Number of Respondents: 125. diverted from the main track through a
653–4608, or by email at swebb@ Estimated Average Burden per hand-thrown switch into a siding and
imls.gov, or by teletype (TTY/TDD) for Response: 35 hours. collided head-on with stationary CSX
persons with hearing difficulty at 202– Estimated Total Annual Burden: Transportation (CSX) local freight train
653–4614. 4,375 hours. F777 03.2 The accident occurred on the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Total Annualized capital/startup CSX Columbia subdivision in Cayce,
Institute of Museum and Library costs: n/a. South Carolina. The engineer and
Services is the primary source of federal Total Annual costs: $99,356. conductor of the Amtrak train died in
support for the nation’s libraries and Dated: June 12, 2018. the collision, and at least 92 passengers
museums. We advance, support, and Kim Miller, and crewmembers on the Amtrak train
empower America’s museums, libraries, Grants Management Specialist, Office of were transported to medical facilities.
and related organizations through grant Grants Policy and Management. The engineer of the stopped CSX train
making, research, and policy [FR Doc. 2018–12866 Filed 6–14–18; 8:45 am] had exited the lead locomotive before
development. Our vision is a nation BILLING CODE 7036–01–P
the Amtrak train entered the siding, ran
where museums and libraries work to safety, and was not injured. The
together to transform the lives of conductor of the CSX lead locomotive
individuals and communities. To learn NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION saw the Amtrak train approaching in the
more, visit www.imls.gov. SAFETY BOARD siding and ran to the back of
OMB is particularly interested in locomotive.
comments that help the agency to: Investigative Hearing The investigative hearing will discuss
• Evaluate whether the proposed the following issue areas:
collection of information is necessary Two recent Amtrak (National Railroad • Amtrak Operations on Host
for the proper performance of the Passenger Corporation) accidents have Railroads.
functions of the agency, including motivated this investigative hearing: • Addressing Safety in Preparation
whether the information will have First, an Amtrak overspeed derailment for the Point Defiance Bypass.
practical utility; in a 30 mph curve that occurred in • Managing Safety on Passenger
• Evaluate the accuracy of the DuPont, Washington, and, second, an Railroads.
agency’s estimate of the burden of the Amtrak head-on collision with a • International Approach to
proposed collection of information, standing freight train in Cayce, South Passenger Train Operations on Shared
including the validity of the Carolina. Use and Safety Management Principles
methodology and assumptions used; The first accident occurred on From Other Industries.
• Enhance the quality, utility, and December 18, 2017, at 7:33 a.m., Pacific Parties to hearing are the Federal
clarity of the information to be standard time, and involved Railroad Administration (FRA); Amtrak;
collected; and southbound Amtrak passenger train 501, CSX; Sound Transit; Brotherhood of
• Minimize the burden of the consisting of a leading and trailing Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen;
collection of information on those who locomotive, a power car, 10 passenger Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen;
are to respond, including through the railcars, and a luggage car. Train 501 International Association of Sheet
use of appropriate automated, was traveling at 78 mph when it Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation
electronic, mechanical, or other derailed from a highway overpass near Workers; Washington State Utilities and
technological collection techniques or DuPont, Washington. The train was on Transportation Commission; and the
other forms of information technology its first regular passenger service trip on Washington State Department of
(e.g., permitting electronic submission a single main track (Lakewood Transportation.
of responses). subdivision) at milepost (MP) 19.86. Order of Proceedings
Current Actions: The goal of IMLS The lead locomotive, the power car, and
Inspire! Grants for Small Museums two passenger railcars derailed onto 1. Opening Statement by the Chairman
(IGSM) is to support projects that Interstate 5. Fourteen highway vehicles of the Board of Inquiry
strengthen the ability of small museums came into contact with the derailed 2. Introduction of the Board of Inquiry
to serve their community. This new equipment. At the time of the accident, and Technical Panel
initiative will specifically support small 77 passengers, 5 Amtrak employees, and 3. Introduction of the Parties to the
museums by funding relevant activities a Talgo Incorporated technician were on Hearing
that are clearly linked to an individual the train.1 Of these individuals, 3 4. Introduction of Exhibits by Hearing
institution’s organizational priorities passengers were killed and 62 Officer
and broader community needs. IMLS 5. Overview of the incident and the
passengers and crewmembers were
Inspire! Grants for Small Museums is investigation by Investigator-In-
injured. Eight individuals in highway
being offered as a special initiative with Charge
vehicles were also injured. The damage
funding from the Museums for America 6. Calling of Witnesses by Hearing
is estimated to be more than $40
Program. This action is to create the Officer
million. At the time of the accident, the 7. Closing Statement by the Chairman of
forms and instructions for the Notice of temperature was 48 °F, the wind was the Board of Inquiry
Funding Opportunity for the next three from the south at 9 mph, and the
years. The investigative hearing will be held
visibility was 10 miles in light rain.
Agency: Institute of Museum and The second accident occurred on in the NTSB Board Room and
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

Library Services. February 4, 2018, about 2:27 a.m. Conference Center, located at 429
Title: 2019–2021 IMLS Inspire! Grants eastern standard time, and involved L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC on
for Small Museums Notice of Funding southbound Amtrak train 91, operating 2 Track warrant is a method of authorizing
Opportunity. on a track warrant. Train 91 was movements or protecting employees or on-track
OMB Number: 3137–TBD. equipment in signaled or nonsignaled territory on
Frequency: Once per year. 1 Talgo Incorporated, which was the original controlled track within specified signals. These
Affected Public: Museum organization manufacturer of the passenger railcars, has the movements are under the jurisdiction of the train
applicants. service and maintenance contract. dispatcher.

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Document Created: 2018-11-02 12:00:59
Document Modified: 2018-11-02 12:00:59
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
FR Citation		83 FR 28013