Action
Notice of proposed rulemaking.
Summary
Pursuant to section 215 of the Federal Railroad Safety Authorization Act of 1994, FRA proposes a rule to require minimum Federal safety standards for the preparation, adoption, and implementation of emergency preparedness plans by railroads connected with the operation of passenger trains, including freight railroads hosting the operations of rail passenger service. The proposed rule also requires each affected railroad to instruct its employees on the plan's provisions. Elements of this emergency preparedness plan would include communication, employee training and qualification, joint operations, tunnel safety, liaison with emergency responders, on-board emergency equipment, and passenger safety information. The plan adopted by each affected railroad would be subject to formal review and approval by FRA. This proposal for emergency preparedness regulations, which formalizes a planning requirement and identifies certain mandatory elements, is the second phase in a four-phase process that began in 1994. In the first phase, FRA encouraged railroads to examine their programs to determine what improvements could be made, while in the third phase, FRA will review the railroad plans to determine if all emergency preparedness issues have been adequately addressed within the varying contexts of railroad operations. In the fourth phase, FRA will review the implementation and effectiveness of the proposed standards and related voluntary developments, and will address the need for further rulemaking activity. The proposed rule does not apply to tourist and historic railroad operators. However, after appropriate consultation with the excursion railroad associations to determine appropriate applicability in light of financial, operational, or other factors unique to such operations, emergency preparedness requirements for these operations may be prescribed by FRA that are different from those affecting other types of passenger operations.