Here's a brief look at what’s happening in the world of FRA Regulations.

FRA Safety Advisory 2009-02 FRA is issuing Safety Advisory 2009-02 to ensure that tank cars with defective or inoperable bottom outlet valves are not loaded with hazardous materials and offered for transportation, or in the event that a bottom outlet valve becomes inoperable en route, adequate unloading procedures are followed to prevent any unintended release of the car's contents. This safety advisory recommends specific loading and unloading procedures for hazardous materials tank cars equipped with bottom outlet valves, as well as the inspection, and as necessary, the repair of these valves.

Part 234-Grade Crossing Signal System Safety Effective November 13, 2009, On September 2, 2009, FRA published a direct final rule in the Federal Register requiring the ten States with the most highway-rail grade crossing collisions, on average, over the past three years, to develop State highway-rail grade crossing action plans. FRA received one adverse comment regarding the direct final rule. Under FRA regulations, FRA must withdraw a direct final rule where an adverse comment is submitted. FRA issued and submitted a notice of withdrawal to the Federal Register; however, due to regulatory production schedules and time constraints, the direct final rule was not withdrawn before its effective date. As a result, FRA is now publishing this removal of the direct final rule provisions, which removes the changes effected by the direct final rule. In turn, the FRA also published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) which contains the amendment that was originally set forth by the direct final rule.