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Evolving Regulations
Risk Reduction Program Regulation Status
The Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 requires FRA to develop a regulation requiring certain railroads to develop and implement a Risk Reduction Program (RRP). As a result, FRA published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on December 8, 2010. To receive verbal testimony, FRA conducted public hearings in July 2011 in Chicago, IL and in Washington, DC. After the public hearings, FRA determined it needed the expertise of all stakeholders to develop a meaningful and effective regulation, and therefore proposed that the Rail Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC) help develop the regulation. RSAC accepted the task on December 8, 2011, and commissioned a Risk Reduction Working Group. The working group completed its task in July 2012, and FRA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in February 2015. FRA hopes to publish the final rule in 2016.
A Risk Reduction Program by statute must include a Fatigue Management Plan. An RSAC working group was formed on December 8, 2011 to provide advice regarding development of Fatigue Management Plans. developed several guidance documents, but was unable to reach consensus on recommendations for rule text. FRA hopes to publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in early 2017.