Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 119.djvu/1942

 119 STAT. 1924 Procedures. Guidelines.

PUBLIC LAW 109–59—AUG. 10, 2005

(45 U.S.C. 822). The Secretary of Transportation shall ensure adequate procedures and guidelines are in place to permit the filing of complete applications within 30 days of such publication. SEC. 9004. REPORT REGARDING IMPACT ON PUBLIC SAFETY OF TRAIN TRAVEL IN COMMUNITIES WITHOUT GRADE SEPARATION.

(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Transportation shall, in consultation with State and local government officials, conduct a study of the impact of blocked highway-railroad grade crossings on the ability of emergency responders to perform public safety and security duties. (b) REPORT ON THE IMPACT OF BLOCKED HIGHWAY-RAILROAD GRADE CROSSINGS ON EMERGENCY RESPONDERS.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit the results of the study and recommendations for reducing the impact of blocked crossings on emergency response to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. SEC. 9005. WELDED RAIL AND TANK CAR SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS.

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VerDate 14-DEC-2004

13:51 Oct 26, 2006

(a) TRACK STANDARDS.—Section 20142 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ‘‘(e) TRACK STANDARDS.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Within 90 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Federal Railroad Administration shall— ‘‘(A) require each track owner using continuous welded rail track to include procedures (in its procedures filed with the Administration pursuant to section 213.119 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations) to improve the identification of cracks in rail joint bars; ‘‘(B) instruct Administration track inspectors to obtain copies of the most recent continuous welded rail programs of each railroad within the inspectors’ areas of responsibility and require that inspectors use those programs when conducting track inspections; and ‘‘(C) establish a program to review continuous welded rail joint bar inspection data from railroads and Administration track inspectors periodically. ‘‘(2) INSPECTION.—Whenever the Administration determines that it is necessary or appropriate, the Administration may require railroads to increase the frequency of inspection, or improve the methods of inspection, of joint bars in continuous welded rail.’’. (b) TANK CAR STANDARDS.— (1) AMENDMENT.—Subchapter II of chapter 201 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: ‘‘§ 20155. Tank cars ‘‘(a) STANDARDS.—The Federal Railroad Administration shall— ‘‘(1) validate a predictive model to quantify the relevant dynamic forces acting on railroad tank cars under accident conditions within 1 year after the date of enactment of this section; and

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