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<REGINFO_RIN_DATA xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" RUN_DATE="2026-04-03-04:00" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/xml/REGINFO_XML_Ver10262011.xsd">
    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>2130-AC97</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>202404</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>2130</CODE>
            <NAME>Federal Railroad Administration</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>FRA</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <PARENT_AGENCY>
            <CODE>2100</CODE>
            <NAME>Department of Transportation</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>DOT</ACRONYM>
        </PARENT_AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>Federal Railroad Administration&apos;s Procedures for Waivers and Safety-related Proceedings</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[This proposed rule would update FRA's procedures for waivers and safety-related proceedings to define the two components of the standard, in the public interest and consistent with railroad safety. By defining these terms, FRA intends to clarify the criteria the agency will apply when evaluating petitions for regulatory relief. FRA also proposes to require petitions to include evidence of meaningful consultation with stakeholders. Additionally, FRA proposes minor updates to agency rules of practice. This rulemaking is necessary to clarify the standard FRA uses when evaluating petitions for regulatory relief. Additionally, the proposal would facilitate implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requirement, codified in 49 U.S.C. 20103(d)(4), under which FRA reviews waivers or suspensions that have been in continuous effect for a six-year period, and determines whether the waiver or suspension should be terminated, renewed, or incorporated into the regulations. This rule would impart a burden of approximately $62,000 per year, assuming 70 waiver petitions, or $430,000 present value at 7% over 10 years. This estimate assumes an equal number of waiver consultations that take 1 hour and those that take 4 hours, including administrative time of about 25%. Overall, FRA expects this rule will lead to higher-quality waiver applications that meet the positive objectives of DOT's innovation principles. Because this rule would apply to a variety of relief applications, it is difficult to determine the potential benefits from consultation on any particular request for relief.]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Substantive, Nonsignificant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>First Time Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Proposed Rule Stage</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>No</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>49 CFR 211</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>49 U.S.C. 20103</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST/>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>No</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>07/00/2024</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>No</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>Businesses</SMALL_ENTITY>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>Governmental Jurisdictions</SMALL_ENTITY>
        </SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>None</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <FEDERALISM>No</FEDERALISM>
        <ENERGY_AFFECTED>No</ENERGY_AFFECTED>
        <FURTHER_INFO_URL>www.regulations.gov</FURTHER_INFO_URL>
        <PUBLIC_COMMENT_URL>www.regulations.gov</PUBLIC_COMMENT_URL>
        <PRINT_PAPER>No</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>No</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Amanda</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Maizel</LAST_NAME>
                <TITLE>Attorney Adviser</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>2130</CODE>
                    <NAME>Federal Railroad Administration</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>FRA</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>202 308-3753</PHONE>
                <EMAIL>amanda.maizel@dot.gov</EMAIL>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Washington</CITY>
                    <STATE>DC</STATE>
                    <ZIP>20590</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
