§ 174.310 - Requirements for the operation of high-hazard flammable trains.

§ 174.310 Requirements for the operation of high-hazard flammable trains.

Cross Reference

Link to an amendment published at 84 FR 6952, Feb. 28, 2019.

(a) Applicability. Each rail carrier operating a high-hazard flammable train (as defined in § 171.8 of this subchapter) must comply with each of the following additional safety requirements with respect to each high-hazard flammable train that it operates:

(1) Routing. The additional planning requirements for transportation by rail in accordance with part 172, subpart I of this subchapter; .

(2) Speed restrictions. All trains are limited to a maximum speed of 50 mph. The train is further limited to a maximum speed of 40 mph while that train travels within the limits of high-threat urban areas (HTUAs) as defined in § 1580.3 of this title, unless all tank cars containing a Class 3 flammable liquid meet or exceed the DOT Specification 117 standards, the DOT Specification 117P performance standards, or the DOT Specification 117R retrofit standards provided in part 179, subpart D of this subchapter. h

(3) Braking. Each rail carrier operating a high-hazard flammable train (as defined in § 171.8 of this subchapter) operating at a speed in excess of 30 mph must ensure the train is equipped and operated with either a two-way end-of-train (EOT) device, as defined in 49 CFR 232.5, or a distributed power (DP) system, as defined in 49 CFR 229.5.

(4) New tank cars. After October 1, 2015, tank cars manufactured for use in a HHFT must meet:

(i) DOT Specification 117, or 117P performance standard in part 179, subpart D of this subchapter; or

(ii) An authorized tank specification as specified in part 173, subpart F of this subchapter.

(5) Retrofit reporting. Owners of non-jacketed DOT-111 tank cars in PG I service in an HHFT, who are unable to meet the January 1, 2017, retrofit deadline specified in § 173.243(a)(1) of this subchapter are required to submit a report by March 1, 2017, to Department of Transportation. A group representing owners may submit a consolidated report to the Department of Transportation in lieu of individual reports from each tank car owner. The report must include the following information regarding the retrofitting progress:

(i) The total number of tank cars retrofitted to meet the DOT-117R specification;

(ii) The total number of tank cars built or retrofitted to meet the DOT-117P specification;

(iii) The total number of DOT-111 tank cars (including those built to CPC-1232 industry standard) that have not been modified;

(iv) The total number of tank cars built to meet the DOT-117 specification; and

(v) Entities required to submit a report under this paragraph shall submit subsequent follow-up reports containing the information identified in this paragraph within 60 days of being notified by PHMSA and FRA.

(6) Oil spill response plans. The additional requirements for petroleum oil transported by rail in accordance with part 130 of of this chapter.

(7) High-hazard flammable train (HHFT) information sharing notification for emergency response planning. The additional requirements for notification in § 174.312.

(b) [Reserved]

[80 FR 26748, May 8, 2015, as amended at 83 FR 48401, Sept. 25, 2018; 84 FR 6952, Feb. 28, 2019]