Rule2025-12183
Modernizing Dispatcher's Record of Train Movements
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
July 1, 2025
Effective
July 31, 2025
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Abstract
This final rule modernizes requirements related to a dispatcher's record of train movements. Specifically, it will eliminate the reference to the telegraph and the need for rail carriers to record weather conditions at 6-hour intervals, as outdated and redundant, respectively.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 124 (Tuesday, July 1, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 1, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28160-28162]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-12183]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
49 CFR Part 228
[Docket No. FRA-2025-0125]
RIN 2130-AD36
Modernizing Dispatcher's Record of Train Movements
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This final rule modernizes requirements related to a
dispatcher's record of train movements. Specifically, it will eliminate
the reference to the telegraph and the need for rail carriers to record
weather conditions at 6-hour intervals, as outdated and redundant,
respectively.
DATES: This rule is effective July 31, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William T. Smith, Operating Practices
Specialist, FRA, telephone: (682) 305-6709, email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1d4a747171747c70334e707469755d797269337a726b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a0f7c9ccccc9c1cd8ef3cdc9d4c8e0c4cfd48ec7cfd6">[email protected]</span></a>; or Colleen A. Brennan, Deputy Assistant Chief
Counsel, FRA, telephone: (202) 657-3927, email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3a795556565f5f541478485f54545b547a5e554e145d554c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="195a7675757c7c77375b6b7c77777877597d766d377e766f">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Consistent with the deregulatory agenda of President Donald J.
Trump and Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy, which seeks to
unleash America's economic prosperity without compromising
transportation safety, FRA is reviewing its regulatory requirements in
parts 200 through 299 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
and repealing requirements that are outdated and redundant. In this
final rule, FRA is removing the reference in 49 CFR 228.17(a) to the
telegraph, an outdated technology, and the need for rail carriers to
record weather conditions at 6-hour intervals, a redundant requirement,
as weather information is now readily available and easily accessible.
For more information, please review the Section-by-Section Analysis
below for the relevant information related to FRA's repeal of this
regulatory provision.
II. Final Rule
Under the Administrative Procedure Act, an agency may dispense with
notice and comment ``when the agency for good cause finds (and
incorporates the finding and a brief statement of reasons therefor in
the rules issued) that notice and public procedure thereon are
impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.'' 5
U.S.C. 553(b)(B). FRA has determined that issuing a final rule is the
appropriate mechanism here because notice and comment are unnecessary,
as FRA is merely removing a reference to an outdated technology, the
telegraph, and a redundant weather reporting requirement. FRA is not
imposing any new requirements in Sec. 228.17.
III. Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 228.17 Dispatcher's Record of Train Movements
As discussed above, this final rule revises the language of 49 CFR
228.17 to eliminate the reference to the telegraph in introductory
paragraph (a) and the need to record weather conditions at 6-hour
intervals in paragraph (a)(4).
III. Regulatory Impact and Notices
A. Executive Order (E.O.) 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review) and
DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures
FRA has considered the impact of this final rule under E.O. 12866
(58 FR 51735, Oct. 4, 1993), Regulatory Planning and Review, and DOT
Regulatory Policies and Procedures. The Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs within OMB determined that this final rule is not a
significant regulatory action under section 3(f) of
[[Page 28161]]
E.O. 12866. This final rule is considered an E.O. 14192 deregulatory
action.
FRA analyzed the potential costs and benefits of this final rule.
Because this final rule eliminates the need for rail carriers to record
weather conditions at 6-hour intervals, this final rule may reduce
burdens on regulated entities without imposing any additional cost.
This rule also provides clarity by removing outdated references to the
telegraph. Moreover, this rule will provide some qualitative benefits
to regulated entities and the U.S. government, by updating the language
of part 228.
B. E.O. 14192 (Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation)
E.O. 14192 (90 FR 9065, Jan. 31, 2025), Unleashing Prosperity
Through Deregulation, requires that for ``each new [E.O. 14192
regulatory action] issued, at least ten prior regulations be identified
for elimination.'' \1\ Implementation guidance for E.O. 14192 issued by
OMB (Memorandum M-25-20, March 26, 2025) defines two different types of
E.O. 14192 actions: an E.O. 14192 deregulatory action, and an E.O.
14192 regulatory action.\2\
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\1\ Executive Office of the President. Executive Order 14192 of
January 31, 2025. Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation. 90 FR
9065-9067 (Feb. 6, 2025).
\2\ Executive Office of the President. Office of Management and
Budget. Guidance Implementing Section 3 of Executive Order 14192,
Titled ``Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation.'' Memorandum M-
25-20. March 26, 2025.
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An E.O. 14192 deregulatory action is defined as ``an action that
has been finalized and has total costs less than zero.'' This
rulemaking is expected to have total costs less than zero, and
therefore it would be considered an E.O. 14192 deregulatory action upon
issuance of this rule.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act and E.O. 13272
The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 ((RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601 et
seq.) and E.O. 13272 (67 FR 53461, Aug. 16, 2002) requires an agency to
prepare and make available to the public a regulatory flexibility
analysis that describes the effect of the rule on small entities (i.e.,
small businesses, small organizations, and small governmental
jurisdictions). A regulatory flexibility analysis is not required when
a rule is exempt from notice and comment rulemaking. FRA has determined
that this rule is exempt from notice and comment rulemaking. Therefore,
a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required for this rule.
D. Paperwork Reduction Act
The recordkeeping and reporting requirements already contained in
Part 228 were approved by OMB on April 30, 2025. The information
collection requirements thereby became effective when they were
approved by OMB. The OMB approval number is OMB No. 2130-0005, and OMB
approval expires on April 30, 2028. However, this final rule will
decrease the paperwork burden in 49 CFR 228.17 by removing the
recordkeeping requirement of recording the weather conditions at 6-hour
intervals. All other paperwork requirements within Part 228 remain the
same. By removing this recordkeeping requirement, the approved burden
within Sec. 228.17 of 285,000 hours will decrease by 71,250 hours for
a revised estimate of 213,750 hours.
E. Environmental Assessment
FRA has evaluated this final rule in accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). FRA has determined
that this final rule is categorically excluded from environmental
review and therefore does not require the preparation of an
environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
Specifically, FRA has determined that this final rule is categorically
excluded from detailed environmental review.\3\
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\3\ See 23 CFR 771.116(c)(15) (categorically excluding
``[p]romulgation of rules, the issuance of policy statements, the
waiver or modification of existing regulatory requirements, or
discretionary approvals that do not result in significantly
increased emissions of air or water pollutants or noise'').
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F. Federalism Implications
This final rule will not have a substantial effect on the States,
on the relationship between the national government and the States, or
on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various
levels of government. Thus, in accordance with E.O. 13132,
``Federalism'' (64 FR 43255, Aug. 10, 1999), preparation of a
Federalism Assessment is not warranted.
G. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
This final rule will not result in the expenditure, in the
aggregate, of $100,000,000 or more, adjusted for inflation, in any one
year by State, local, or Indian Tribal governments, or the private
sector. Thus, consistent with section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4, 2 U.S.C. 1532), FRA is not required
to prepare a written statement detailing the effect of such an
expenditure.
H. Energy Impact
E.O. 13211 requires Federal agencies to prepare a Statement of
Energy Effects for any ``significant energy action.'' \4\ FRA has
evaluated this final rule in accordance with E.O. 13211 and determined
that this final rule is not a ``significant energy action'' within the
meaning of E.O. 13211.
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\4\ 66 FR 28355 (May 22, 2001).
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I. E.O. 13175 (Tribal Consultation)
FRA has evaluated this final rule in accordance with the principles
and criteria contained in E.O. 13175, Consultation and Coordination
with Indian Tribal Governments, dated November 6, 2000. The final rule
will not have a substantial direct effect on one or more Indian tribes,
will not impose substantial direct compliance costs on Indian tribal
governments, and will not preempt tribal laws. Therefore, the funding
and consultation requirements of E.O. 13175 do not apply, and a tribal
summary impact statement is not required.
J. International Trade Impact Assessment
The Trade Agreement Act of 1979 prohibits Federal agencies from
engaging in any standards or related activities that create unnecessary
obstacles to the foreign commerce of the United States. Legitimate
domestic objectives, such as safety, are not considered unnecessary
obstacles. The statute also requires consideration of international
standards and, where appropriate, that they be the basis for U.S.
standards. This rulemaking is purely domestic in nature and is not
expected to affect trade opportunities for U.S. firms doing business
overseas or for foreign firms doing business in the United States.
List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 228
Administrative practice and procedure, Hours of service
recordkeeping, Railroad safety.
The Final Rule
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, FRA amends 228 of
chapter II, subtitle B of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations as
follows:
0
1. The authority citation for part 228 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 103, 20103, 20107, 21101-21109; 49 U.S.C.
21301, 21303, 21304, 21311; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; and 49 CFR 1.89.
[[Page 28162]]
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2. Amend Sec. 228.17 by revising and republishing paragraph (a) to
read as follows:
Sec. 228.17 Dispatcher's record of train movements.
(a) Each carrier shall keep, for each dispatching district, a
record of train movements made under the direction and control of a
dispatcher who uses telephone, radio, or any other electrical or
mechanical device to dispatch, report, transmit, receive, or deliver
orders pertaining to train movements. The following information shall
be included in the record:
(1) Identification of timetable in effect.
(2) Location and date.
(3) Identification of dispatchers and their times on duty.
(4) Identification of enginemen and conductors and their times on
duty.
(5) Identification of trains and engines.
(6) Station names and office designations.
(7) Distances between stations.
(8) Direction of movement and the time each train passes all
reporting stations.
(9) Arrival and departure times of trains at all reporting
stations.
(10) Unusual events affecting movement of trains and identification
of trains affected.
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC.
Kyle D. Fields,
Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2025-12183 Filed 6-27-25; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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