(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
(2) initiate a rulemaking to develop and implement appropriate design standards for pressurized tank cars within 18 months after the date of enactment of this section.
(b) Older Tank Car Impact Resistance Analysis and Report.—Within 1 year after the date of enactment of this section the Federal Railroad Administration shall conduct a comprehensive analysis to determine the impact resistance of the steels in the shells of pressure tank cars constructed before 1989. Within 6 months after completing that analysis the Administration shall transmit a report, including recommendations for reducing any risk of catastrophic fracture and separation of such cars, to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.
Structure US Code
SUBCHAPTER II— PARTICULAR ASPECTS OF SAFETY
§ 20131. Restricted access to rolling equipment
§ 20132. Visible markers for rear cars
§ 20134. Grade crossings and railroad rights of way
§ 20135. Licensing or certification of locomotive operators
§ 20136. Automatic train control and related systems
§ 20138. Tampering with safety and operational monitoring devices
§ 20139. Maintenance-of-way operations on railroad bridges
§ 20140. Alcohol and controlled substances testing
§ 20143. Locomotive visibility
§ 20144. Blue signal protection for on-track vehicles
§ 20145. Report on bridge displacement detection systems
§ 20146. Institute for Railroad Safety
§ 20147. Warning of civil liability
§ 20148. Railroad car visibility
§ 20149. Coordination with the Department of Labor
§ 20150. Positive train control system progress report
§ 20152. Notification of grade crossing problems
§ 20153. Audible warnings at highway-rail grade crossings
§ 20156. Railroad safety risk reduction program
§ 20157. Implementation of positive train control systems
§ 20158. Railroad safety technology grants
§ 20159. Roadway user sight distance at highway-rail grade crossings
§ 20160. National crossing inventory
§ 20161. Fostering introduction of new technology to improve safety at highway-rail grade crossings
§ 20162. Minimum training standards and plans
§ 20163. Certification of train conductors
§ 20164. Development and use of rail safety technology
§ 20165. Limitations on non-Federal alcohol and drug testing
§ 20166. Emergency escape breathing apparatus
§ 20167. Reports on highway-rail grade crossing safety
§ 20168. Installation of audio and image recording devices
§ 20169. Speed limit action plans
§ 20170. Pre-revenue service safety validation plan
§ 20171. Requirements for railroad freight cars placed into service in the United States