
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 49USC20142]

 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
                        SUBTITLE V--RAIL PROGRAMS
 
                             PART A--SAFETY
 
                          CHAPTER 201--GENERAL
 
               SUBCHAPTER II--PARTICULAR ASPECTS OF SAFETY
 
Sec. 20142. Track safety

    (a) Review of Existing Regulations.--Not later than March 3, 1993, 
the Secretary of Transportation shall begin a review of Department of 
Transportation regulations related to track safety standards. The review 
at least shall include an evaluation of--
        (1) procedures associated with maintaining and installing 
    continuous welded rail and its attendant structure, including cold 
    weather installation procedures;
        (2) the need for revisions to regulations on track excepted from 
    track safety standards; and
        (3) employee safety.

    (b) Revision of Regulations.--Not later than September 1, 1995, the 
Secretary shall prescribe regulations and issue orders to revise track 
safety standards, considering safety information presented during the 
review under subsection (a) of this section and the report of the 
Comptroller General submitted under subsection (c) of this section.
    (c) Comptroller General's Study and Report.--The Comptroller General 
shall study the effectiveness of the Secretary's enforcement of track 
safety standards, with particular attention to recent relevant railroad 
accident experience and information. Not later than September 3, 1993, 
the Comptroller General shall submit a report to Congress and the 
Secretary on the results of the study, with recommendations for 
improving enforcement of those standards.
    (d) Identification of Internal Rail Defects.--In carrying out 
subsections (a) and (b), the Secretary shall consider whether or not to 
prescribe regulations and issue orders concerning--
        (1) inspection procedures to identify internal rail defects, 
    before they reach imminent failure size, in rail that has 
    significant shelling; and
        (2) any specific actions that should be taken when a rail 
    surface condition, such as shelling, prevents the identification of 
    internal defects.

(Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 879; Pub. L. 103-
440, title II, Sec. 208, Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4621.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
           Revised  Section                    Source (U.S. Code)              
 Source (Statutes at Large)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
20142(a)..............................  45:431(s)(1) (1st sentence),     Oct. 1
6, 1970, Pub. L. 91-458, 84 Stat.
                                         (2).                             971, 
Sec.  202(s); added Sept. 3,
                                                                          1992,
 Pub. L. 102-365, Sec.  8, 106
                                                                          Stat.
 976.
20142(b)..............................  45:431(s)(1) (last sentence).
20142(c)..............................  45:431(s)(3).
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---------------------------------

    In subsection (c), the word ``information'' is substituted for 
``data'' for consistency in the revised title.


                               Amendments

    1994--Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 103-440, Sec. 208(2), inserted ``, 
including cold weather installation procedures'' after ``attendant 
structure''.
    Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103-440, Sec. 208(1), substituted ``September 
1, 1995'' for ``September 3, 1994''.
    Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103-440, Sec. 208(3), added subsec. (d).
