
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: 49USC20901]

 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
                        SUBTITLE V--RAIL PROGRAMS
 
                             PART A--SAFETY
 
                  CHAPTER 209--ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS
 
Sec. 20901. Reports

    (a) General Requirements.--Not later than 30 days after the end of 
each month, a railroad carrier shall file a report with the Secretary of 
Transportation on all accidents and incidents resulting in injury or 
death to an individual or damage to equipment or a roadbed arising from 
the carrier's operations during the month. The report shall be under 
oath and shall state the nature, cause, and circumstances of each 
reported accident or incident. If a railroad carrier assigns human error 
as a cause, the report shall include, at the option of each employee 
whose error is alleged, a statement by the employee explaining any 
factors the employee alleges contributed to the accident or incident.
    (b) Monetary Threshold for Reporting.--(1) In establishing or 
changing a monetary threshold for the reporting of a railroad accident 
or incident, the Secretary shall base damage cost calculations only on 
publicly available information obtained from--
        (A) the Bureau of Labor Statistics; or
        (B) another department, agency, or instrumentality of the United 
    States Government if the information has been collected through 
    objective, statistically sound survey methods or has been previously 
    subject to a public notice and comment process in a proceeding of a 
    Government department, agency, or instrumentality.

    (2) If information is not available as provided in paragraph (1)(A) 
or (B) of this subsection, the Secretary may use any other source to 
obtain the information. However, use of the information shall be subject 
to public notice and an opportunity for written comment.

(Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 886.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
           Revised  Section                    Source (U.S. Code)              
 Source (Statutes at Large)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
20901(a)..............................  45:38 (1st sentence).            May 6,
 1910, ch. 208, Sec.  1 (1st
                                                                          sente
nce), 36 Stat. 350; restated
                                                                          Sept.
 13, 1960, Pub. L. 86-762, Sec.
                                                                          1, 74
 Stat. 903; June 22, 1988, Pub.
                                                                          L. 10
0-342, Sec.  15(1)(A), (B), 102
                                                                          Stat.
 633.
                                        45:39 (related to time of        May 6,
 1910, ch. 208, Sec.  2 (related
                                         filing report).                  to ti
me of filing report), 36 Stat.
                                                                          351; 
Jan. 3, 1975, Pub. L. 93-633,
                                                                          Sec. 
 204(b), 88 Stat. 2166; June 22,
                                                                          1988,
 Pub. L. 100-342, Sec.  15(2),
                                                                          102 S
tat. 634.
                                        45:43a.                          June 2
2, 1988, Pub. L. 100-342, Sec.
                                                                          24, 1
02 Stat. 639.
                                        49 App.:1655(e)(1)(K).           Oct. 1
5, 1966, Pub. L. 89-670, Sec.
                                                                          6(e)(
1)(K), 80 Stat. 939.
20901(b)..............................  45:38 (note).                    Sept. 
3, 1992, Pub. L. 102-365, Sec.
                                                                          15, 1
06 Stat. 981.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------

    In this section, the words ``accident'' and ``incident'' are used, 
and the words ``collision'' and ``derailment'' are omitted, for 
consistency in this part. The words ``the general manager, 
superintendent, or other proper officer of'' in 45:38 are omitted as 
surplus because any duty of a railroad carrier must necessarily be 
carried out through its proper officers and agents. The text of 45:38 
(1st sentence proviso) is omitted as executed.
    In subsection (b), the words ``or incident'' are added for 
consistency. The text of section 15(c) of the Rail Safety Enforcement 
and Review Act (Pub. L. 102-365, 106 Stat. 981) is omitted as executed.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 20903, 21311 of this title.
