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S.B. 79

             1     

LOCAL COMMUNITY RAIL SECURITY ACT

             2     
2007 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Ed Mayne

             5     
House Sponsor: ____________

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Transportation Code by amending provisions relating to rail
             10      security.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    provides definitions;
             14          .    enacts flag, milepost marker, and sign requirements for railroad corporations;
             15          .    enacts the Local Community Rail Security Act;
             16          .    requires operators of a rail facility to submit a risk assessment and an infrastructure
             17      protection program to the Division of Emergency Services and Homeland Security;
             18          .    specifies the requirements for a risk assessment and an infrastructure protection
             19      program;
             20          .    enacts security requirements for rail facilities that handle hazardous cargo;
             21          .    enacts communications capability requirements for rail operators; and
             22          .    provides a severability clause for the Local Community Rail Security Act.
             23      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             24          None
             25      Other Special Clauses:
             26          None
             27      Utah Code Sections Affected:


             28      AMENDS:
             29          53-2-102, as last amended by Chapter 214, Laws of Utah 2005
             30      ENACTS:
             31          53-2-401, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             32          53-2-402, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             33          53-2-403, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             34          53-2-404, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             35          53-2-405, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             36          53-2-406, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             37          53-2-407, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             38          53-2-408, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             39          72-14-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             40          72-14-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             41          72-14-103, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             42          72-14-104, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             43          72-14-105, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             44          72-14-106, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             45          72-14-107, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             46     
             47      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             48          Section 1. Section 53-2-102 is amended to read:
             49           53-2-102. Definitions.
             50          As used in this [part] chapter:
             51          (1) "Attack" means a nuclear, conventional, biological, or chemical warfare action
             52      against the United States of America or this state.
             53          (2) "Director" means the division director appointed under Section 53-2-103 .
             54          (3) "Disaster" means a situation causing, or threatening to cause, widespread damage,
             55      social disruption, or injury or loss of life or property resulting from attack, internal disturbance,
             56      natural phenomena, or technological hazard.
             57          (4) "Division" means the Division of Emergency Services and Homeland Security
             58      created in Section 53-2-103 .


             59          (5) "Energy" includes the energy resources defined in Section 63-53a-1 .
             60          (6) "Expenses" means actual labor costs of government and volunteer personnel,
             61      including workers compensation benefits, fringe benefits, administrative overhead, cost of
             62      equipment, cost of equipment operation, cost of materials, and the cost of any contract labor
             63      and materials.
             64          (7) "Hazardous materials emergency" means a sudden and unexpected release of any
             65      substance that because of its quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical, or infectious
             66      characteristics presents a direct and immediate threat to public safety or the environment and
             67      requires immediate action to mitigate the threat.
             68          (8) "Internal disturbance" means a riot, prison break, disruptive terrorism, or strike.
             69          (9) "Natural phenomena" means any earthquake, tornado, storm, flood, landslide,
             70      avalanche, forest or range fire, drought, or epidemic.
             71          (10) "State of emergency" means a condition in any part of this state that requires state
             72      government emergency assistance to supplement the local efforts of the affected political
             73      subdivision to save lives and to protect property, public health, welfare, or safety in the event
             74      of a disaster, or to avoid or reduce the threat of a disaster.
             75          (11) "Technological hazard" means any hazardous materials accident, mine accident,
             76      train derailment, air crash, radiation incident, pollution, structural fire, or explosion.
             77          Section 2. Section 53-2-401 is enacted to read:
             78     
Part 4. Local Community Rail Security Act

             79          53-2-401. Title.
             80          This part is known as the "Local Community Rail Security Act."
             81          Section 3. Section 53-2-402 is enacted to read:
             82          53-2-402. Rail facility risk assessment.
             83          (1) Prior to July 1, 2007, every operator of a rail facility shall provide a risk assessment
             84      to the division for each rail facility in the state that is under its ownership, operation, or control.
             85          (2) The risk assessment under Subsection (1) shall, for each rail facility, describe the
             86      following:
             87          (a) the location and functions of the rail facility;
             88          (b) all types of cargo that are moved through, or stored at, the rail facility;
             89          (c) any hazardous cargo that is moved through, or stored at, the rail facility;


             90          (d) the frequency that any hazardous cargo is moved through, or stored at, the rail
             91      facility;
             92          (e) the practices of the rail operator to prevent acts of sabotage, terrorism, or other
             93      crimes of the rail facility;
             94          (f) the training programs that the rail operator requires for its employees at the rail
             95      facility;
             96          (g) the emergency response procedures of the rail operator to deal with acts of
             97      sabotage, terrorism, or other crimes at the rail facility; and
             98          (h) the procedures of the rail operator to communicate with local and state law
             99      enforcement personnel, emergency personnel, transportation officials, and other first
             100      responders in the event of acts of sabotage, terrorism, or other crimes at the rail facility.
             101          (3) The division may provide the risk assessment provided under Subsection (2) to
             102      other law enforcement or emergency personnel.
             103          Section 4. Section 53-2-403 is enacted to read:
             104          53-2-403. Rail facility infrastructure protection program.
             105          (1) Prior to January 1, 2008, every rail operator shall develop and implement an
             106      infrastructure protection program to protect rail infrastructure in the state from acts of sabotage,
             107      terrorism, or other crimes.
             108          (2) The infrastructure protection program under Subsection (1) shall:
             109          (a) address the security of all critical infrastructure; and
             110          (b) provide training to all employees of the rail operator performing work at a rail
             111      facility on how to recognize, prevent, and respond to acts of sabotage, terrorism, or other
             112      crimes.
             113          (3) All employees of a contractor or subcontractor of a rail operator, and any other
             114      person performing work at a rail facility that is not the employee of the rail operator, shall:
             115          (a) receive training equivalent to that received by employees of the rail operator under
             116      Subsection (2)(b) within a reasonable period of time; and
             117          (b) undergo an equivalent evaluation of their background, skills, and fitness as the rail
             118      operator implements for its employees pursuant to its infrastructure protection plan.
             119          (4) In accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
             120      division may adopt rules to implement the requirements of this section.


             121          (5) (a) Each rail operator in the state shall provide a copy of its infrastructure protection
             122      program to the division.
             123          (b) An infrastructure protection program provided as required under Subsection (5)(a)
             124      is classified as a protected record under Title 63,Chapter 2, Government Records Access and
             125      Management Act.
             126          (6) (a) An infrastructure protection program shall be updated by the rail operator at
             127      least once every year.
             128          (b) The updated infrastructure protection program shall be submitted to the division.
             129          (7) The division:
             130          (a) shall review each infrastructure protection program submitted by a rail operator;
             131          (b) may conduct inspections to facilitate the review; and
             132          (c) may order a rail operator to improve, modify, or change its program to comply with
             133      the requirements of this part.
             134          (8) The division may fine a rail operator for failure to comply with the requirements of
             135      this section or an order of the department in accordance with this section.
             136          Section 5. Section 53-2-404 is enacted to read:
             137          53-2-404. Rail facilities handling hazardous cargo requirements.
             138          (1) Every rail operator, for all facilities handling hazardous cargo, shall:
             139          (a) secure all facilities that handle or store hazardous materials by providing adequate
             140      security personnel;
             141          (b) store hazardous materials only in secure facilities designed for storage, which may
             142      not include mainline, branch, industrial, or passing tracks not designed or retrofitted for
             143      hazardous materials storage;
             144          (c) ensure that the cabs of occupied locomotives are secured from hijacking, sabotage,
             145      or terrorism; and
             146          (d) secure remote control devices to prevent access to those devices by unauthorized
             147      personnel.
             148          (2) Every rail operator, for all facilities handling hazardous cargo, may not:
             149          (a) leave locomotive equipment running while unattended;
             150          (b) leave any unattended locomotive equipment unlocked; or
             151          (c) use remote control locomotives to move hazardous materials over a public crossing


             152      unless the remote control operator is able to:
             153          (i) maintain line-of-sight visibility of the public crossing; and
             154          (ii) visually ensure that:
             155          (A) all automatic highway-rail grade crossing warning devices are functioning as
             156      intended; and
             157          (B) it is safe for the train to enter the public crossing.
             158          Section 6. Section 53-2-405 is enacted to read:
             159          53-2-405. Rail operator communications capability requirements.
             160          Every rail operator shall provide communications capability that:
             161          (1) timely alerts local and state law enforcement personnel, emergency personnel,
             162      transportation officials, and other first responders in the event of sabotage, terrorism, or other
             163      crimes;
             164          (2) timely provides bridge tenders on moveable bridges the ability to alert local and
             165      state law enforcement personnel, emergency personnel, transportation officials, and other first
             166      responders in the event of sabotage, terrorism, or other crimes; and
             167          (3) notifies rail workers of the local or national threat level for the rail industry.
             168          Section 7. Section 53-2-406 is enacted to read:
             169          53-2-406. Notification of accidents or incidents.
             170          A railroad corporation shall provide immediate notification to the division of accidents,
             171      incidents, and other events, concurrent with those provided to the Federal Railroad
             172      Administration's National Response Center, as required by 49 C.F.R. Part 225.9.
             173          Section 8. Section 53-2-407 is enacted to read:
             174          53-2-407. Violations reported by employees -- Civil damages.
             175          (1) A rail operator or any other person covered under this part may not punish an
             176      employee who reports a violation of this part.
             177          (2) An employee may seek civil damages of up to $1,000,000 from an employer if the
             178      employer acts to punish the employee for reporting a violation of this part.
             179          Section 9. Section 53-2-408 is enacted to read:
             180          53-2-408. Severability.
             181          If any provision of this part or the application of a provision to any person or
             182      circumstance is held invalid:


             183          (1) the invalidity may not affect other provisions or applications of this part that may
             184      be given effect without the invalid provision or application; or
             185          (2) the provisions of this part are severable.
             186          Section 10. Section 72-14-101 is enacted to read:
             187     
CHAPTER 14. RAILROAD SAFETY ACT

             188     
Part 1. General Provisions

             189          72-14-101. Title.
             190          This chapter is known as the "Railroad Safety Act."
             191          Section 11. Section 72-14-102 is enacted to read:
             192          72-14-102. Definitions.
             193          As used in this chapter, "railroad" has the same meaning as defined in 49 C.F.R. Part
             194      225.5.
             195          Section 12. Section 72-14-103 is enacted to read:
             196          72-14-103. Railroad sign and flag requirements.
             197          (1) (a) A railroad corporation shall place appropriate signage to notify an engineer of
             198      an approaching grade crossing, consistent with federal law.
             199          (b) Whistle post signs satisfy the requirement under Subsection (1)(a).
             200          (2) (a) Appropriate flags that are readily visible and easily recognizable to the crews on
             201      both passenger and freight trains shall be displayed as quickly as practicable when a railroad
             202      issues written or verbal instructions to employees that may restrict or stop train movements
             203      because of:
             204          (i) track conditions;
             205          (ii) structures;
             206          (iii) persons; or
             207          (iv) equipment working.
             208          (b) The requirements of this section shall be included in the written instructions to the
             209      employees issued in accordance with Subsection (2)(a).
             210          (3) (a) Yellow flags shall be used:
             211          (i) in accordance with Subsection (3)(b) for temporary speed restrictions; and
             212          (ii) in accordance with Subsection (3)(c) when a train may be required to stop.
             213          (b) (i) Yellow flags shall be used to warn trains to restrict movement because of track


             214      conditions or structures.
             215          (ii) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(b)(iii), a yellow flag shall be displayed two
             216      miles before a restricted area in order to ensure that train movement is restricted at the proper
             217      location.
             218          (iii) When a restricted area is close to a terminal, junction, or other area, the yellow flag
             219      may be displayed less than two miles before the restricted area.
             220          (c) (i) Yellow flags shall be used to warn trains to be prepared to stop because of
             221      persons or equipment working.
             222          (ii) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(c)(iii), a yellow-red flag shall be displayed
             223      two miles before a restricted area in order to ensure that the train is prepared to stop at the
             224      proper location.
             225          (iii) When a restricted area is close to a terminal, junction, or other area, the yellow-red
             226      flag may be displayed less than two miles before the restricted area.
             227          (4) Flags shall be displayed:
             228          (a) only on the track affected;
             229          (b) to the right side of the track as viewed from the approaching train; and
             230          (c) to protect all possible access to a restricted area.
             231          Section 13. Section 72-14-104 is enacted to read:
             232          72-14-104. Railroad milepost marker requirements.
             233          (1) A railroad corporation shall provide milepost markers to train crews at accurate
             234      quarter-mile intervals.
             235          (2) The milepost markers under Subsection (1) shall be:
             236          (a) readily visible to the locomotive engineer within the locomotive cab; and
             237          (b) kept in good repair and replaced when necessary.
             238          Section 14. Section 72-14-105 is enacted to read:
             239          72-14-105. Railroad sign requirements.
             240          (1) (a) A railroad corporation shall place whistle signs to the right of the main track in
             241      the direction of approach, exactly 1/4 mile from the entrance to any grade crossing as a point of
             242      reference for locomotive engineers who blow the whistle and ring the bell upon approaching
             243      grade crossings as a warning to the public.
             244          (b) The whistle signs under Subsection (1)(a) shall:


             245          (i) consist of an "X" or "W" or other identifiable mark or symbol on a square plate
             246      mounted on a post;
             247          (ii) be readily visible to a locomotive engineer within the locomotive cab;
             248          (iii) be kept in good repair; and
             249          (iv) be replaced when necessary.
             250          (2) (a) A railroad corporation shall place permanent speed signs to the right of the track
             251      in the direction of approach, two miles in advance of the point where the speed is either
             252      increased or decreased for both passenger and freight trains.
             253          (b) The signs under Subsection (2)(a) shall be:
             254          (i) readily visible to a locomotive engineer within the locomotive cab;
             255          (ii) kept in good repair; and
             256          (iii) replaced when necessary.
             257          Section 15. Section 72-14-106 is enacted to read:
             258          72-14-106. Notification of remote control locomotive utilization.
             259          Beginning on or after January 1, 2007, a railroad corporation shall notify the department
             260      and the collective bargaining representative of any affected employee of any new utilization of
             261      remote control locomotives in the state.
             262          Section 16. Section 72-14-107 is enacted to read:
             263          72-14-107. Department may fine for violation.
             264          The department may fine a railroad corporation for failure to comply with the
             265      requirements of this part or an order of the department.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-29-07 3:46 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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