,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ccfg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,august #bb1 #bjah ,mr4 ,thune introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to amend certain transportation-related reporting requirements to improve congressional oversight1 reduce reporting burdens1 and promote transparency1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,department of ,transportation ,reports ,harmonization ,act4 #b4 ,effective date 7a7 ,in general ,except as provided in subsection 7b71 this ,act takes effect on the date of enactment of this ,act4 7b7 ,delayed effective dates ,sections #f1 #h1 and #ab of this ,act1 and the amendments made by those sections1 take effect on ,january #a1 #bjai4 #c4 ,public availability of charges and fees for attendance at ,united ,states ,merchant ,marine ,academy ,section #eacad of title #df1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by striking shall notify ,congress of and inserting shall present at the next meeting of the ,board of ,visitors1 and post on a publicly available website14 #d4 ,public availability of information on aligning ,federal environmental reviews ,section #caj7;f77#a7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting 1 and make publicly available on the ,department of ,transportation website1 after ,house of ,representatives4 #e4 ,public availability of information on university transportation centers program ,section #eeje of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7b77#e77;,b71 by inserting 1 and make publicly available on the ,department of ,transportation website1 after ,senate2 and 7#b7 by amending subsection 7d77#b77;,b7 to read as follows3 7,b7 make publicly available on the ,department of ,transportation website a description of that review and evaluation4 4 #f4 ,public availability of reports by ,inspector ,general of ,department of ,transportation ,section #f of the ,norman ,y4 ,mineta ,research and ,special ,programs ,improvement ,act 7#di ,u4,s4,c4 #ajh note7 is amended to read as follows3 #f4 ,reports ,not later than #i months after the date of enactment of the ,department of ,transportation ,reports ,harmonization ,act-- 7#a7 the ,secretary of ,transportation shall make publicly available a list of each statutory mandate regarding pipeline safety or hazardous materials safety that has not been implemented by-- 7,a7 posting the list on the website of the ,department of ,transportation2 7,b7 including the list in a regulatory flexibility agenda under section #fjb of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code2 or 7,c7 providing the list in a regulatory planning document2 and 7#b7 the ,inspector ,general of the ,department of ,transportation shall make publicly available on the website of the ,office of the ,inspector ,general a list of each open safety recommendation made by the ,inspector ,general regarding pipeline safety or hazardous materials safety4 4 #g4 ,public availability of ,secretary of ,transportation's responses to safety recommendations ,section #aace of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 by amending subsection 7a7 to read as follows3 7a7 ,safety transportation recommendations 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date that the ,secretary of ,transportation receives a recommendation about transportation safety from the ,national ,transportation ,safety ,board1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,board a formal written response to the recommendation4 7#b7 ,contents ,each response under paragraph 7#a7 shall indicate whether the ,secretary intends-- 7,a7 to carry out procedures to adopt the complete recommendation2 7,b7 to carry out procedures to adopt a part of the recommendation2 or 7,c7 to refuse to carry out procedures to adopt the recommendation4 2 7#b7 by amending subsection 7b7 to read as follows3 7b7 ,timetable for completing procedures and reasons for refusals ,a response under-- 7#a7 subparagraph 7,b7 or subparagraph 7,c7 of subsection 7a77#b7 shall include a copy of a proposed timetable for completing the procedures2 7#b7 subsection 7a77#b77;,b7 shall detail the reasons for the refusal to carry out procedures on the remainder of the recommendation2 and 7#c7 subsection 7a77#b77;,c7 shall detail the reasons for the refusal to carry out procedures4 2 7#c7 in subsection 7c71 by striking a copy of each recommendation and response available to the public at reasonable cost and inserting publicly available on its website each recommendation and response under subsection 7a72 7#d7 in subsection 7d77#b77;,b71 by striking a response under subsection 7a77#b7 or 7a77#c7 and inserting a response under subparagraph 7,b7 or subparagraph 7,c7 of subsection 7a77#b72 and 7#e7 by striking subsection 7e74 #h4 ,consistency in response requirements to ,,ntsb safety recommendations ,section #ai of the ,pipeline ,safety ,improvement ,act of #bjjb 7#di ,u4,s4,c4 #aace note7 is amended to read as follows3 #ai4 ,,ntsb safety recommendations ,the ,secretary of ,transportation1 the ,administrator of the ,pipeline and ,hazardous ,materials ,safety ,administration1 and the ,director of the ,office of ,pipeline ,safety shall fully comply with section #aace of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 to ensure timely responsiveness to ,national ,transportation ,safety ,board recommendations about pipeline safety4 4 #i4 ,streamlined reporting for the ,national ,maritime ,heritage ,grants ,program ,section #cjhgjc7;j7 of title #ed1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended to read as follows3 7j7 ,status reports ,the ,secretary shall include in the annual budget submission of the ,department of the ,interior a description of the current status of the ,program1 including-- 7#a7 the total number of grant applications submitted and approved under the ,program in the prior fiscal year2 7#b7 a description1 including any results or any accomplishments1 of each project funded under the ,program in the prior fiscal year2 and 7#c7 recommended priorities for achieving the policy set forth in section #cjhgja of this title4 4 #aj4 ,periodic updates to highway-rail crossing reports and plans 7a7 ,highway-,rail ,grade ,crossing ,safety 7#a7 ,in general ,section #aadja of the ,fixing ,america's ,surface ,transportation ,act 7#di ,u4,s4,c4 #bddjg note7 is amended-- 7,a7 in subsection 7b71 by striking 7#di ,u4,s4,c4 #bbeja note7 each place it appears and inserting 7#di ,u4,s4,c4 #bddjg note72 7,b7 by striking subsection 7c72 and 7,c7 by redesignating subsections 7d7 and 7e7 as subsections 7c7 and 7d71 respectively4 7#b7 ,reports on highway-rail grade crossing safety 7,a7 ,in general ,chapter #bja of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting after section #bjaff the following3 #bjafg4 ,reports on highway-rail grade crossing safety 7a7 ,report ,not later than #ah months after the deadline for ,states to submit ,state highway-rail grade crossing action plans under section #aadja7;b7 of the ,fixing ,america's ,surface ,transportation ,act 7#di ,u4,s4,c4 #bddjg note71 the ,administrator of the ,federal ,railroad ,administration1 in consultation with the ,administrator of the ,federal ,highway ,administration1 shall submit to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure of the ,house of ,representatives a report on the ,state highway-rail grade crossing action plans1 including-- 7#a7 an analysis and evaluation of each ,state railway-highway crossings program under section #acj of title #bc1 including-- 7,a7 compliance with section #aadja of the ,fixing ,america's ,surface ,transportation ,act 7#di ,u4,s4,c4 #bddjg note7 and section #acj7;g7 of title #bc2 and 7,b7 the specific strategies identified by each ,state to improve safety at highway-rail grade crossings1 including crossings with multiple accidents or incidents2 7#b7 the progress of each ,state in implementing its ,state highway-rail grade crossing action plan2 7#c7 the number of projects undertaken under section #acj of title #bc1 including their distribution by cost range1 road system1 nature of treatment1 and subsequent accident experience at improved locations2 7#d7 each ,state that is not in compliance with its schedule of projects under section #acj7;d7 of title #bc2 and 7#e7 any recommendations for future implementation of the railroad highway crossings program under section #acj of title #bc4 7b7 ,updates ,not later than #e years after the date the report under subsection 7a7 is submitted1 the ,administrator of the ,federal ,railroad ,administration1 in consultation with the ,administrator of the ,federal ,highway ,administration1 shall-- 7#a7 update the report based on the ,state reports submitted under section #acj7;g7 of title #bc and any other information obtained by or available to the ,administrator of the ,federal ,railroad ,administration2 and 7#b7 submit the updated report to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure of the ,house of ,representatives4 7c7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,highway-rail grade crossing ,the term highway-rail grade crossing means a location within a ,state1 other than a location where #a or more railroad tracks cross #a or more railroad tracks at grade1 where-- 7,a7 a public highway1 road1 or street1 or a private roadway1 including associated sidewalks and pathways1 crosses #a or more railroad tracks either at grade or grade-separated2 or 7,b7 a pathway explicitly authorized by a public authority or a railroad carrier that is dedicated for the use of non-vehicular traffic1 including pedestrians1 bicyclists1 and others1 that is not associated with a public highway1 road1 or street1 or a private roadway1 crosses #a or more railroad tracks either at grade or grade-separated4 7#b7 ,state ,the term ,state means a ,state of the ,united ,states or the ,district of ,columbia4 4 7,b7 ,table of contents ,the table of contents of chapter #bja of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #bjaff the following3 #bjafg4 ,reports on highway-rail grade crossing safety4 4 7b7 ,in general ,section #acj7;g7 of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended to read as follows3 7g7 ,annual report 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than ,december #cj of each year1 each ,state shall submit to the ,administrator of the ,federal ,highway ,administration a report on the progress being made to implement the railway-highway crossings program authorized by this section and the effectiveness of such improvements4 7#b7 ,contents ,each ,state report shall contain an assessment of the costs of the various treatments employed and subsequent accident experience at improved locations4 7#c7 ,coordination ,the ,administrator of the ,federal ,highway ,administration shall make available to the ,administrator of the ,federal ,railroad ,administration each report submitted under paragraph 7#a74 4 #aa4 ,updates to hazardous materials grant programs and reports 7a7 ,planning and training grants1 monitoring1 and review ,section #eaaf7;j7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended to read as follows3 7j7 ,list of grants 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #abj days after the date of enactment of the ,department of ,transportation ,reports ,harmonization ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 compile a list of the grants made-- 7i7 under subsections 7a7 and 7i7 of this section2 and 7ii7 under subsections 7e7 and 7i7 of section #eajg2 and 7,b7 make the list publicly available on the ,department of ,transportation website1 including-- 7i7 the identity of all final recipients of such grants2 7ii7 the allocation and uses of such grants2 and 7iii7 information on the effects of such grants1 such as the number of persons trained1 by training level4 4 7b7 ,biennial report on transportation of hazardous materials ,section #eaba of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by striking subsection 7h7 and inserting the following3 7h7 ,compilation of accidents and casualties ,the ,secretary shall make publicly available on the ,department of ,transportation website1 and update at least biennially1 a statistical compilation of accidents and casualties related to the transportation of hazardous material4 7i7 ,budget submission ,the ,secretary shall include in the annual budget submission of the ,department of ,transportation-- 7#a7 an evaluation of the effectiveness of enforcement activities relating to a function regulated by the ,secretary under section #eajc7;b77#a72 and 7#b7 a summary of outstanding problems in carrying out this chapter1 in order of priority4 4 7c7 ,disclosure of agency action ,section #eaag7;g7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended to read as follows3 7g7 ,disclosure of agency action ,the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 periodically1 but at least every #abj days-- 7,a7 publish in the ,federal ,register notice of the final disposition of each application for a new special permit1 modification to an existing special permit1 or approval during the preceding quarter2 and 7,b7 make available to the public on the ,department of ,transportation website-- 7i7 notice of the final disposition of any other special permit during the preceding quarter2 7ii7 a list of special permits in effect2 and 7iii7 a summary of the basis for each special permit2 and 7#b7 make available to the public on the ,department of ,transportation website1 and update at least biennially1 a list and summary of applicable ,government regulations1 criteria1 orders1 guidance1 and special permits relating to the transportation of hazardous materials4 4 #ab4 ,eliminating unnecessary reporting requirements for the regional ,infrastructure ,accelerator ,demonstration ,program ,section #adda7;e7 of the ,fixing ,america's ,surface ,transportation ,act 7#bc ,u4,s4,c4 #fja note7 is amended to read as follows3 7e7 ,annual report ,each fiscal year that funds are made available to carry out the program1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress1 not later than #cj days after the date that fiscal year ends1 a report that describes the findings and effectiveness of the program4 4 #ac4 ,consolidated reporting on statutory mandates and recommendations ,section #ajf of the ,rail ,safety ,improvement ,act of #bjjh 7#di ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaja note7 is amended to read as follows3 #ajf4 ,reports on statutory mandates and recommendations ,the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 not later than #a year after the date of enactment of the ,department of ,transportation ,reports ,harmonization ,act1 describe the actions the ,secretary has taken to implement unmet statutory mandates regarding railroad safety2 7#b7 update the description under paragraph 7#a7 not less than annually2 and 7#c7 make the description1 including any updates thereto1 available by-- 7,a7 posting the description on the website of the ,department of ,transportation2 7,b7 including the description in the regulatory flexibility agenda under section #fjb of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code2 or 7,c7 providing the description in a regulatory planning document4 4 #ad4 ,reporting on the ,northeast ,corridor 7a7 ,northeast ,corridor ,safety ,committee report ,section #bdije7;e7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by striking paragraph 7#c74 7b7 ,contents of grant requests 7#a7 ,in general ,section #bdcai7;c7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking 2 and and inserting a semicolon2 7,b7 in paragraph 7#c71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following3 7#d7 describe the status of efforts to improve safety and security on the ,northeast ,corridor main line1 including a description of any efforts to implement recommendations of relevant railroad safety advisory committees4 4 7#b7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this subsection or an amendment made by this subsection shall affect a grant request made under section #bdcai of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 before the date of enactment of this ,act4 #ae4 ,in-vehicle alcohol detection device research reports ,section #djc of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7f77#a71 by striking subsection #djb7;c7 and inserting section #djb7;c72 and 7#b7 in subsection 7h77#d71 in the matter preceding subparagraph 7,a71 by striking submit an annual report and inserting submit a biennial report4 #af4 ,highway safety programs report to ,congress ,section #djb of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by striking subsection 7n74 #ag4 ,waiver notification and annual reports ,section #aag7;b7 of the ,,safetea-,,lu ,technical ,corrections ,act of #bjjh 7#bc ,u4,s4,c4 #cac note7 is amended by striking submit to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works of the ,senate a and inserting make publicly available on the ,department of ,transportation website an annual4 #ah4 ,cessation of certain advisory councils and advisory committees 7a7 ,advisory council on transportation statistics ,section #fcje of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7f7 ,sunset ,the advisory council established under this section ceases to exist effective ,january #a1 #bjai4 4 7b7 ,intelligent ,transportation ,systems ,program ,advisory ,committee ,section #eae7;h7 of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#d71 by inserting until the cessation date under paragraph 7#f71 after each year2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7#f7 ,sunset ,the ,advisory ,committee established under this subsection ceases to exist effective ,january #a1 #bjai4 4 7c7 ,northeast ,corridor ,safety ,committee ,section #bdije7;e7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by striking paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#c7 and inserting the following3 7#b7 ,functions ,the ,committee shall function as a working group of the ,railroad ,safety ,advisory ,committee4 7#c7 ,sunset ,the ,committee established under this subsection ceases to exist on the date that the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,administrator of the ,federal ,railroad ,administration1 determines positive train control1 as required by section #bjaeg1 is fully implemented along the ,northeast ,corridor4 4 7d7 ,national ,rail ,cooperative ,research ,program ,oversight ,committee ,section #bdiaj7;c7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#c7 ,sunset ,the advisory board established under this subsection ceases to exist effective ,january #a1 #bjai4 4