§20902 — Title 49 Transportation | U.S. Code

Summary

The Secretary of Transportation may investigate serious railroad accidents or damage that happen on a carrier’s tracks and any incidents that federal law requires to be reported. The Secretary or an authorized neutral investigator can require witnesses to appear, demand records or other evidence, give oaths, and take sworn statements. If a State has its own commission looking into the same accident, the Secretary should, when practical, work at the same time and coordinate with that commission. The railroad must give reasonable help and facilities for the investigation. The Secretary must publish a written report when it serves the public, saying the cause and any recommendations. The Secretary must set up a standard way for investigators to decide when to gather information and when to consult carriers, contractors, employees, or other relevant people for technical help. The process must include ways to keep an entity’s identity confidential if it asks, was not involved in the accident, and secrecy won’t harm the Federal Railroad Administration’s probe. This part does not apply to National Transportation Safety Board investigations.

Title 49, §20902

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary of Transportation, or an impartial investigator authorized by the Secretary, may investigate—

(1)an accident or incident resulting in serious injury to an individual or to railroad property, occurring on the railroad line of a railroad carrier; and

(2)an accident or incident reported under section 20505 of this title.

(b)In carrying out an investigation, the Secretary or authorized investigator may subpoena witnesses, require the production of records, exhibits, and other evidence, administer oaths, and take testimony. If the accident or incident is investigated by a commission of the State in which it occurred, the Secretary, if convenient, shall carry out the investigation at the same time as, and in coordination with, the commission’s investigation. The railroad carrier on whose railroad line the accident or incident occurred shall provide reasonable facilities to the Secretary for the investigation.

(c)When in the public interest, the Secretary shall make a report of the investigation, stating the cause of the accident or incident and making recommendations the Secretary considers appropriate. The Secretary shall publish the report in a way the Secretary considers appropriate.

(d)(1)The Secretary shall create a standard process for investigators to use during accident and incident investigations conducted under this section for determining when it is appropriate and the appropriate method for—

(A)gathering information about an accident or incident under investigation from railroad carriers, contractors or employees of railroad carriers or representatives of employees of railroad carriers, and others, as determined relevant by the Secretary; and

(B)consulting with railroad carriers, contractors or employees of railroad carriers or representatives of employees of railroad carriers, and others, as determined relevant by the Secretary, for technical expertise on the facts of the accident or incident under investigation.

(2)In developing the process required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall factor in ways to maintain the confidentiality of any entity identified under paragraph (1) if—

(A)such entity requests confidentiality;

(B)such entity was not involved in the accident or incident; and

(C)maintaining such entity’s confidentiality does not adversely affect an investigation of the Federal Railroad Administration.

(3)This subsection shall not apply to any investigation carried out by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 20902(a)45:40 (1st sentence, 2d sentence words between 1st and 2d commas).May 6, 1910, ch. 208, § 3, 36 Stat. 351; June 22, 1988, Pub. L. 100–342, § 15(3), 102 Stat. 634. 49 App.:26(f) (words after last semicolon).Feb. 4, 1887, ch. 104, 24 Stat. 379, § 25(f) (words after last semicolon); added Feb. 28, 1920, ch. 91, § 441, 41 Stat. 498; restated Aug. 26, 1937, ch. 818, 50 Stat. 836; Sept. 18, 1940, ch. 722, § 14(b), 54 Stat. 919. 49 App.:1655(e)(1)(K).Oct. 15, 1966, Pub. L. 89–670, § 6(e)(1)(K), 80 Stat. 939. 20902(b)45:40 (2d sentence less words between 1st and 2d commas). 20902(c)45:40 (3d, last sentences). In this section, the words “accident” and “incident” are used, and the words “collision” and “derailment” are omitted, for consistency in this part. Subsection (a)(2) is substituted for the text of 49 App.:26(f) (words after last semicolon) for clarity. In subsection (b), the words “In carrying out an investigation” are substituted for “shall have authority to investigate such collisions, derailments, or other accidents aforesaid, and all the attending facts, conditions, and circumstances, and for that purpose” to eliminate unnecessary words. The words “books, papers, orders, memoranda” are omitted as being included in “papers”. The words “in coordination with” are substituted for “in connection with” for clarity. The words “The railroad carrier on whose railroad line the accident or incident occurred” are added for clarity. In subsection (c), the words “When in the public interest” are substituted for “when he deems it to the public interest” to eliminate unnecessary words.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 117–58, § 22417(1), substituted “subpoena” for “subpena”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 117–58, § 22417(2), added subsec. (d).

§20902 Investigations