PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

The Secretary of Transportation, or a neutral investigator the Secretary picks, may look into railroad accidents that cause serious injury to people or damage to railroad property on a carrier’s line, and into accidents reported under section 20505. The investigator can force witnesses to appear, demand records and other evidence, give oaths, and take sworn statements. If a State commission is also investigating, the Secretary should, when convenient, work at the same time and coordinate with that commission. The railroad where the accident happened must give reasonable space and help for the investigation. The Secretary must set up a standard way for investigators to decide when and how to get information and technical help from carriers, contractors, employees, employee reps, and others. That process must include ways to keep an entity confidential if it asks, if it was not involved in the accident, and if secrecy will not hurt the Federal Railroad Administration’s investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board is not covered by this rule.

Title 49, §20902

Transportation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)General Authority.—

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)Other Duties and Powers.—

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)Reports.—

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)Gathering Information and Technical Expertise.—

(1)In general.—

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)

(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)Confidentiality.—

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)Applicability.—

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