New regs for Monday: Train speed limits, school meal requirements, emissions

Monday’s edition of the Federal Register contains new speed limits for trains carrying petroleum and other flammable liquids, emissions standards for sewage sludge incineration facilities, and meal pattern requirements for schools.

Here’s what is happening:

Emissions: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing new emissions standards for sewage sludge incineration facilities.

The EPA issued sewage sludge facility emissions standards in March 2011, but the agency is now proposing to implement the requirements at existing facilities in states without federally approved plans.

{mosads}The agency says it will result in significant emissions reductions at these sewage sludge facilities.

The public has 45 days to comment.

Speed limits: The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is moving forward with new speed limits for trains carrying flammable liquids like petroleum through populated cities.

“Trains must not exceed 40 miles per hour in high-threat urban areas,” the agency wrote.

The FRA called it a matter of public safety.

The new speed limits will apply to trains carrying flammable liquids in at least 20 consecutive tank cars, or more than 35 tank cars overall, the agency noted.

“This order is necessary due to the recent occurrence of railroad accidents involving trains transporting petroleum crude oil and ethanol and the increasing reliance on railroads to transport voluminous amounts of those hazardous materials in recent years,” the agency wrote.

The order goes into effect immediately.

Brakes: The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is also issuing a safety advisory for trains carrying large amounts of petroleum in response to the recent derailments.

The safety advisory recommends railroads use high-qualified workers to conduct brake and wheel inspections.

“Recent derailments have occurred involving trains transporting large quantities of petroleum crude oil and ethanol,” the FRA wrote. “Preliminary investigation of one of these recent derailments involving a crude oil train indicates that a mechanical defect involving a broken tank car wheel may have caused or contributed to the incident.”

School meals: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is delaying new meal pattern requirements for schools and day care facilities.

The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service proposed the new dietary guidelines in January, but said Friday it is extending the comment period to give the public more time to consider the changes.

“Implementation of this proposed rule would serve as a step towards more nutritious meals that improve the dietary habits of (children),” the agency wrote.

The public now has an additional 30 days to comment.