Defect detectors

(a) Rulemaking Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue regulations establishing requirements for the installation, repair, testing, maintenance, and operation of wayside defect detectors for each rail carrier operating a train consist carrying hazardous materials. (b) Requirements The regulations issued pursuant to subsection (a) shall include requirements regarding— (1) the frequency of the placement of wayside defect detectors, including a requirement that all Class I railroads install a hotbox detector along every 10-mile segment of rail track over which trains carrying hazardous materials operate; (2) performance standards for such detectors; (3) the maintenance and repair requirements for such detectors; (4) reporting data and maintenance records of such detectors; (5) appropriate steps the rail carrier must take when receiving an alert of a defect or failure from or regarding a wayside defect detector; and (6) the use of hotbox detectors to prevent derailments from wheel bearing failures, including— (A) the temperatures, to be specified by the Secretary, at which an alert from a hotbox detector is triggered to warn of a potential wheel bearing failure; and (B) any actions that shall be taken by a rail carrier upon receiving an alert from a hotbox detector of a potential wheel bearing failure. (c) Defect and failure identification The Secretary shall specify the categories of defects and failures that wayside defect detectors covered by regulations issued pursuant to subsection (a) shall address, including— (1) axles; (2) wheel bearings; (3) brakes; (4) signals; (5) wheel impacts; and (6) other defects or failures specified by the Secretary. (d) Safety placards (1) In general In issuing regulations under subsection (a), the Secretary shall require that placards covered under section 172.519 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, be able to withstand heat in excess of 180 degrees. (2) Update based on recommendations The Secretary may, upon recommendation from the National Transportation Safety Board, issue such regulations as are necessary to increase the heat threshold described in paragraph (1).