106 STAT. 980 PUBLIC LAW 102-365—SEPT. 3, 1992 (6) the status of advanced train control systems that are being developed, and the implications of such systems for effective railroad communications; and (7) the need for minimum Federal standards to ensure that such systems provide for positive tr£dn separation and are compatible nationwide. (b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— The Secretary shall submit to Congress within 4 months after the completion of such inquiry a report on the results of the inquiry along with an identification of appropriate regulatory action and specific pleuis for taking such action. SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. Section 214(a) of the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970 (45 U.S.C. 444(a)) is amended to read as follows: "(a) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act not to exceed $54,352,000 for fiscal year 1992, $68,283,000 for fiscal year 1993, and $71,690,000 for fiscal year 1994. The Secretary is authorized to request, receive, and use payments from non-Federal sources for expenses incurred in training safety employ- ees of private industry. State and local authorities, or other public authorities, other than State rail safety inspectors participating in training pursuant to section 206 of this title.. 45 USC 437 note. SEC. 13. TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN SAFETY ASSESSMENTS. In all comprehensive, multidiscipline safety assessments of railroads, the conduct of which is initiated by the Secretary between the date of enactment of this Act and the end of fiscal year 1993, the Secretary shall eveduate the use and effectiveness of total quality management techniques, if any, on the safety practices of the railroad being assessed. The Secretary shall include findings and conclusions based on such evaluation in each such safety assessment report. SEC. 14. LOCAL RAIL FREIGHT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. Section 5(q) of the Department of Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. App. 1654(q)) is amended— Appropriation (1) by inserting "There are authorized to be appropriated authorization. ^ ^j^g Secretary for the purposes of this section not to exceed $16,000,000 for fiscal year 1992, $25,000,000 for fiscal year 1993, and $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1994." after "fiscal year , 1991."; and (2) by striking "any period after September 30, 1991" and inserting in lieu thereof "any period after September 30, 1994". 45 USC 38 note. SEC. 15. PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING ACCIDENT REPORTING THRESHOLD. (a) GENERAL RULE. —In establishing or modifying a monetary damage threshold for the reporting of railroad accidents, the Secretary shall base damage cost calculations only on publicly available data— (1) obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics; or (2) otherwise obtained from an agency of the Federal Government which has been collected through objective, statistically sound survey methods or which has been previously subject to a public notice and comment process in a Federal agency proceeding. (b) EXCEPTION. — If any data necessary for establishing or modify- ing a threshold described in subsection (a) is not available as
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