FTA Drug And Alcohol Regulation Updates

Issue 14

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) published its final rules on prohibited drug use (49 CFR Part 653) and the prevention of alcohol misuse (49 CFR Part 654) on February 15, 1994. Shortly thereafter, the FTA published the Implementation Guidelines for Drug and Alcohol Regulations in Mass Transit to provide a comprehensive overview of the regulations.

Since the Guidelines were published there have been numerous amendments, interpretations, and clarifications to the Drug and Alcohol testing procedures and program requirements.

This publication is being provided to update the Guidelines and inform your transit system of all of these changes. This Update is the fourteenth in a series.

Inside....

Public Meetings on NPRM

   The Department of Transportation (DOT) proposed revisions to its drug and alcohol testing procedures regulation on December 9, 1999. Comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) should be sent to the Docket Clerk, Attn: Docket No. OST-99-6578, Dept. of Transportation, 400 7th St., SW, Room PL401, Washington, DC 20590 by April 7, 2000. Comments should be provided in triplicate. Commenters may also submit their comments electronically at the following web address: http://dms.dot.gov/submit/.
   The DOT is also conducting three public meetings/listening sessions to discuss the NPRM. The meetings will be held on the following dates:

   The purpose of the meetings is to provide all segments of the transportation industry and the general public with an opportunity to make statements to the docket. The meetings will also give DOT the opportunity to ask questions and ensure that public comments are clearly understood by the Department.
   Due to limited space, all attendees must pre-register to attend these meetings. Registration forms are available from the Transportation Safety Institute at (800) 862-4832 ext. 323; the DOT Fax-On-Demand System at (800) 225-3784, document 140; or from the DOT webpage at www.dot.gov/ost/dapc/. Highlights of the NPRM are provided on pages 5 and 6 of this Newsletter.

Substance Abuse Seminars Offered

   The Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Office of Safety and Security will be sponsoring four 2-day seminars on the FTA’s drug and alcohol testing regulations. The seminars will present the regulatory requirements, current interpretations, and other information necessary to facilitate grantees’ self-assessment and compliance with the regulations. The seminars will also present best practices, common mistakes to avoid, and possible corrective actions.
   The major topics that will be covered include policy content, contractor oversight, testing procedures, training requirements, service agent roles and responsibilities, testing categories, and recordkeeping.
   The seminar will be offered in a lecture format by Ms. Robbie Sarles, an instructor for the Transportation Safety Institute (TSI).
   The seminars will be provided free of charge and will be open to grantees, safety-sensitive contractors, service agents, and all others involved in the implementation of the FTA drug and alcohol regulations. All attendees that participate in the entire two-day seminar will receive TSI certificate of course completion. Attendees will be responsible for their travel arrangements and expenses. The seminars will be offered at the following locations:

For further information, contact Carol-Ann Courtney of the Volpe Center National Transportation Systems Center at (617) 494-2686, or email at courtney@volpe.dot.gov.