Action
Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
Summary
Five operating administrations--the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG)--currently require random drug testing of safety-sensitive employees. In a final rule published elsewhere in today's Federal Register, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) , also a part of DOT, is adopting a parallel rule for covered transit employees. In response to public comments, petitions submitted by industry, and on its own initiative, the FAA, FRA, FHWA, RSPA, USCG and FTA (the operating administrations or ``OAs'') are proposing to lower the minimum random drug testing rate to 25 percent where the industry-wide (e.g., aviation, rail) random positive rate is less than 1.0 percent for 2 calendar years while testing at 50 percent. The rate would return to 50 percent if the industry random positive rate were 1.0 percent or higher in any subsequent calendar year. The industry-wide random positive rate for each transportation industry would be calculated from data submitted to the Department and announced yearly by the respective Administrator or the Commandant of the Coast Guard.