---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 C.F.R. § 271.15"
title: "49"
number: "271.15"
heading: "Voluntary compliance."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/49/271.15"
---

# §271.15. Voluntary compliance.

- (a) **General.** A railroad not otherwise subject to this part may voluntarily comply by establishing and fully implementing an RRP meeting the requirements of this part. A voluntary RRP shall be supported by an RRP plan that has been submitted to FRA for approval pursuant to the requirements of subpart D of this part. After FRA has approved its RRP plan, a voluntarily-compliant railroad that fails to comply with the requirements of this part is subject to civil penalties or other FRA enforcement action.
- (b) **Duration.** A voluntarily-compliant railroad will be required to comply with the requirements of this part for a minimum period of five years, running from the date on which FRA approves the railroad's plan pursuant to subpart D of this part.
- (c) **Notification to discontinue compliance.** After this five-year period, a voluntarily-compliant railroad may discontinue compliance with this part by providing written notice to the FRA Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety and Chief Safety Officer at FRA-RRP@dot.gov.
- (d) **Discovery and admission as evidence of certain information.** The information protection provisions in [§ 271.11](/cfr/49/271.11.md) apply to information compiled or collected pursuant to a voluntary RRP that is conducted in accordance with the requirements of this part and as provided by [§ 271.301(b)(4)(ii)](/cfr/49/271.301.md?p=b-4-ii).

## Notes

### Amendments

[85 FR 9314, Feb. 18, 2020, as amended at 90 FR 28200, July 1, 2025]

### Authority

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 20103, 20106-20107, 20118-20119, 20156, 21301, 21304, 21311; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; and 49 CFR 1.89.

### Source

Source: 85 FR 9314, Feb. 18, 2020, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[85 FR 9314, Feb. 18, 2020, as amended at 90 FR 28200, July 1, 2025]