49 CFR § 271.401 - Annual internal assessments.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t49/s271.401"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "49 CFR § 271.401 - Annual internal assessments."
title_number: 49
title_name: "Transportation"
section_number: "271.401"
section_name: "Annual internal assessments."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
part_number: "271"
part_name: "RISK REDUCTION PROGRAM"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
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."
regulatory_source: "85 FR 9314, Feb. 18, 2020, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "271"
---


# 271.401 Annual internal assessments.

(a) Beginning with the first calendar year after the calendar year in which FRA approves a railroad's RRP plan pursuant to § 271.301(d), the railroad shall annually (*i.e.,* once every calendar year) conduct an internal assessment of its RRP.

(b) The internal assessment shall determine the extent to which the railroad has:

(1) Achieved the implementation milestones described in its RRP plan pursuant to § 271.225(b);

(2) Complied with the implemented elements of the approved RRP plan;

(3) Achieved the goals described in its RRP plan pursuant to § 271.203(c);

(4) Implemented previous internal assessment improvement plans pursuant to § 271.403; and

(5) Implemented previous external audit improvement plans pursuant to § 271.503.

(c) A railroad shall ensure that the results of its internal assessments are internally reported to railroad senior management.