(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.

(a) Within 30 days of completing its internal assessment, a railroad shall develop an improvement plan that addresses the findings of its internal assessment.

(b) At a minimum, a railroad's improvement plan shall:

(1) Describe recommended improvements (including any proposed revisions or updates to the RRP plan the railroad expects to make through the amendment process described in § 271.303) that address the findings of the internal assessment for fully implementing the railroad's RRP, complying with the implemented elements of the RRP plan, achieving the goals identified in the railroad's RRP plan pursuant to § 271.203(c), and implementing previous internal assessment improvement plans and external audit improvement plans;

(2) Identify by position title the individual who is responsible for carrying out the recommended improvements;

(3) Contain a timeline describing when specific and measurable milestones for implementing the recommended improvements will be achieved; and

(4) Specify processes for monitoring the implementation and evaluating the effectiveness of the recommended improvements.

(a) Within 60 days of completing its internal assessment, a railroad shall submit a copy of an internal assessment report to the FRA Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety and Chief Safety Officer, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

(b) This report shall be signed by the railroad's chief official responsible for safety and who bears primary managerial authority for implementing the railroad's safety policy. The report shall include:

(1) A description of the railroad's internal assessment;

(2) The findings of the internal assessment;

(3) A specific description of the recommended improvements contained in the railroad's internal assessment improvement plan, including any proposed amendments the railroad intends to make to the railroad's RRP plan pursuant to § 271.303; and

(4) The status of the recommended improvements contained in the railroad's internal assessment improvement plan and any outstanding recommended improvements from previous internal assessment improvement plans.