49 C.F.R. § 212.115 – Enforcement actions.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, the FRA reserves exclusive authority to assess and compromise penalties, to issue emergency orders and compliance orders, institute or cause to be instituted actions for collection of civil penalties or for injunctive relief, and to commence any and all other enforcement actions under the Federal railroad safety laws.
(b) (1) Section 207(a) of the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970, as amended (45 U.S.C. 436(a)), authorizes a participating State to bring an action for assessment and collection of a civil penalty in a Federal district court of proper venue, if the FRA has not acted on a request for civil penalty assessment originated by the State, within sixty (60) days of receipt, by assessing the penalty or by determining in writing that no violation occurred.
(2) Section 207(b) of the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970, as amended (45 U.S.C. 436(b)), authorizes a participating State to bring an action for injunctive relief in a Federal district court of proper venue, if the FRA has not acted on a request to initiate such an action within fifteen (15) days of receipt, by referring the matter to the Attorney General for litigation, by undertaking other enforcement action, or by determining in writing that no violation has occurred.
(3) For purposes of this paragraph, a request for legal action is deemed to be received when a legally sufficient investigative report specifying the action requested is received by the designated FRA offices.
(c) (1) Requests for civil penalty assessments and other administrative actions shall be submitted to the FRA Regional Director for Railroad Safety for the FRA region in which the State is located.
(2) Requests for the institution of injunctive actions shall be submitted simultaneously to—
1. (i) The FRA Regional Director for Railroad Safety for the FRA region in which the State is located and
2. (ii) The Enforcement Division, Office of Chief Counsel, FRA, Washington, DC 20590.