(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.