80 FR 34197 - Notice of Public Hearing

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 114 (June 15, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 114 (Monday, June 15, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34197-34198]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14632]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Numbers FRA-2013-0128 and FRA-2014-0124]


Notice of Public Hearing

    In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR), this provides the public notice that by documents dated October 
9, 2013 and November 18, 2014, the National Railroad Passenger 
Corporation (AMTRAK) petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration 
(FRA) for a waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal 
railroad safety regulations governing the operation of passenger trains 
on the Northeast Corridor (NEC). Relief was also requested from speed 
limitations imposed by the Order of Particular Applicability for the 
Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System (ACSES) Order. Specifically, 
Amtrak seeks relief from requirements that limit the current operation 
of its Tier II Acela trainsets to 150 mph from the current maximum 
authorized track speed for Class 8 track of 160 mph. In addition, 
Amtrak also requests relief from existing Tier II design requirements 
to allow for the procurement of new trainsets built to alternative 
design standards, as outlined in its petition. A previous notice was 
published outlining the details of Amtrak's petitions, on February 25, 
2015 [80 FR 10208]. FRA assigned the petitions to Docket Numbers FRA-
2013-0128 and FRA-2014-0124, respectively.
    FRA has determined that the facts of these proceedings warrant a 
public hearing. Accordingly, a hearing is hereby scheduled to begin at 
10:00 a.m. on July 22, 2015, at the National Housing Center, 1201 15th 
Street NW., Washington, DC 20005. Interested parties are invited to 
present oral statements at this hearing. For information on facilities 
or services for persons with disabilities, or to request special 
assistance at the hearing, contact FRA Program Analyst, Kenton Kilgore; 
by telephone, email, or in writing; at least five business days before 
the date of the hearing. Mr. Kilgore's contact information is as 
follows: FRA, Office of Railroad Safety, Mail Stop 25, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590; (202) 493-6286; 
[email protected].
    The informal hearing will be conducted by a representative 
designated by FRA in accordance with FRA's Rules of Practice (see 
particularly 49 CFR 211.25). FRA's representative will make an opening 
statement outlining the scope of the hearing, as well as any additional 
procedures for the conduct of the hearing. The hearing will be a non-
adversarial proceeding in which all interested parties will be given 
the opportunity to express their views regarding the waiver petition 
without cross examination. After all initial statements have been 
completed, those individuals wishing to make brief rebuttal statements 
will be given an opportunity to do so.
    A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications 
concerning the petition, is available for review online at 
www.regulations.gov and in person at the U.S. Department of 
Transportation's (DOT) Docket Operations Facility, 1200 New Jersey Ave. 
SE., W12-140, Washington, DC 20590. The Docket Operations Facility is 
open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
Holidays.
    In addition, FRA is hereby extending the comment period for these 
waiver petitions to August 21, 2015, to allow adequate time for any 
additional comments to be submitted following the public hearing on 
July 22, 2015. Communications received by that date will be considered 
by FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date 
will be considered as far as practicable. All communications concerning 
these proceedings should identify the appropriate docket numbers and 
may be submitted by any of the following methods:
     Web site: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Operations Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., W12-140, Washington, DC 
20590.
     Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Room W12-140, 
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal Holidays.
    Anyone is able to search the electronic form of any written 
communications and comments received into any of our dockets by the 
name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the document, 
if

[[Page 34198]]

submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). In 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public 
to better inform its processes. DOT posts these comments, without edit, 
including any personal information the commenter provides, to 
www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/
ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at www.dot.gov/privacy. See also 
http://www.regulations.gov/#!privacyNotice for the privacy notice of 
regulations.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 10, 2015.
Ron Hynes,
Director, Office of Technical Oversight.
[FR Doc. 2015-14632 Filed 6-12-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P