80 FR 80453 - Petition for Waiver of Compliance
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 247 (December 24, 2015)
Federal Railroad Administration
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 247 (December 24, 2015)
| Page Range | 80453-80453 | |
| FR Document | 2015-32451 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 247 (Thursday, December 24, 2015)] [Notices] [Page 80453] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-32451] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [Docket Number FRA-2013-0081] Petition for Waiver of Compliance In accordance with part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this document provides the public notice that by a document dated November 13, 2015, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) has petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a Special Approval of certain industry standards in accordance with the Federal railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR 231.33, Procedure for special approval of existing industry safety appliance standards, and 49 CFR 231.35, Procedure for modification of an approved industry safety appliance standard for new railcar construction. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2013-0081. AAR, on behalf of itself and its member railroads, submitted a petition for Special Approval of existing industry safety appliance standards contained in 49 CFR part 231, Railroad Safety Appliance Standards, and minor edits to AAR Standard S-2044 appendices that have been previously approved by FRA. AAR is requesting approval of the standards and specifications delineated in AAR Standard S-2044, Appendices D1, Safety Appliances for Flatcars with Full Decks; F3, Safety Appliances for Cars with Recessed Car Body Ends; and H1, Safety Appliances for Enclosed Vehicle-Carrying Cars and Vehicle-Carrying Superstructures Applied to Flatcars. AAR Standard S-2044 and its appendices have been developed to serve as requirements for safety appliance arrangements. The revised standard and its appendices are to be applied to new railroad freight cars if approved by FRA. AAR Standard S-2044 was established by the AAR Safety Appliance Task Force (Task Force), which was created by AAR's Equipment Engineering Committee (EEC) to develop industry standards for safety appliance arrangements on modern railcar types not explicitly covered by 49 CFR part 231. The Task Force consists of representatives from Class I railroads, labor unions, car builders, private car owners, and shippers, along with ergonomics experts and government representatives from FRA and Transport Canada, who participate as nonvoting members. The Task Force drafted a base safety appliance standard for all car types, plus industry safety appliance standards for specific car types. These industry standards have been adopted by AAR's Engineering Equipment Committee and, with FRA's approval, will serve as the core criteria for safety appliance arrangements on railcars that are more specialized in design. With its petition, AAR included a deviation table for Appendix D1 that shows where the AAR standard differs from the regulatory text in 49 CFR part 231 and provides the rationale for any deviations, along with analysis showing that the AAR Standard S- 2044 provides an equal or greater level of safety in each instance. In addition, the table describes the ergonomic suitability of many of the proposed arrangements in normal use, as the standards were developed by the Task Force to incorporate ergonomic design principles. 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 Department of Transportation's (DOT) Docket Operations Facility, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 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. Interested parties are invited to participate in these proceedings by submitting written views, data, or comments. FRA does not anticipate scheduling a public hearing in connection with these proceedings since the facts do not appear to warrant a hearing. If any interested party desires an opportunity for oral comment, they should notify FRA, in writing, before the end of the comment period and specify the basis for their request. All communications concerning these proceedings should identify the appropriate docket number 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. Communications received by February 8, 2016 will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be considered as far as practicable. 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 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. Robert C. Lauby, Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer. [FR Doc. 2015-32451 Filed 12-23-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 247 / Thursday, December 24, 2015 / Notices 80453
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. edits to AAR Standard S–2044 to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, appendices that have been previously except Federal Holidays.
except Federal Holidays. approved by FRA. AAR is requesting Interested parties are invited to
Communications received by approval of the standards and participate in these proceedings by
February 8, 2016 will be considered by specifications delineated in AAR submitting written views, data, or
FRA before final action is taken. Standard S–2044, Appendices D1,
comments. FRA does not anticipate
Comments received after that date will Safety Appliances for Flatcars with Full
scheduling a public hearing in
be considered as far as practicable. Decks; F3, Safety Appliances for Cars
with Recessed Car Body Ends; and H1, connection with these proceedings since
Anyone is able to search the
electronic form of any written Safety Appliances for Enclosed Vehicle- the facts do not appear to warrant a
communications and comments Carrying Cars and Vehicle-Carrying hearing. If any interested party desires
received into any of our dockets by the Superstructures Applied to Flatcars. an opportunity for oral comment, they
name of the individual submitting the AAR Standard S–2044 and its should notify FRA, in writing, before
comment (or signing the document, if appendices have been developed to the end of the comment period and
submitted on behalf of an association, serve as requirements for safety specify the basis for their request.
business, labor union, etc.). In appliance arrangements. The revised All communications concerning these
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT standard and its appendices are to be proceedings should identify the
solicits comments from the public to applied to new railroad freight cars if appropriate docket number and may be
better inform its processes. DOT posts approved by FRA. submitted by any of the following
these comments, without edit, including AAR Standard S–2044 was methods:
any personal information the established by the AAR Safety
commenter provides, to • Web site: http://
Appliance Task Force (Task Force),
www.regulations.gov, as described in www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
which was created by AAR’s Equipment
the system of records notice (DOT/ALL– Engineering Committee (EEC) to instructions for submitting comments.
14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at develop industry standards for safety • Fax: 202–493–2251.
www.dot.gov/privacy. See also http:// appliance arrangements on modern • Mail: Docket Operations Facility,
www.regulations.gov/#!privacyNotice railcar types not explicitly covered by U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200
for the privacy notice of regulations.gov. 49 CFR part 231. The Task Force New Jersey Avenue SE., W12–140,
Issued in Washington, DC. consists of representatives from Class I Washington, DC 20590.
Robert C. Lauby, railroads, labor unions, car builders,
private car owners, and shippers, along • Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Avenue SE., Room W12–140,
Chief Safety Officer. with ergonomics experts and
government representatives from FRA Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m.
[FR Doc. 2015–32449 Filed 12–23–15; 8:45 am]
and Transport Canada, who participate and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
as nonvoting members. The Task Force except Federal Holidays.
drafted a base safety appliance standard Communications received by
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION for all car types, plus industry safety February 8, 2016 will be considered by
appliance standards for specific car FRA before final action is taken.
Federal Railroad Administration types. These industry standards have Comments received after that date will
been adopted by AAR’s Engineering be considered as far as practicable.
[Docket Number FRA–2013–0081] Equipment Committee and, with FRA’s
approval, will serve as the core criteria Anyone is able to search the
Petition for Waiver of Compliance electronic form of any written
for safety appliance arrangements on
railcars that are more specialized in communications and comments
In accordance with part 211 of Title
49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), design. With its petition, AAR included received into any of our dockets by the
this document provides the public a deviation table for Appendix D1 that name of the individual submitting the
notice that by a document dated shows where the AAR standard differs comment (or signing the document, if
November 13, 2015, the Association of from the regulatory text in 49 CFR part submitted on behalf of an association,
American Railroads (AAR) has 231 and provides the rationale for any business, labor union, etc.). In
petitioned the Federal Railroad deviations, along with analysis showing accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT
Administration (FRA) for a Special that the AAR Standard S–2044 provides solicits comments from the public to
Approval of certain industry standards an equal or greater level of safety in better inform its processes. DOT posts
in accordance with the Federal railroad each instance. In addition, the table these comments, without edit, including
safety regulations contained at 49 CFR describes the ergonomic suitability of any personal information the
231.33, Procedure for special approval many of the proposed arrangements in commenter provides, to
of existing industry safety appliance normal use, as the standards were www.regulations.gov, as described in
standards, and 49 CFR 231.35, developed by the Task Force to the system of records notice (DOT/ALL–
Procedure for modification of an incorporate ergonomic design 14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at
approved industry safety appliance principles. www.dot.gov/privacy. See also http://
standard for new railcar construction. A copy of the petition, as well as any www.regulations.gov/#!privacyNotice
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
FRA assigned the petition Docket written communications concerning the for the privacy notice of regulations.gov.
Number FRA–2013–0081. petition, is available for review online at Issued in Washington, DC.
AAR, on behalf of itself and its www.regulations.gov and in person at
member railroads, submitted a petition the Department of Transportation’s Robert C. Lauby,
for Special Approval of existing (DOT) Docket Operations Facility, 1200 Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety,
industry safety appliance standards New Jersey Avenue SE., W12–140, Chief Safety Officer.
contained in 49 CFR part 231, Railroad Washington, DC 20590. The Docket [FR Doc. 2015–32451 Filed 12–23–15; 8:45 am]
Safety Appliance Standards, and minor Operations Facility is open from 9 a.m. BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
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Document Created: 2015-12-24 02:25:59
Document Modified: 2015-12-24 02:25:59
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 80453 |
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