81 FR 55259 - Petition for Waiver of Compliance

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 160 (August 18, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 160 (Thursday, August 18, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 55259]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19745]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2016-0076]


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 June 27, 2016, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation 
Authority (SEPTA) has petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration 
(FRA) for a waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal 
railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR 238.135(b). FRA 
assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2016-0076.
    SEPTA is requesting special approval to operate its passenger train 
exterior side doors and trap doors differently than required by 49 CFR 
238.135(b), which requires all such doors must be closed when a train 
is in motion between stations during specific times of day and type of 
operating schedule. SEPTA performed a hazard analysis regarding the 
operation of its trains in this manner and specific mitigations it will 
undertake to reduce risks.
    SEPTA specifically requests special approval for the following:
     Operation of the Silverliner IV or push-pull passenger 
cars with the exterior side doors or trap doors, or both, in the open 
position when operating a weekday schedule with trains arriving or 
departing Suburban Station between the hours of 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. 
and 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
     Operation of the Silverliner IV or push-pull passenger 
cars with the exterior side doors or trap doors, or both, in the open 
position during two designated 3-hour peak periods on holidays. SEPTA 
will formally declare these peak periods prior to the event and provide 
train crews with written notification of the same no less than 2 
calendar days prior.
     Operation of the Silverliner IV or push-pull passenger 
cars with the exterior side doors or trap doors, or both, in the open 
position as ``EXTRA'' trains when necessitated during emergency exigent 
circumstances.
     Operation of the Silverliner V cars with the interior trap 
doors open at all times.
    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 
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 and a public hearing, 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 October 3, 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, on August 15, 2016.
Karl Alexy,
Director, Office of Safety Analysis.
[FR Doc. 2016-19745 Filed 8-17-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P