81 FR 62557 - Petition for Special Approval of Alternate Standard

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 175 (September 9, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 175 (Friday, September 9, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 62557]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-21762]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2015-0106]


Petition for Special Approval of Alternate Standard

    In accordance with Part 232 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR), this document provides the public notice that by a document 
dated September 17, 2015, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation 
(Amtrak) has requested a Special Approval of an alternate standard for 
49 CFR 238.311(a)--Single car test, as prescribed in 49 CFR 238.21(b)--
Special approval procedure. FRA assigned the request Docket Number FRA-
2015-0106.
    Amtrak requests permission to continue to maintain and test the 
9600 series cab coach car CCB II brake systems under the requirements 
of 49 CFR 229.29 as an alternative maintenance procedure that provides 
equivalent safety to the standard in APTA-PR-M-S-005-98 Rev 2.1 
outlined in 49 CFR 238.311.
    Amtrak's fleet of 9600 series cab coach cars was originally 
equipped with a 26-C (car) type of brake system along with additional 
26-L (locomotive) style of control valves in the cab, to control the 
brake system when in push/pull service. Amtrak previously maintained 
and tested the 26-C style of valves per 49 CFR 238.309 and the 26-L 
style of valves per 49 CFR 229.29, along with the requirement of FRA 
Form F6180-49A (``Blue Card'') to be located in the cab. The main 
reservoir leakage tests and the brake cylinder leakage tests were 
conducted per APTA-PR-M-S-005-98 Rev 2.1.
    The cab cars are presently equipped with New York Air Brake's CCB 
II brake system designed for locomotives and are being maintained and 
tested under the requirements of 49 CFR 229.29. The main reservoir 
leakage test and the brake cylinder leakage test continue to be tested 
per APTA-PR-M-S-005-98 Rev 2.1. The 92-day and annual test procedures 
for these CCB II-equipped cab cars are found in documents submitted to 
the public docket.
    Copies of these documents and the petition, as well as any written 
communications concerning the petition, are 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, 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 11, 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.

Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-21762 Filed 9-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P