83 FR 1281 - Petition for Waiver of Compliance

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 7 (January 10, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 10, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1281-1282]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00245]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2017-0130]


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    Under part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this 
provides the public notice that on December 20, 2017, the Association 
of American Railroads (AAR), on behalf of itself and its member 
railroads, petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a 
waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal railroad 
safety regulations contained at 49 CFR part 232, Brake System Safety 
Standards for Freight and Other Non-Passenger Trains and Equipment; 
End-of-Train Devices. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2017-
0130.
    In its petition, AAR requests a waiver of compliance from the 
requirement of 49 CFR 232.205(b)-Class I brake test-initial terminal 
inspection, 232.209(a)--Class II brake tests--intermediate inspection, 
232.211(a)--Class III brake tests-trainline continuity inspection, and 
232.217(c)--Train brake tests conducted using yard air; for the common 
element that the test or inspection must be performed if (among other 
requirements) the car or cars have been off-air for more than four 
hours. AAR requests that the four-hour off-air restrictions in these 
four regulations be replaced by a 24-hour off-air restriction, which 
would reflect substantial advancements in air brake technology since 
the rule was promulgated, and would harmonize United States and 
Canadian operations.
    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 parties 
desire 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:
     Website: 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.

[[Page 1282]]

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.
    Communications received by February 26, 2018 will be considered by 
FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date 
will be considered if practicable.
    Anyone can 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 https://www.transportation.gov/privacy. See also https://www.regulations.gov/privacyNotice for the 
privacy notice of regulations.gov.

Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-00245 Filed 1-9-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P