83 FR 19136 - Petition for Waiver of Compliance

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 84 (May 1, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 1, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19136-19137]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09121]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2018-0034]


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    Under part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this 
document provides the public notice that on March 14, 2018, BNSF 
Logistics (BNSF-L) 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 231, Railroad 
Safety Appliance Standards, and Association of American Railroads (AAR) 
Standard S-2044, Appendix D1, which governs the Safety Appliances for 
Flatcars with Full Decks. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-
2018-0034.
    BNSF-L seeks relief to allow the transport of wind towers and wind 
turbine blades by removing tall hand grabs at the corners of flatcars 
that can foul the loaded cars with the towers and blades. Specifically, 
BNSF-L proposes to:
     Remove any tall handgrabs that could be damaged by lading 
during the initial loading.
     Provide formal, engineered storage on each car for the 
removed tall handgrabs.
     Add a handgrab to the side sill that extends at least 6'' 
above the deck and is between 27'' to 34'' above the sill step.
     Apply decals stating that ``This location not suitable for 
riding'' to mark these locations.
     Disable the coupler on both cars where the overhang is 
located to prevent uncoupling. Note that in many cases this location is 
equipped with a drawbar instead of couplers.
     Reapply standard safety appliances and remove the decals 
only when car is released from unit wind service.
    BNSF-L believes this proposal will avoid damage to safety 
appliances and cargo.
    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 about 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.

[[Page 19137]]

     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 June 15, 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.). 
Under 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.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-09121 Filed 4-30-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P