Document
Notice of Petition for Extension of Waiver of Compliance
This document provides the public notice that the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) petitioned FRA to extend relief related to SEPTA's participation in ...
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this document provides the public notice that by letter received on March 13, 2025, SEPTA petitioned FRA for an extension of a waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR part 240 (Qualification and Certification of Locomotive Engineers) and part 242 (Qualification and Certification of Conductors). FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2015-0084.
Specifically, SEPTA requests an extension of the relief required to continue its participation in FRA's C3
RS Program. SEPTA seeks to continue shielding reporting employees from mandatory punitive sanctions that would otherwise arise as provided in §§ 240.117(e)(1) through (4); 240.305(a)(1)through (4) and (a)(6); 240.307; 242.403(b), (c), (e)(1) through (4), (e)(6) through (11), (f)(1) and (2); and 242.407. The C3
RS Program encourages certified operating crew members to report close calls and protects the employees and the railroad from discipline or sanctions arising from the incidents reported per the C3
RS Implementing Memorandum of Understanding (IMOU). The IMOU includes the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the Transportation Division of SMART-TD.
In support of its request, SEPTA states that it has made many safety improvements since the waiver was last extended, including reviewing 183 close call submissions; developing a “Shop Movement Job Brief Form,” which has reduced incidents in shop movements; and beginning a campaign to ensure equipment has proper inspection paperwork and testing before leaving initial terminals.
A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications concerning the petition, is available for review online at
www.regulations.gov.
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.
Communications received by June 20, 2025, will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be considered if practicable.
Privacy Act
Anyone can search the electronic form of any written communications and comments received into any of FRA's 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 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/privacy-notice
for the privacy notice of
regulations.gov.
Issued in Washington, DC.
John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.