[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 4, 1999)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 23816-23817] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-11189] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration 49 CFR Parts 229, 231, and 232 [FRA Docket No. PB-9; Notice No. 16] RIN 2130-AB16 Brake System Safety Standards for Freight and Other Non-Passenger Trains and Equipment
Agency
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), DOT.
Action
Notice of public meeting.
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Summary
By notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published on September 9, 1998 (63 FR 48294), FRA proposed revisions to the regulations governing the power braking systems and equipment used in freight and other non-passenger railroad train operations. This document announces a public meeting to discuss specific issues related to FRA's collection of data concerning inspections and defects and the use of defect ratios based upon that data, and the impact that information may have on the proposed rule.
Dates
Public Meeting: A public meeting will be held on the date and at the location listed below to provide interested parties the opportunity to discuss FRA's collection of inspection and defect data and the calculation of defect ratios relevant to this NPRM. The date of the public hearing is as follows: Thursday, May 27, 1999 at 10:00 a.m. in Washington D.C.
Addresses
(1) Public Meeting: The public meeting will be held at the following location: Washington, D.C.: Conference Area 1, Seventh Floor, 1120 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. (2) Docket Clerk: Written notification to FRA's Docket Clerk must identify the docket number, and the name, address, and phone number of the participant or attendee. Each notification must be submitted in triplicate to the Docket Clerk, Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Railroad Administration, RCC-10, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Stop 10, Washington, D.C. 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: John Leeds, Director, Office of Safety Analysis, RRS-20, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Stop 25, Washington, D.C. 20950 (telephone 202-493-6211), or Thomas Herrmann, Trial Attorney, Office of the Chief Counsel, RCC-10, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Stop 10, Washington, D.C. 20950 (telephone 202-493-6053).
Supplementary Information
At the public hearings and technical conference conducted in relation to the NPRM and in written comments submitted subsequent to the public hearings and technical conference, comments were received from some parties which raised concerns regarding FRA's collection of data related to FRA's inspection activity and the number of conditions not in compliance with Federal regulations found during that inspection activity. The comments and correspondence received allege that there are substantial problems with FRA's database, that there has been substantial overreporting of the number of units inspected, and that there has been a systematic deflation of defect ratios. As the allegations and concerns raised to date have been general in nature and because the comment period in this proceeding closed March 1, 1999, FRA believes it is prudent and necessary to conduct a public meeting, on the record, to allow interested parties to fully explain and discuss their concerns. Although many of the concerns appear to involve more than the estimation of power brake defect ratios, which is the focus of this rulemaking, FRA believes that this is the appropriate forum to develop the issues and concerns. The purpose of the public meeting is to permit the exchange of information and concerns regarding FRA's database and the information developed from that database. One purpose of the meeting is to allow FRA to provide information regarding its internal review of the data and address some of the concerns raised to date, particularly as it relates to the estimation of power brake defect ratios discussed in the NPRM. A second purpose is to allow interested parties to fully develop and articulate the issues and concerns they have with the data gathered and presented by FRA so that these concerns can be fully addressed in any final rule that is developed. It should be noted that the meeting is not intended to allow participants to cross-examine FRA or other participants on either the content of the NPRM or positions taken with regard to the issues or data presented.
Public Participation Procedures
Any person wishing to attend the public meeting should notify the Docket Clerk by mail at the address provided in the ADDRESSES section at least five
working days prior to the date of the meeting and submit three copies of the issues he or she wishes to raise at the meeting. The notification should identify the party the person represents, and the particular subject(s) the person plans to raise. The notification should also provide the Docket Clerk with the participant's mailing address. FRA reserves the right to limit participation in the meeting of persons who fail to provide such notification.
Issued in Washington, D.C., on April 29, 1999. George A. Gavalla, Associate Administrator for Safety. [FR Doc. 99-11189 Filed 5-3-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-06-U