Petition for Waiver of Compliance, 9412 [E6-2552]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 36 / Thursday, February 23, 2006 / Notices
Issued in Washington, DC on February 16,
2006.
D.J. Stadtler,
Director, Office of Budget, Federal Railroad
Administration.
[FR Doc. E6–2547 Filed 2–22–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Petition for Waiver of Compliance
In accordance with Part 211 of Title
49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR),
notice is hereby given that the Federal
Railroad Administration (FRA) received
a request for a waiver of compliance
with certain requirements of its safety
standards. The individual petition is
described below, including the party
seeking relief, the regulatory provisions
involved, the nature of the relief being
requested, and the petitioner’s
arguments in favor of relief.
Quantum Engineering, Inc.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
(Waiver Petition Docket Number FRA–
2006–23751)
Quantum Engineering, Inc.
(Quantum), seeks a waiver of
compliance with the requirements of 49
CFR, 221.13(d), Rear End Marking
Devices, published January 11, 1977,
and 49 CFR, 232.403(g)(2), End-of Train
Devices, published January 17, 2001.
Specifically, § 221.13(d) requires: ‘‘The
centroid of the marking device must be
located at a minimum of 48 inches
above the top of the rail.’’ And,
§ 232.403(g)(2) requires: ‘‘If power is
supplied by one or more batteries, the
operating life shall be a minimum of 36
hours at 0 °C.’’ Quantum seeks to reduce
the specified battery capacity by
eliminating one of the two batteries
from their end-of-train device.
According to Quantum, their end-oftrain device includes both an air turbine
powered alternator (which has been in
service for several years), and two
batteries. Both the batteries and the
alternator are continuously connected to
provide power to the device and by
removing one of the two batteries, the
weight of the device could be
substantially reduced. The remaining
battery, which is charged by the
alternator during normal operations,
would provide power for approximately
18 hours in cases where the alternator
would not be able to function such as
during switching operations when train
line brake pressure is cut out.
Quantum’s test data indicates that the
end-of-train device will operate for
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:15 Feb 22, 2006
Jkt 205001
approximately 18 hours with only one
battery after loss of train line air.
Quantum also seeks relief from the
regulatory requirement that the centroid
of the marking device be located at a
minimum of 48 inches above the top of
the rail. Quantum states that with the
coupler attachment mechanism
approximately 36 inches above the rail,
the 48 inch regulatory requirement
requires designing the device to be at
least 12 inches higher than necessary
and that 12 inches is marginal at best in
providing greater sight distance but
introduces a substantial mechanical
moment in a high G force area
promoting fatigue of components. A
marker minimum height of 36 inches
would allow the device to be more
compact with a center of gravity closer
to the coupler mounting mechanism and
allow a further reduction in the weight
of the device. Therefore, Quantum is
requesting a waiver to allow a marker
height at a minimum of 36 inches above
the top of the rail.
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 (FRA–2006–
23751) and must be submitted to the
Docket Clerk, DOT Docket Management
Facility, Room PL–401 (Plaza Level),
400 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC
20590. Communications received within
45 days of the date of this notice will
be considered by FRA before final
action is taken. Comments received after
that date will be considered as far as
practicable. All written communications
concerning these proceedings are
available for examination during regular
business hours (9 a.m.–5 p.m.) at the
above facility. All documents in the
public docket are also available for
inspection and copying on the Internet
at the docket facility’s Web site at
https://dms.dot.gov.
Anyone is able to search the
electronic form of all comments
received into any of our dockets by the
name of the individual submitting the
comment (or signing the comment, if
submitted on behalf of an association,
business, labor union, etc.). You may
review DOT’s complete Privacy Act
Statement in the Federal Register
published on April 11, 2000 (Volume
PO 00000
Frm 00105
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
65, Number 70; Pages 19477–78). The
Statement may also be found at https://
dms.dot.gov.
Issued in Washington, DC on February 14,
2006.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety
Standards and Program Development.
[FR Doc. E6–2552 Filed 2–22–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Notice of Application for Approval of
Discontinuance or Modification of a
Railroad Signal System or Relief From
the Requirements of Title 49 Code of
Federal Regulations Part 236
Pursuant to Title 49 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) Part 235 and 49
U.S.C. 20502(a), the following railroad
has petitioned the Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA) seeking approval
for the discontinuance or modification
of the signal system or relief from the
requirements of 49 CFR Part 236 as
detailed below.
[Docket No. FRA–2006–23707]
Applicant: Norfolk Southern
Corporation, Mr. Brian L. Sykes, Chief
Engineer, C&S Engineering, 99 Spring
Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303.
Norfolk Southern Corporation seeks
approval of the proposed modification
of the traffic control system, on Main
Track No. 2, at Control Point Southern
Avenue, milepost –654.6, on the Lake
Division, Columbus District, near
Chillicothe, Ohio. The proposed
changes consist of the conversion of the
power-operated switch to a handoperated switch, equipped with an
electric lock, and the discontinuance
and removal of the three associated
controlled signals.
The reason given for the proposed
changes is the elimination of facilities
no longer needed for present day
operation. An electrically locked handoperated switch, would better serve the
minium use the turnout currently
receives.
Any interested party desiring to
protest the granting of an application
shall set forth specifically the grounds
upon which the protest is made, and
include a concise statement of the
interest of the party in the proceeding.
Additionally, one copy of the protest
shall be furnished to the applicant at the
address listed above.
All communications concerning this
proceeding should be identified by the
docket number and must be submitted
to the Docket Clerk, DOT Central Docket
E:\FR\FM\23FEN1.SGM
23FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 36 (Thursday, February 23, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 9412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2552]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Petition for Waiver of Compliance
In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR), notice is hereby given that the Federal Railroad Administration
(FRA) received a request for a waiver of compliance with certain
requirements of its safety standards. The individual petition is
described below, including the party seeking relief, the regulatory
provisions involved, the nature of the relief being requested, and the
petitioner's arguments in favor of relief.
Quantum Engineering, Inc.
(Waiver Petition Docket Number FRA-2006-23751)
Quantum Engineering, Inc. (Quantum), seeks a waiver of compliance
with the requirements of 49 CFR, 221.13(d), Rear End Marking Devices,
published January 11, 1977, and 49 CFR, 232.403(g)(2), End-of Train
Devices, published January 17, 2001. Specifically, Sec. 221.13(d)
requires: ``The centroid of the marking device must be located at a
minimum of 48 inches above the top of the rail.'' And, Sec.
232.403(g)(2) requires: ``If power is supplied by one or more
batteries, the operating life shall be a minimum of 36 hours at 0
[deg]C.'' Quantum seeks to reduce the specified battery capacity by
eliminating one of the two batteries from their end-of-train device.
According to Quantum, their end-of-train device includes both an air
turbine powered alternator (which has been in service for several
years), and two batteries. Both the batteries and the alternator are
continuously connected to provide power to the device and by removing
one of the two batteries, the weight of the device could be
substantially reduced. The remaining battery, which is charged by the
alternator during normal operations, would provide power for
approximately 18 hours in cases where the alternator would not be able
to function such as during switching operations when train line brake
pressure is cut out. Quantum's test data indicates that the end-of-
train device will operate for approximately 18 hours with only one
battery after loss of train line air.
Quantum also seeks relief from the regulatory requirement that the
centroid of the marking device be located at a minimum of 48 inches
above the top of the rail. Quantum states that with the coupler
attachment mechanism approximately 36 inches above the rail, the 48
inch regulatory requirement requires designing the device to be at
least 12 inches higher than necessary and that 12 inches is marginal at
best in providing greater sight distance but introduces a substantial
mechanical moment in a high G force area promoting fatigue of
components. A marker minimum height of 36 inches would allow the device
to be more compact with a center of gravity closer to the coupler
mounting mechanism and allow a further reduction in the weight of the
device. Therefore, Quantum is requesting a waiver to allow a marker
height at a minimum of 36 inches above the top of the rail.
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 (FRA-2006-23751) and must be submitted to the
Docket Clerk, DOT Docket Management Facility, Room PL-401 (Plaza
Level), 400 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Communications
received within 45 days of the date of this notice will be considered
by FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date
will be considered as far as practicable. All written communications
concerning these proceedings are available for examination during
regular business hours (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) at the above facility. All
documents in the public docket are also available for inspection and
copying on the Internet at the docket facility's Web site at https://
dms.dot.gov.
Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on
April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78). The Statement
may also be found at https://dms.dot.gov.
Issued in Washington, DC on February 14, 2006.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program
Development.
[FR Doc. E6-2552 Filed 2-22-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
