Safety Advisory 2008-01, 20741 [E8-8104]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 74 / Wednesday, April 16, 2008 / Notices
Anyone is able to search the
electronic form of any written
communications and comments
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review DOT’s complete Privacy Act
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published on April 11, 2000 (Volume
65, Number 70; Pages 19477–78).
Issued in Washington, DC on April 9, 2008.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety
Standards and Program Development.
[FR Doc. E8–8103 Filed 4–15–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Safety Advisory 2008–01
Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Safety Advisory;
damage to intermediate air hose elbow
connection on certain freight cars
equipped with end-of-car cushion
devices.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: FRA’s Office of Safety
Assurance and Compliance Motive
Power and Equipment (MP&E) Division
has been notified that certain freight
cars equipped with end-of-car
cushioning (EOCC) devices may have
damage to a 90-degree elbow connected
to the trainline angle cock.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom
Blankenship, Mechanical Engineer,
MP&E Division (RRS–14); FRA Office of
Safety Assurance and Compliance, 1200
New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington,
DC 20590, telephone: (202) 493–6446.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On newly
constructed freight cars, the air brake
trainline must pass the Association of
American Railroads (AAR) Standard S–
471, Brake Pipe Restriction Test. This
requirement is used to verify the clear
and open path of air to adequately
operate the train air brake system. The
Brake Pipe Restriction Test requires that
a 1-inch round nylon ball be transmitted
through the trainline under air pressure
of 80 psi.
The intermediate air hose
arrangement, as shown in Rule 4, Figure
22 of the Field Manual of the AAR
Interchange Rules, shows a 90-degree
swivel elbow connected to the angle
cock. The intermediate air hose (located
between the angle cock and the standard
air brake hose) has this 90-degree elbow
attached to the air hose end of the angle
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:19 Apr 15, 2008
Jkt 214001
cock. When cars are uncoupled while
charged with air, the glad hand on the
standard air brake hose can (if not
properly restrained) whip back and
strike the 90-degree elbow. The violent
impact of the glad hand striking this
elbow causes the elbow to bend or
flatten and subsequently restrict the air
flow. This bending or flattening of the
90-degree elbow, if uncorrected, can
cause sticking brakes, wheel tread
buildup, and diminished capacity of the
train air brake system. Freight cars with
bent or flattened 90-degree elbows are in
violation of Title 49 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) section 232.205(c)(3),
which states in part, ‘‘air hoses shall be
properly coupled and shall not kink,
bind, or foul or be in any other
condition that restricts air flow.’’
FRA has found damage to the
intermediate air hose arrangement 90degree elbow on ATSF 621000–, ATSF
622000–, and BNSF 534000-series cars
owned by BNSF Railway (BNSF). BNSF
has implemented an aggressive program
to address this issue on cars in their
ownership by fleet inspection and repair
of cars found with damage to the 90degree elbow.
Additional cars that have been
observed with this type of defect
include LW 42000-series box cars and
TBOX 660000-series box cars.
Recommended Action: Recognizing
the need to ensure safety, FRA
recommends that railroads and car
owners that operate freight cars
equipped with EOCC devices having
intermediate air hoses with 90-degree
elbows subject to the damage described
above initiate an inspection and repair
program to ensure cars are maintained
in accordance with AAR Interchange
Rule 4, Figure 22, and that the trainline
is not obstructed or restricted.
FRA may modify this Safety Advisory
2008–01, issue additional safety
advisories, or take other appropriate
action necessary to ensure the highest
level of safety on the Nation’s railroads.
Issued in Washington, DC, on April 9,
2008.
Jo Strang,
Associate Administrator for Safety.
[FR Doc. E8–8104 Filed 4–15–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
PO 00000
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20741
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement for the Lake Oswego
to Portland Transit Project in the
Portland, OR Metropolitan Area
Federal Transit Administration
(FTA), U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) and Metro (the
regional government that serves the 25
cities and three counties of the Portland,
Oregon metropolitan area), in
cooperation with the cities of Lake
Oswego and Portland, Clackamas and
Multnomah counties; Oregon
Department of Transportation (ODOT)
and the Tri-County Metropolitan
Transportation District of Oregon
(TriMet), will prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the
benefits and impacts of proposed transit
improvements. Three alternatives are
proposed: (1) A No-Build alternative
that includes everything in the Metro
Regional Transportation Plan, not
including the proposed project, and
with a continuation of present day bus
service policies in place of the project;
(2) a streetcar alternative that would
extend the existing Portland Streetcar
system approximately 1.2 miles to a
short terminus in Johns Landing, or 5.7
miles to a terminus in downtown Lake
Oswego, with connecting bus service in
the corridor, and (3) an enhanced bus
alternative with capital improvements
between downtown Portland and Lake
Oswego and connecting bus service to
the rest of the corridor. FTA and Metro
will prepare the EIS in accordance with
FTA regulations (23 CFR 771 et seq.)
implementing the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and
with the Safe, Accountable, Flexible,
Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). This
Notice alerts interested parties of the
intent to prepare the EIS, provides
information on the nature of the
proposed transit project, invites
participation in the EIS process
(including comments on the scope of
the EIS proposed in this notice), and
announces an upcoming public scoping
meeting.
DATES: Comment due date: Written
comments on the scope of the EIS,
including the preliminary purpose and
need for transit improvements in the
corridor, the alternatives to be
considered, the environmental and
E:\FR\FM\16APN1.SGM
16APN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 74 (Wednesday, April 16, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 20741]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-8104]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Safety Advisory 2008-01
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Safety Advisory; damage to intermediate air hose
elbow connection on certain freight cars equipped with end-of-car
cushion devices.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: FRA's Office of Safety Assurance and Compliance Motive Power
and Equipment (MP&E) Division has been notified that certain freight
cars equipped with end-of-car cushioning (EOCC) devices may have damage
to a 90-degree elbow connected to the trainline angle cock.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Blankenship, Mechanical Engineer,
MP&E Division (RRS-14); FRA Office of Safety Assurance and Compliance,
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, telephone: (202)
493-6446.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On newly constructed freight cars, the air
brake trainline must pass the Association of American Railroads (AAR)
Standard S-471, Brake Pipe Restriction Test. This requirement is used
to verify the clear and open path of air to adequately operate the
train air brake system. The Brake Pipe Restriction Test requires that a
1-inch round nylon ball be transmitted through the trainline under air
pressure of 80 psi.
The intermediate air hose arrangement, as shown in Rule 4, Figure
22 of the Field Manual of the AAR Interchange Rules, shows a 90-degree
swivel elbow connected to the angle cock. The intermediate air hose
(located between the angle cock and the standard air brake hose) has
this 90-degree elbow attached to the air hose end of the angle cock.
When cars are uncoupled while charged with air, the glad hand on the
standard air brake hose can (if not properly restrained) whip back and
strike the 90-degree elbow. The violent impact of the glad hand
striking this elbow causes the elbow to bend or flatten and
subsequently restrict the air flow. This bending or flattening of the
90-degree elbow, if uncorrected, can cause sticking brakes, wheel tread
buildup, and diminished capacity of the train air brake system. Freight
cars with bent or flattened 90-degree elbows are in violation of Title
49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) section 232.205(c)(3), which
states in part, ``air hoses shall be properly coupled and shall not
kink, bind, or foul or be in any other condition that restricts air
flow.''
FRA has found damage to the intermediate air hose arrangement 90-
degree elbow on ATSF 621000-, ATSF 622000-, and BNSF 534000-series cars
owned by BNSF Railway (BNSF). BNSF has implemented an aggressive
program to address this issue on cars in their ownership by fleet
inspection and repair of cars found with damage to the 90-degree elbow.
Additional cars that have been observed with this type of defect
include LW 42000-series box cars and TBOX 660000-series box cars.
Recommended Action: Recognizing the need to ensure safety, FRA
recommends that railroads and car owners that operate freight cars
equipped with EOCC devices having intermediate air hoses with 90-degree
elbows subject to the damage described above initiate an inspection and
repair program to ensure cars are maintained in accordance with AAR
Interchange Rule 4, Figure 22, and that the trainline is not obstructed
or restricted.
FRA may modify this Safety Advisory 2008-01, issue additional
safety advisories, or take other appropriate action necessary to ensure
the highest level of safety on the Nation's railroads.
Issued in Washington, DC, on April 9, 2008.
Jo Strang,
Associate Administrator for Safety.
[FR Doc. E8-8104 Filed 4-15-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
