Petition for Waiver of Compliance, 49069 [E9-23201]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 185 / Friday, September 25, 2009 / Notices 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) has received a request for a waiver of compliance from 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. jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES BNSF Railway and Norfolk Southern Railway (Docket Number FRA–2009– 0088) The BNSF Railway (BNSF) and Norfolk Southern Railway (NS), two Class 1 Railroads, petitioned FRA for a waiver of compliance from certain provisions prescribed by CFR § 232.607 Inspection and testing requirements [73 FR 61554, October 16, 2008]. The requirement specifically limits movement of Electronically Controlled Pneumatic (ECP) brake trains to 3,500 miles between Class 1 initial terminal brake inspections. BNSF and NS request relief to allow for the implementation of ECP trains on a joint pilot project from Plant Scherer, located near Macon, Georgia, to the Powder River Basin and return to origin. However, this move exceeds the 3,500 mile limit granted under CFR § 232.607. The joint BNSF/ NS move from Plant Scherer to Thunder Junction, Wyoming, and return to Macon, is a loop ranging from 4200 to 4710 miles. The five proposed routes are (one way): • Route 1: Thunder Jct.—Alliance— Kansas City—Memphis—Chattanooga— Scherer = 2100 miles. • Route 2: Thunder Jct.—Alliance— Kansas City—St. Louis—Chattanooga— Scherer = 2150 miles. • Route 3: Thunder Jct.—Denver— Amarillo—Springfield—Memphis— Chattanooga—Scherer = 2238 miles. • Route 4: Thunder Jct.—Denver— Kansas City—Springfield—Memphis— Chattanooga—Scherer = 2115 miles. • Route 5: Thunder Jct.—Denver— Amarillo—Springfield—Memphis— Birmingham—Chattanooga—Scherer = 2355 miles. All required inspections and brake tests, as outlined in CFR Part 232, subpart G, will be performed at Plant Scherer by Qualified Maintenance Personnel. The petitioners state in their request the extended distance traveled VerDate Nov<24>2008 18:52 Sep 24, 2009 Jkt 217001 by these select trains will not have an adverse effect on safety. They also state that over the past 21 months, ECP trains have been operating at a greater level of safety than conventional trains. 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 (e.g., Waiver Petition Docket Number FRA–2009– 0088) and may be submitted by any of the following methods: • Web site: https:// 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. • 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 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:// www.regulations.gov. Anyone is able to 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 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). PO 00000 Frm 00169 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 49069 Issued in Washington, DC on September 21, 2009. Grady C. Cothen, Jr., Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program Development. [FR Doc. E9–23201 Filed 9–24–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration [Docket No. FMCSA–2001–9561; FMCSA– 2003–15268; FMCSA–2005–21254; FMCSA– 2005–21711; FMCSA–2006–26066; FMCSA– 2007–26653; FMCSA–2007–27897; FMCSA– 2007–28695] Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of renewal of exemptions; request for comments. SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 26 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. DATES: This decision is effective October 24, 2009. Comments must be received on or before October 26, 2009. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments bearing the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) Docket ID FMCSA– 2001–9561; FMCSA–2003–15268; FMCSA–2005–21254; FMCSA–2005– 21711; FMCSA–2006–26066; FMCSA– 2007–26653; FMCSA–2007–27897; FMCSA–2007–28695, using any of the following methods. • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. • Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC 20590–0001. • Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 E:\FR\FM\25SEN1.SGM 25SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 185 (Friday, September 25, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 49069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-23201]



[[Page 49069]]

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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) has received a request for a waiver of compliance from 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.

BNSF Railway and Norfolk Southern Railway (Docket Number FRA-2009-0088)

    The BNSF Railway (BNSF) and Norfolk Southern Railway (NS), two 
Class 1 Railroads, petitioned FRA for a waiver of compliance from 
certain provisions prescribed by CFR Sec.  232.607 Inspection and 
testing requirements [73 FR 61554, October 16, 2008].
    The requirement specifically limits movement of Electronically 
Controlled Pneumatic (ECP) brake trains to 3,500 miles between Class 1 
initial terminal brake inspections. BNSF and NS request relief to allow 
for the implementation of ECP trains on a joint pilot project from 
Plant Scherer, located near Macon, Georgia, to the Powder River Basin 
and return to origin. However, this move exceeds the 3,500 mile limit 
granted under CFR Sec.  232.607. The joint BNSF/NS move from Plant 
Scherer to Thunder Junction, Wyoming, and return to Macon, is a loop 
ranging from 4200 to 4710 miles.
    The five proposed routes are (one way):
     Route 1: Thunder Jct.--Alliance--Kansas City--Memphis--
Chattanooga--Scherer = 2100 miles.
     Route 2: Thunder Jct.--Alliance--Kansas City--St. Louis--
Chattanooga--Scherer = 2150 miles.
     Route 3: Thunder Jct.--Denver--Amarillo--Springfield--
Memphis--Chattanooga--Scherer = 2238 miles.
     Route 4: Thunder Jct.--Denver--Kansas City--Springfield--
Memphis--Chattanooga--Scherer = 2115 miles.
     Route 5: Thunder Jct.--Denver--Amarillo--Springfield--
Memphis--Birmingham--Chattanooga--Scherer = 2355 miles.
    All required inspections and brake tests, as outlined in CFR Part 
232, subpart G, will be performed at Plant Scherer by Qualified 
Maintenance Personnel. The petitioners state in their request the 
extended distance traveled by these select trains will not have an 
adverse effect on safety. They also state that over the past 21 months, 
ECP trains have been operating at a greater level of safety than 
conventional trains.
    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 (e.g., Waiver Petition Docket Number FRA-
2009-0088) and may be submitted by any of the following methods:
     Web site: https://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.
     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 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://www.regulations.gov.
    Anyone is able to 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 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).


    Issued in Washington, DC on September 21, 2009.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program 
Development.
[FR Doc. E9-23201 Filed 9-24-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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