Petition for Modification to Waiver of Compliance, 31402 [2014-12622]

Agencies

• Federal Railroad Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 105 (Monday, June 2, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 31402]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-12622]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2013-0057]


Petition for Modification to Waiver of Compliance

    In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR), this document provides the public notice that by two letters 
dated April 2, 2014, Steam Into History (Steam) has petitioned the 
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a modification to its 
existing waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal 
railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR Part 215, Railroad 
Freight Car Safety Standards. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number 
FRA-2013-0057.
    Specifically, Steam seeks additional relief from 49 CFR 215.303, 
Stenciling of restricted cars, which requires that restricted railroad 
freight cars be stenciled or marked in clearly legible letters with the 
letter ``R'' and a series of designated terms to indicate the basis for 
the restricted operation of the car.
    The petition requests the addition of two freight cars, numbered 
NCR 630 and 127, to relief already granted for similar equipment. NCR 
127 is a railroad flatcar being converted to a passenger car for 
tourist and excursion railroad service by the addition of seating, 
superstructures, and steps. NCR 630 is a caboose. Each of the Steam 
freight cars in the petition is more than 50 years of age, measured 
from the date of original construction, and these freight cars are also 
the subject of a parallel petition for Special Approval for continued 
operation under 49 CFR 215.203(c). Therefore, Steam seeks a waiver of 
the requirement for stenciling contained in 49 CFR 215.303, as the 
railroad states that the stenciling would detract from both the 
aesthetic and historical nature of the reproduction vintage railcar 
equipment. As Steam's passenger equipment will operate in a limited 
area, Steam requests permission to keep documentation related to the 
restricted status of the equipment at its business office, similar to 
the conditions granted to other tourist and excursion railroads. 
Additionally, Steam petitions for relief from all of the requirements 
of 49 CFR Part 224, Reflectorization of Rail Freight Rolling Stock, as 
the railroad states that reflectorization would detract from both the 
aesthetic and historical nature of its reproduction vintage equipment.
    A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications 
concerning the petition, is available for review online at 
www.regulations.gov and in person at the U.S. Department of 
Transportation's (DOT) Docket Operations Facility, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE., W12-140, Washington, DC 20590. The Docket Operations 
Facility is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal Holidays.
    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 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 by July 17, 2014 will be considered by FRA 
before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be 
considered as far as practicable.
    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 document, 
if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
See https://www.regulations.gov/#!privacyNotice for the privacy notice 
of regulations.gov or interested parties may review DOT's complete 
Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 
2000 (65 FR 19477).

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 27, 2014.
Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-12622 Filed 5-30-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P