Petition for Waiver of Compliance, 28757-28758 [2018-13218]
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 119 / Wednesday, June 20, 2018 / Notices
Administration, 800 Independence
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591.
This notice is published pursuant to
14 CFR 11.85.
Issued in Washington, DC, on June 12,
2018.
Lirio Liu,
Executive Director, Office of Rulemaking.
Petition For Exemption
Docket No.: FAA–2018–0004.
Petitioner: Cruiser Aircraft, Inc.
(CSA).
Section(s) of 14 CFR Affected:
21.190(c)(2).
Description of Relief Sought: The
proposed exemption, if granted, would
allow those Sport Cruiser special lightsport aircraft manufactured by CSA with
serial number SC0557 and up that
otherwise comply with the applicable
consensus standards to be eligible for
issuance (or re-issuance) of a special
airworthiness certificate in the lightsport category with a maximum takeoff
weight of not more than 1,386 pounds
(630 kilograms).
[FR Doc. 2018–13178 Filed 6–19–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA–2018–0021]
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Petition for Waiver of Compliance
Under part 211 of Title 49 Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR), this
document provides the public notice
that by a document dated February 16,
2018, TexRail (TEXR) has petitioned the
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
for a waiver of compliance from certain
provisions of the Federal railroad safety
regulations contained at 49 CFR part
238, Passenger Equipment Safety
Standards. FRA assigned the petition
Docket Number FRA–2018–0021.
TEXR has ordered eight FLIRT Series
Diesel Multiple Units (DMU) trainsets
manufactured by Stadler Bussnang AG
with an option to purchase additional
trainsets. The DMUs are designed to
fulfill the requirements set forth by 49
CFR 238.201, Scope/alternative
compliance. TEXR requests a waiver
‘‘based on compliance with the FRAissued guideline ‘Technical Criteria and
Procedures for Evaluating the
Crashworthiness and Occupant
Protection Performance of AlternativelyDesigned Passenger Rail Equipment for
Use in Tier I Service’ and the proposed
Appendix G to 49 CFR part 238.’’
Currently, these vehicles are being
delivered and tested at the TEXR
maintenance facility. Specifically, TEXR
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:58 Jun 19, 2018
Jkt 244001
seeks relief from certain requirements
for end-frame compression and other
procedures as presented in their
petition.
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 Ave. 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 and a
public hearing, 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:
• Website: 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 20,
2018 will be considered by FRA before
final action is taken. Comments received
after that date will be considered as far
as practicable.
Anyone can 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.).
Under 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits
comments from the public to better
inform its processes. DOT posts these
comments, without edit, including any
personal information the commenter
provides, to www.regulations.gov, as
described in the system of records
notice (DOT/ALL–14 FDMS), which can
be reviewed at https://
www.transportation.gov/privacy. See
also https://www.regulations.gov/
PO 00000
Frm 00151
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
28757
privacyNotice for the privacy notice of
regulations.gov.
Issued in Washington, DC.
Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety,
Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018–13219 Filed 6–19–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA–2018–0049]
Petition for Waiver of Compliance
Under part 211 of Title 49 Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR), this
document provides the public notice
that on May 29, 2018, BNSF Railway
(BNSF) petitioned the Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA) for a waiver of
compliance from certain provisions of
the Federal railroad safety regulations
contained at 49 CFR 232.213, 232.15,
and 232.103(f). In addition, BNSF
requests an exemption from the
requirements of Title 49, United States
Code (U.S.C.), section 20303, which
prohibits the movement of a rail vehicle
with defective or insecure equipment
beyond the nearest available place at
which the repairs can be made. See 49
U.S.C. 20306. FRA assigned the petition
Docket Number FRA–2018–0049.
Specifically, BNSF petitions FRA to
conduct a pilot program on a segment of
their system to ‘‘demonstrate that the
use of wheel temperature detectors
(WTD) to prove brake health
effectiveness (BHE) will improve safety,
reduce risks to employees, and provide
cost savings to the industry.’’ Currently,
the effectiveness of railroad brake
systems is verified by Class I initial
terminal and Class IA intermediate
brake tests. BNSF proposes to
supplement these visual inspections
with a wayside WTD, a device designed
to directly measure the rise in wheel
temperatures because of a brake
application. BNSF asserts that such a
measure of performance is objective,
quantifiable, and independent of
conditions that can impair a visual
inspection; such as weather, lighting,
human fatigue, or human error.
BNSF states that a monitoring system
using WTD data as an alternative to the
intermediate brake inspections is
expected to substantially improve the
reliability of brake inspections, reduce
on-line setouts, and increase faulty part
replacement, to improve the safety
performance of brake systems overall.
BNSF plans to use pyrometer sensors, a
technology also used for hot wheel
E:\FR\FM\20JNN1.SGM
20JNN1
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
28758
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 119 / Wednesday, June 20, 2018 / Notices
detection, to measure the surface
temperature of each wheel passing the
detector. Using data analysis algorithms,
these temperature measurements
determine whether brakes on each axle
and brake valve of a car is applying
when they should, and not applying
when they should not. A comparison to
a baseline non-braking measurement
against the brake site measurement
would be used to identify wheels with
abnormal brake readings for subsequent
inspection, troubleshooting, and repair.
BNSF explains that its Safety Assurance
Plan (SAP) describes how its WTD
system provides for each safety element
required by the Class I and Intermediate
Brake Tests, outlines the level of brake
system performance that is expected
from using the WTD and algorithms,
and describes how data will be collected
to demonstrate that this level of safety
has been achieved.
BNSF proposes to conduct a pilot
program on extended haul, revenueservice unit intermodal trains, operating
between facilities in California and
Chicago, IL. These intermodal trains
operate intact with up to 1,702 miles
between brake tests. Each test train will
receive a Class I brake test and
predeparture test at the intermodal
facility in California or Chicago. In-route
trains will pass WTD monitors located
both east and west of Belen, NM, to
record braking performance through
power braking events. During this
proposed pilot program, a minimum of
95 percent of brake valves in a train will
be required to have ‘‘qualified’’ brakes
between inspection points, meaning a
brake valve produces a wheel
temperature statistically different from
the baseline test before braking is
initiated. If there is any doubt about
WTD system performance, reliability,
and data quality; or fewer than 95
percent of the brake valves in the
consist that have qualified brakes as
verified by the automated WTD system,
a manual intermediate inspection will
be performed at the designated
inspection point. Class I inspections and
other operational and regulatory
inspections will continue to be
performed, and any defects discovered
by the Class I brake test will be repaired
before the car is approved to leave the
original terminal.
Additionally, BNSF explains that it
uses dragging equipment detectors, hot
wheel detectors, and hot box detectors
to monitor equipment that may have
brakes not properly releasing,
handbrakes left on, or incorrect retainer
valve positions. BNSF states that
preliminary tests conducted with the
WTD system indicate that cars with
ineffective brakes are identified at a
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:58 Jun 19, 2018
Jkt 244001
significantly higher rate than
intermediate brake tests. During the
pilot test period, specific car repair data
resulting from abnormal brake
detections will be analyzed to establish
the effectiveness of the WTD compared
to manual inspections.
FRA may grant an exemption from the
requirements of 49 U.S.C. 20303 only on
the basis of (1) evidence developed at a
hearing; or (2) an agreement between
national railroad labor representatives
and the developer of the equipment or
technology at issue. 49 U.S.C. 20306. In
support of its request for an exemption
from 49 U.S.C. 20303, BNSF notes that
the public hearing FRA previously held
to address a similar request for
exemption from the Union Pacific
Railroad (Docket Number FRA–2016–
0018) addresses substantially the same
issues as its current request. Thus,
BNSF asserts a separate public hearing
on its current request is unnecessary.
FRA agrees and in considering BNSF’s
request in this docket, FRA intends to
rely on the findings of the hearing
conducted in Docket Number FRA–
2016–0018.
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 parties desire
an opportunity for oral comment and a
public hearing, 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:
• Website: 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.
PO 00000
Frm 00152
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal Holidays.
Communications received by July 20,
2018 will be considered by FRA before
final action is taken. Comments received
after that date will be considered if
practicable.
Anyone can 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.).
Under 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits
comments from the public to better
inform its processes. DOT posts these
comments, without edit, including any
personal information the commenter
provides, to www.regulations.gov, as
described in the system of records
notice (DOT/ALL–14 FDMS), which can
be reviewed at https://
www.transportation.gov/privacy. See
also https://www.regulations.gov/
privacyNotice for the privacy notice of
regulations.gov.
Issued in Washington, DC.
Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety,
Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018–13218 Filed 6–19–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. FAA–2009–0671]
Agency Requests for Renewal of a
Previously Approved Information
Collection(s): Safety Management
Systems for Part 121 Certificate
Holders
Federal Aviation
Administration, (FAA)(DOT).
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
The DOT invites public
comments about our intention to request
the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) approval to renew an
information collection used to support
the analysis of safety data as part of a
Safety Management System required for
part 121 Certificate Holders. The
information to be collected will be used
to identify hazards and show
compliance with part 5, Safety
Management Systems. All collected data
and records are maintained by the
certificate holder and not submitted to
the FAA. We are required to publish
this notice in the Federal Register by
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
DATES: Written comments should be
submitted by August 20, 2018.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\20JNN1.SGM
20JNN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28757-28758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13218]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA-2018-0049]
Petition for Waiver of Compliance
Under part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this
document provides the public notice that on May 29, 2018, BNSF Railway
(BNSF) petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a
waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal railroad
safety regulations contained at 49 CFR 232.213, 232.15, and 232.103(f).
In addition, BNSF requests an exemption from the requirements of Title
49, United States Code (U.S.C.), section 20303, which prohibits the
movement of a rail vehicle with defective or insecure equipment beyond
the nearest available place at which the repairs can be made. See 49
U.S.C. 20306. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2018-0049.
Specifically, BNSF petitions FRA to conduct a pilot program on a
segment of their system to ``demonstrate that the use of wheel
temperature detectors (WTD) to prove brake health effectiveness (BHE)
will improve safety, reduce risks to employees, and provide cost
savings to the industry.'' Currently, the effectiveness of railroad
brake systems is verified by Class I initial terminal and Class IA
intermediate brake tests. BNSF proposes to supplement these visual
inspections with a wayside WTD, a device designed to directly measure
the rise in wheel temperatures because of a brake application. BNSF
asserts that such a measure of performance is objective, quantifiable,
and independent of conditions that can impair a visual inspection; such
as weather, lighting, human fatigue, or human error.
BNSF states that a monitoring system using WTD data as an
alternative to the intermediate brake inspections is expected to
substantially improve the reliability of brake inspections, reduce on-
line setouts, and increase faulty part replacement, to improve the
safety performance of brake systems overall. BNSF plans to use
pyrometer sensors, a technology also used for hot wheel
[[Page 28758]]
detection, to measure the surface temperature of each wheel passing the
detector. Using data analysis algorithms, these temperature
measurements determine whether brakes on each axle and brake valve of a
car is applying when they should, and not applying when they should
not. A comparison to a baseline non-braking measurement against the
brake site measurement would be used to identify wheels with abnormal
brake readings for subsequent inspection, troubleshooting, and repair.
BNSF explains that its Safety Assurance Plan (SAP) describes how its
WTD system provides for each safety element required by the Class I and
Intermediate Brake Tests, outlines the level of brake system
performance that is expected from using the WTD and algorithms, and
describes how data will be collected to demonstrate that this level of
safety has been achieved.
BNSF proposes to conduct a pilot program on extended haul, revenue-
service unit intermodal trains, operating between facilities in
California and Chicago, IL. These intermodal trains operate intact with
up to 1,702 miles between brake tests. Each test train will receive a
Class I brake test and predeparture test at the intermodal facility in
California or Chicago. In-route trains will pass WTD monitors located
both east and west of Belen, NM, to record braking performance through
power braking events. During this proposed pilot program, a minimum of
95 percent of brake valves in a train will be required to have
``qualified'' brakes between inspection points, meaning a brake valve
produces a wheel temperature statistically different from the baseline
test before braking is initiated. If there is any doubt about WTD
system performance, reliability, and data quality; or fewer than 95
percent of the brake valves in the consist that have qualified brakes
as verified by the automated WTD system, a manual intermediate
inspection will be performed at the designated inspection point. Class
I inspections and other operational and regulatory inspections will
continue to be performed, and any defects discovered by the Class I
brake test will be repaired before the car is approved to leave the
original terminal.
Additionally, BNSF explains that it uses dragging equipment
detectors, hot wheel detectors, and hot box detectors to monitor
equipment that may have brakes not properly releasing, handbrakes left
on, or incorrect retainer valve positions. BNSF states that preliminary
tests conducted with the WTD system indicate that cars with ineffective
brakes are identified at a significantly higher rate than intermediate
brake tests. During the pilot test period, specific car repair data
resulting from abnormal brake detections will be analyzed to establish
the effectiveness of the WTD compared to manual inspections.
FRA may grant an exemption from the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 20303
only on the basis of (1) evidence developed at a hearing; or (2) an
agreement between national railroad labor representatives and the
developer of the equipment or technology at issue. 49 U.S.C. 20306. In
support of its request for an exemption from 49 U.S.C. 20303, BNSF
notes that the public hearing FRA previously held to address a similar
request for exemption from the Union Pacific Railroad (Docket Number
FRA-2016-0018) addresses substantially the same issues as its current
request. Thus, BNSF asserts a separate public hearing on its current
request is unnecessary. FRA agrees and in considering BNSF's request in
this docket, FRA intends to rely on the findings of the hearing
conducted in Docket Number FRA-2016-0018.
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 parties
desire an opportunity for oral comment and a public hearing, 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:
Website: 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 20, 2018 will be considered by FRA
before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be
considered if practicable.
Anyone can 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.).
Under 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public to better
inform its processes. DOT posts these comments, without edit, including
any personal information the commenter provides, to
www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/
ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at https://www.transportation.gov/privacy. See also https://www.regulations.gov/privacyNotice for the
privacy notice of regulations.gov.
Issued in Washington, DC.
Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-13218 Filed 6-19-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P