Petition for Approval: Alaska Railroad Corporation Approval Extension, 33472-33473 [2021-13447]

Download as PDF 33472 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 119 / Thursday, June 24, 2021 / Notices Drivers; Exemption Applications; Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders,’’ (78 FR 3069), its decision to grant requests from 22 individuals for exemptions from the regulatory requirement that interstate CMV drivers have ‘‘no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV.’’ Since that time, the Agency has published additional notices granting requests from individuals for exemptions from the regulatory requirement regarding epilepsy found in § 391.41(b)(8). To be considered for an exemption from the epilepsy and seizure disorders prohibition in § 391.41(b)(8), applicants must meet the criteria in the 2007 recommendations of the Agency’s Medical Expert Panel (78 FR 3069). III. Qualifications of Applicants Charles Anthony Mr. Anthony is a 44 year-old class D driver’s license holder in North Dakota. He has a history of epilepsy and has been seizure free since 2006. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since 1991. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Anthony receiving an exemption. Jeffrey Douglass Mr. Douglass is a 40 year-old class B CDL holder in Maine. He has a history of partial complex epilepsy and has been seizure free since April 2010. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since April 2010. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Douglass receiving an exemption. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Phillip Halfmann Mr. Halfmann is a 30 year-old class DM driver’s license holder in Wisconsin. He has a history of seizure and has been seizure free since 2011. He is currently not taking any anti-seizure medications and has not been prescribed anti-seizure medication since 2011. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Halfmann receiving an exemption. Christopher Nonnenkamp Mr. Nonnenkamp is a 47 year-old class E driver’s license holder in Missouri. He has a history of generalized idopathic epilepsy and has been seizure free since 2010. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since 2010. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Nonnenkamp receiving an exemption. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:19 Jun 23, 2021 Jkt 253001 IV. Request for Comments In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b), FMCSA requests public comment from all interested persons on the exemption petitions described in this notice. We will consider all comments received before the close of business on the closing date indicated under the DATES section of the notice. Larry W. Minor, Associate Administrator for Policy. [FR Doc. 2021–13389 Filed 6–23–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [Docket No. FRA–2021–0064] Petition for Approval: Alaska Railroad Corporation Approval Extension Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice of conditional approval. AGENCY: FRA is issuing this notice of conditional approval to Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) in response to its August 29, 2020, petition to extend FRA’s approval authorizing ARRC’s transport of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) by rail in cryogenic portable tanks (T75, UN cryogenic portable tanks or cryogenic ISO tanks). DATES: Comments are requested no later than August 23, 2021. FRA will consider comments received after that date to the extent possible, without incurring additional expense or delay. ADDRESSES: 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. • Email: hmassist@dot.gov. 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 https://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 SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00267 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 also https://www.regulations.gov/ privacyNotice for the privacy notice of regulations.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Maday, Staff Director—Hazardous Materials Division, Office of Railroad Safety, FRA, telephone: (202) 493–0479 or email: Mark.Maday@dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 29, 2020, ARRC petitioned FRA for an extension of an Approval granted by the Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety in accordance with 49 CFR 174.63 of the Hazardous Materials Regulations. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA–2021–0064. Specifically, ARRC sought extension of the approval issued under § 174.63 to transport Methane, refrigerated liquid, UN 1972, Division 2.1 (Flammable gas), also commonly referred to as LNG, by rail in UN cryogenic portable tanks secured on flat cars via the following routes: (1) Mainline service between Seward, AK and Fairbanks, AK, and (2) branch line service of approximately 12 miles between the Port of Whittier, AK, and milepost 64.3 of the ARRC mainline. ARRC notes in its petition that it has not begun to commercially transport LNG under the terms of its approval. However, in its petition ARRC also notes that there is still a need for a clean and affordable energy source for interior Alaska. As a state-owned railroad operating under a statutory mandate to provide safe, efficient, and economical transportation to meet the overall needs of the state and its citizens, the ARRC is positioned to facilitate the solution. Additionally, ARRC suggests that demand for natural gas transportation is increasing, citing the recent installation of a 5.2-million-gallon storage tank by the natural gas distributor in Fairbanks, AK. ARRC describes ongoing business negotiations and developments that could soon result in opportunities to move LNG commercially by rail. Finally, ARRC projects that once commercial operations commence under the terms of the approval, there may be a need to move as much as 60 portable tanks of product every 4 days, utilizing two portable tanks per flatcar and a maximum of 30 flatcars per train. FRA first granted ARRC’s petition in 2015. FRA’s safety assessment was based upon detailed information provided by the ARRC, including results of assessments that were conducted by ARRC and evaluated by FRA technical experts for the routes over which LNG would be moved. In 2017, FRA modified the approval to expand the authorization to include the additional 12-mile branch line route from Port of E:\FR\FM\24JNN1.SGM 24JNN1 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 119 / Thursday, June 24, 2021 / Notices Whittier, AK, to milepost 64.3 of the ARRC mainline. The previous approval includes conditions to reduce risks to public safety and the environment. FRA’s previous approval letters are available in this public Docket for reference. Although ARRC hasn’t yet moved any product commercially by rail, under the terms of FRA’s previous approval, LNG has been moved commercially in portable tanks on other rail networks since 2017 without incident. FRA is basing this approval on risk assessments for similar operations it has approved. An analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act was conducted for this approval; it was determined to be covered by the categorical exclusion in 23 CFR 771.116(c)(15). FRA recognizes that public interest involving the safe transportation of petroleum products and specifically LNG is heightened, given recent regulatory actions. On July 24, 2020, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration published a final rule 1 authorizing the transportation of LNG in cryogenic tank cars with enhanced outer tanks (e.g., DOT–113C120W9). In the final rule, PHMSA indicated that 445 comments were submitted to the docket during the comment period.2 In light of the heightened public interest in the safe transportation of petroleum products, FRA believes it is appropriate to provide public notice and opportunity to comment on FRA’s approval, to ensure that it contains all necessary conditions to ensure the safety of ARRC’s LNG operations. FRA approves ARRC’s request conditioned on compliance with appropriate safety measures. All conditions of FRA’s prior approvals for ARRC remain in effect, with additional conditions added to ensure safe operations. Below, FRA has generally listed its conditions of approval, but further details on thee conditions are available in FRA’s conditional approval letter in the public docket. 1. Mandatory inspections. 2. Mandatory trainings. 3. Load limitations. 4. Reporting requirements. 5. Container number restrictions. 6. Prohibition on double stacking. 7. Train placement requirement. 8. Speed restrictions. 9. Regular oversight. 10. Risk assessment. FRA’s approval is effective through December 31, 2022. If ARRC desires to 1 85 FR 44994. 2 See Docket No. PHMSA–2018–0025 available at www.regulations.gov. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:19 Jun 23, 2021 Jkt 253001 continue operations under this approval after December 31, 2022, it must notify FRA of its intent to continue operations no later than September 1, 2022. If ARRC desires to modify its operations from those permitted by FRA’s approval letter, it must obtain FRA’s approval before implementing the proposed modification(s). Issued in Washington, DC. John Karl Alexy, Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety Chief Safety Officer. [FR Doc. 2021–13447 Filed 6–23–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration [Docket No. FTA–2021–0006] Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT. ACTION: Notice of request for comments. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve the extension of a currently approved information collection, previously initiated as a request for emergency OMB approval. The FTA is collecting this information to inform FTA actions to support the transit industry’s COVID–19 recovery efforts. The information collection requirements describe the nature of the information collection and their expected burdens. DATES: Comments must be submitted before August 23, 2021. ADDRESSES: To ensure that your comments are not entered more than once into the docket, submit comments identified by the docket number by only one of the following methods: 1. Website: www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the U.S. Government electronic docket site. (Note: The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT’s) electronic docket is no longer accepting electronic comments.) All electronic submissions must be made to the U.S. Government electronic docket site at www.regulations.gov. Commenters should follow the directions below for mailed and hand-delivered comments. 2. Fax: 202–366–7951. 3. Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Docket Operations, M–30, SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00268 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 33473 West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC 20590–0001. 4. Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Docket Operations, M–30, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC 20590–0001 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Instructions: You must include the agency name and docket number for this notice at the beginning of your comments. Submit two copies of your comments, if you submit them by mail. For confirmation that FTA has received your comments, include a selfaddressed stamped postcard. Note that all comments received, including any personal information, will be posted and will be available to internet users, without change, to www.regulations.gov. You may review DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published April 11, 2000, (65 FR 19477), or you may visit www.regulations.gov. Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents and comments received, go to www.regulations.gov at any time. Background documents and comments received may also be viewed at the U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Docket Operations, M–30, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC 20590–0001 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Candace Key, Office of Transit Safety and Oversight—Office of System Safety, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Mail Stop TSO–10, Washington, DC 20590 (202) 366–1783 or candace.key@dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested parties are invited to send comments regarding any aspect of this information collection, including: (1) The necessity and utility of the information collection for the proper performance of the functions of the FTA; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways to minimize the collection burden without reducing the quality of the collected information. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection. Title: Transit COVID Response Program (OMB Number: 2132–0581) Background: COVID–19 continues to pose significant challenges for the E:\FR\FM\24JNN1.SGM 24JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 119 (Thursday, June 24, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33472-33473]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-13447]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2021-0064]


Petition for Approval: Alaska Railroad Corporation Approval 
Extension

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of conditional approval.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY:  FRA is issuing this notice of conditional approval to Alaska 
Railroad Corporation (ARRC) in response to its August 29, 2020, 
petition to extend FRA's approval authorizing ARRC's transport of 
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) by rail in cryogenic portable tanks (T75, 
UN cryogenic portable tanks or cryogenic ISO tanks).

DATES: Comments are requested no later than August 23, 2021. FRA will 
consider comments received after that date to the extent possible, 
without incurring additional expense or delay.

ADDRESSES: 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.
     Email: [email protected].
    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 https://www.regulations.gov/ 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Maday, Staff Director--Hazardous 
Materials Division, Office of Railroad Safety, FRA, telephone: (202) 
493-0479 or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 29, 2020, ARRC petitioned FRA for 
an extension of an Approval granted by the Associate Administrator for 
Railroad Safety in accordance with 49 CFR 174.63 of the Hazardous 
Materials Regulations. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-
2021-0064.
    Specifically, ARRC sought extension of the approval issued under 
Sec.  174.63 to transport Methane, refrigerated liquid, UN 1972, 
Division 2.1 (Flammable gas), also commonly referred to as LNG, by rail 
in UN cryogenic portable tanks secured on flat cars via the following 
routes: (1) Mainline service between Seward, AK and Fairbanks, AK, and 
(2) branch line service of approximately 12 miles between the Port of 
Whittier, AK, and milepost 64.3 of the ARRC mainline.
    ARRC notes in its petition that it has not begun to commercially 
transport LNG under the terms of its approval. However, in its petition 
ARRC also notes that there is still a need for a clean and affordable 
energy source for interior Alaska. As a state-owned railroad operating 
under a statutory mandate to provide safe, efficient, and economical 
transportation to meet the overall needs of the state and its citizens, 
the ARRC is positioned to facilitate the solution. Additionally, ARRC 
suggests that demand for natural gas transportation is increasing, 
citing the recent installation of a 5.2-million-gallon storage tank by 
the natural gas distributor in Fairbanks, AK. ARRC describes ongoing 
business negotiations and developments that could soon result in 
opportunities to move LNG commercially by rail. Finally, ARRC projects 
that once commercial operations commence under the terms of the 
approval, there may be a need to move as much as 60 portable tanks of 
product every 4 days, utilizing two portable tanks per flatcar and a 
maximum of 30 flatcars per train.
    FRA first granted ARRC's petition in 2015. FRA's safety assessment 
was based upon detailed information provided by the ARRC, including 
results of assessments that were conducted by ARRC and evaluated by FRA 
technical experts for the routes over which LNG would be moved. In 
2017, FRA modified the approval to expand the authorization to include 
the additional 12-mile branch line route from Port of

[[Page 33473]]

Whittier, AK, to milepost 64.3 of the ARRC mainline. The previous 
approval includes conditions to reduce risks to public safety and the 
environment. FRA's previous approval letters are available in this 
public Docket for reference.
    Although ARRC hasn't yet moved any product commercially by rail, 
under the terms of FRA's previous approval, LNG has been moved 
commercially in portable tanks on other rail networks since 2017 
without incident. FRA is basing this approval on risk assessments for 
similar operations it has approved. An analysis under the National 
Environmental Policy Act was conducted for this approval; it was 
determined to be covered by the categorical exclusion in 23 CFR 
771.116(c)(15).
    FRA recognizes that public interest involving the safe 
transportation of petroleum products and specifically LNG is 
heightened, given recent regulatory actions. On July 24, 2020, the 
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration published a 
final rule \1\ authorizing the transportation of LNG in cryogenic tank 
cars with enhanced outer tanks (e.g., DOT-113C120W9). In the final 
rule, PHMSA indicated that 445 comments were submitted to the docket 
during the comment period.\2\ In light of the heightened public 
interest in the safe transportation of petroleum products, FRA believes 
it is appropriate to provide public notice and opportunity to comment 
on FRA's approval, to ensure that it contains all necessary conditions 
to ensure the safety of ARRC's LNG operations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 85 FR 44994.
    \2\ See Docket No. PHMSA-2018-0025 available at 
www.regulations.gov.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    FRA approves ARRC's request conditioned on compliance with 
appropriate safety measures. All conditions of FRA's prior approvals 
for ARRC remain in effect, with additional conditions added to ensure 
safe operations. Below, FRA has generally listed its conditions of 
approval, but further details on thee conditions are available in FRA's 
conditional approval letter in the public docket.
    1. Mandatory inspections.
    2. Mandatory trainings.
    3. Load limitations.
    4. Reporting requirements.
    5. Container number restrictions.
    6. Prohibition on double stacking.
    7. Train placement requirement.
    8. Speed restrictions.
    9. Regular oversight.
    10. Risk assessment.
    FRA's approval is effective through December 31, 2022. If ARRC 
desires to continue operations under this approval after December 31, 
2022, it must notify FRA of its intent to continue operations no later 
than September 1, 2022. If ARRC desires to modify its operations from 
those permitted by FRA's approval letter, it must obtain FRA's approval 
before implementing the proposed modification(s).

    Issued in Washington, DC.
John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-13447 Filed 6-23-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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