Request for Information Regarding Uses for Used Creosote-Treated Railroad Ties, 25054-25055 [2023-08689]

Download as PDF 25054 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 79 / Tuesday, April 25, 2023 / Notices 12047 of March 27, 1978, the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 2681, et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 6501 note, et seq.), Delegation of Authority No. 234 of October 1, 1999, Delegation of Authority No. 236–3 of August 28, 2000, and Delegation of Authority No. 523 of December 22, 2021. Scott Weinhold, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of State. [FR Doc. 2023–08699 Filed 4–24–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–05–P DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice: 12061] Notice of the Program for the Study of Eastern Europe and Eurasia (Title VIII) Advisory Committee Open Virtual Meeting Notice of an advisory committee open meeting. ACTION: Pursuant to section 10 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), notice is hereby given to announce a public virtual meeting of the Title VIII Advisory Committee on Friday, June 30, 2023. DATES: The meeting will begin at approximately 1:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on Friday, June 30, 2023. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Designated Federal Officer, Mr. Robert Zimmerman, telephone number 202– 258–8024, Title VIII Program Officer, Department of State, Bureau of Intelligence and Research, TitleVIII@ state.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: All meeting participants are being asked to RSVP by Wednesday, June 28, 2023, via email to TitleVIII@state.gov, subject line ‘‘Title VIII Advisory Committee Public Meeting 2023.’’ Members of the public requesting reasonable accommodation should make such requests when they register. Upon receipt of the RSVP, attendees will be registered, and will receive instructions for accessing the meeting, including the meeting number and any password. It is anticipated that the meeting will be held either via Google Meet or Zoom for Government. Members of the public who will participate are encouraged to logon 10 minutes prior to the start of the meeting. Purpose of Meeting and Topics To Be Discussed: The Advisory Committee will announce its recommendations for grant recipients for the 2023 funding lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:47 Apr 24, 2023 Jkt 259001 opportunity for the Program for the Study of Eastern Europe and the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union, in accordance with the Research and Training for Eastern Europe and the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union Act of 1983, Public Law 98–164, as amended. The agenda will include opening statements by the Committee chair and Committee members. The Committee will provide an overview and discussion of eligible grant proposals submitted from U.S organizations with an interest and expertise in conducting research and foreign language training concerning the countries and languages of Eastern Europe and the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union, based on the guidelines set forth in the March 25, 2023, request for proposals published on Grants.gov and SAMS Domestic (mygrants.service-now.com). Following Committee deliberation, interested members of the public may make oral statements concerning the Title VIII program. This meeting will be open to the public; however, attendees must register in advance. Robert A. Zimmerman, Designated Federal Officer, Advisory Committee for the Program for the Study of Eastern Europe and the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union, Department of State. [FR Doc. 2023–08722 Filed 4–24–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–32–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [Docket No. FRA–2023–0011] Request for Information Regarding Uses for Used Creosote-Treated Railroad Ties Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Request for information (RFI). AGENCY: The Federal Railroad Administration is seeking information on potential uses and options for disposal or repurposing used creosotetreated railroad ties (CTRTs), which are the wooden rail crossties that support the rail track. Every year, approximately 23 million CTRTs are replaced along the nation’s rail network. Because a number of FRA’s grant programs fund rail infrastructure projects, which may include the replacement of worn CTRTs, understanding the options to dispose of CTRTs will assist FRA and its grantees from the implementation of FRA’s grant SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00087 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 programs and assessing the impacts of such disposition (e.g., life-cycle maintenance impacts). Depending on the responses, FRA may develop a best practices document for rail tie disposal. DATES: Written comments on this RFI must be received on or before June 26, 2023. FRA will consider comments filed after this date to the extent practicable in the development of any potential best practices. ADDRESSES: Comments: Comments should refer to docket number FRA– 2023–0011 and be submitted at https:// www.regulations.gov. Search by using the docket number and follow the instructions for submitting comments. Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and docket number (FRA–2023–0011) for this RFI. Please note that comments submitted online via www.regulations.gov are not immediately posted to the docket. Several business days may elapse after a comment has been submitted online before it is posted to the docket. Privacy Act: DOT solicits comments from the public to better inform its regulatory process. DOT posts these comments, without edit, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice, DOT/ALL– 14 FDMS, accessible through www.dot.gov/privacy. To facilitate comment tracking and response, commenters are encouraged to provide their name, or the name of their organization; however, submission of names is completely optional. Whether or not commenters identify themselves, all timely comments will be fully considered. If you wish to provide comments containing proprietary or confidential information, please contact the agency for alternate submission instructions. Docket: For access to the docket to read comments received, please visit https://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for accessing the docket. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information related to this RFI, please contact Michael Johnsen, Senior Advisor for Climate and Sustainability, Office of Environmental Program Management, at telephone: 202–450– 8540, email: Michael.johnsen@dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Crossties support the metal rails upon which trains run and the majority of them are made of creosote-treated wood. Creosote is an oil-based preservative allowing the ties to maintain a lifespan of about 30 years. There are approximately 207,000 miles of rail track in the U.S. requiring about 620 million crossties. About 23 million crossties are replaced every E:\FR\FM\25APN1.SGM 25APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 79 / Tuesday, April 25, 2023 / Notices lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 year. Traditionally, end of life disposal of CTRTs primarily involved burning in waste-to-energy (or energy conversion) facilities to produce electricity. However, recent changes in Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations and policy limit the options for disposing CTRTs through those facilities. Recent research points to a pyrolysis process than can recover creosote and produce a material called biochar from CTRTs. Biochar is a residue of carbon and ashes from specific burning processes of biomass, such as rail crossties, and has a number of potential uses. These uses include filtration and use as a soil amendment to improve soil quality and to reduce acidity and nutrient leaching. In addition, converting used rail crossties to biochar can also sequester carbon, providing an option to help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In the August 2020 Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis (Vol 149, August 2020, 104826), a research paper entitled ‘‘Pyrolysis of creosote-treated railroad ties to recover creosote and produce biochar’’ found that CTRTs pyrolyzed to 700 °C resulted in residual creosote of 0.06% by weight of the original CTRT. This residual level would meet the qualification of a soil amendment under the European Biochar Certificate as no trace metals were found. This indicates there could be potential benefits and sustainable uses for used CTRTs. FRA manages a number of grant programs that fund rail infrastructure improvements, including the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement grant program. Those FRA-funded rail activities under these grant programs include track and tie projects that replace worn CTRTs. Understanding the disposition of worn CTRTs will assist FRA in complying with the direction in E.O. 14008 to assess the climate impacts of these grant programs, and in researching VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:20 Apr 24, 2023 Jkt 259001 greenhouse gas emissions from rail projects.1 This information may also provide FRA with opportunities to offer technical assistance to grantees relating to the various options to dispose of CTRTs. FRA is therefore seeking any information, public comment, or feedback, including information about initiatives and pilot studies, on how CTRTs could be reused or repurposed as an alternative to landfilling, including information regarding the biochar process. FRA is also interested in potential uses for CTRT-sourced biochar as well as other legal and potentially commercially viable options for used CTRTs. Where available and appropriate, FRA requests that respondents provide relevant technical information, statutory or regulatory citations, data, or other evidence to support their comments. Interested parties are invited to submit comments to the electronic docket in response to this RFI. Please refer to the ADDRESSES section above for guidance on how to submit comments to the electronic docket. Issued in Washington, DC. Marlys Ann Osterhues, Director, Office of Environmental Program Management. [FR Doc. 2023–08689 Filed 4–24–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P 25055 The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is publishing the names of one or more persons that have been placed on OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List) based on OFAC’s determination that one or more applicable legal criteria were satisfied. All property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction of these persons are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. Additionally, OFAC is publishing the name of one person that has been removed from OFAC’s SDN List. Property and interests relating to the person are no longer blocked, and U.S. persons are no longer generally prohibited from engaging in transactions relating to this person. SUMMARY: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for effective date. DATES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: OFAC: Andrea Gacki, Director, tel.: 202–622–2490; Associate Director for Global Targeting, tel.: 202–622–2420; Assistant Director for Licensing, tel.: 202–622–2480; Assistant Director for Regulatory Affairs, tel.: 202–622–4855; or Assistant Director for Sanctions Compliance & Evaluation, tel.: 202–622– 2490. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Electronic Availability DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Office of Foreign Assets Control The SDN List and additional information concerning OFAC sanctions programs are available on OFAC’s website (https://www.treasury.gov/ofac). Notice of OFAC Sanctions Action Notice of OFAC Actions Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury. ACTION: Notice. On April 18, 2023, OFAC determined that the property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction of the following persons are blocked under the relevant sanctions authority listed below. AGENCY: 1 See also DOT’s Climate Plan, available at https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/ 2022-04/Climate_Action_Plan.pdf. PO 00000 Frm 00088 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 BILLING CODE 4810–AL–P E:\FR\FM\25APN1.SGM 25APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 25, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25054-25055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08689]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2023-0011]


Request for Information Regarding Uses for Used Creosote-Treated 
Railroad Ties

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

ACTION: Request for information (RFI).

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

SUMMARY: The Federal Railroad Administration is seeking information on 
potential uses and options for disposal or repurposing used creosote-
treated railroad ties (CTRTs), which are the wooden rail crossties that 
support the rail track. Every year, approximately 23 million CTRTs are 
replaced along the nation's rail network. Because a number of FRA's 
grant programs fund rail infrastructure projects, which may include the 
replacement of worn CTRTs, understanding the options to dispose of 
CTRTs will assist FRA and its grantees from the implementation of FRA's 
grant programs and assessing the impacts of such disposition (e.g., 
life-cycle maintenance impacts). Depending on the responses, FRA may 
develop a best practices document for rail tie disposal.

DATES: Written comments on this RFI must be received on or before June 
26, 2023. FRA will consider comments filed after this date to the 
extent practicable in the development of any potential best practices.

ADDRESSES: Comments: Comments should refer to docket number FRA-2023-
0011 and be submitted at https://www.regulations.gov. Search by using 
the docket number and follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and 
docket number (FRA-2023-0011) for this RFI. Please note that comments 
submitted online via www.regulations.gov are not immediately posted to 
the docket. Several business days may elapse after a comment has been 
submitted online before it is posted to the docket.
    Privacy Act: DOT solicits comments from the public to better inform 
its regulatory process. DOT posts these comments, without edit, to 
www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice, DOT/
ALL- 14 FDMS, accessible through www.dot.gov/privacy. To facilitate 
comment tracking and response, commenters are encouraged to provide 
their name, or the name of their organization; however, submission of 
names is completely optional. Whether or not commenters identify 
themselves, all timely comments will be fully considered. If you wish 
to provide comments containing proprietary or confidential information, 
please contact the agency for alternate submission instructions.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read comments received, please 
visit https://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions 
for accessing the docket.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information related to 
this RFI, please contact Michael Johnsen, Senior Advisor for Climate 
and Sustainability, Office of Environmental Program Management, at 
telephone: 202-450-8540, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Crossties support the metal rails upon which 
trains run and the majority of them are made of creosote-treated wood. 
Creosote is an oil-based preservative allowing the ties to maintain a 
lifespan of about 30 years. There are approximately 207,000 miles of 
rail track in the U.S. requiring about 620 million crossties. About 23 
million crossties are replaced every

[[Page 25055]]

year. Traditionally, end of life disposal of CTRTs primarily involved 
burning in waste-to-energy (or energy conversion) facilities to produce 
electricity. However, recent changes in Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) regulations and policy limit the options for disposing CTRTs 
through those facilities.
    Recent research points to a pyrolysis process than can recover 
creosote and produce a material called biochar from CTRTs. Biochar is a 
residue of carbon and ashes from specific burning processes of biomass, 
such as rail crossties, and has a number of potential uses. These uses 
include filtration and use as a soil amendment to improve soil quality 
and to reduce acidity and nutrient leaching. In addition, converting 
used rail crossties to biochar can also sequester carbon, providing an 
option to help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In the August 
2020 Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis (Vol 149, August 2020, 
104826), a research paper entitled ``Pyrolysis of creosote-treated 
railroad ties to recover creosote and produce biochar'' found that 
CTRTs pyrolyzed to 700 [deg]C resulted in residual creosote of 0.06% by 
weight of the original CTRT. This residual level would meet the 
qualification of a soil amendment under the European Biochar 
Certificate as no trace metals were found. This indicates there could 
be potential benefits and sustainable uses for used CTRTs.
    FRA manages a number of grant programs that fund rail 
infrastructure improvements, including the Consolidated Rail 
Infrastructure and Safety Improvement grant program. Those FRA-funded 
rail activities under these grant programs include track and tie 
projects that replace worn CTRTs. Understanding the disposition of worn 
CTRTs will assist FRA in complying with the direction in E.O. 14008 to 
assess the climate impacts of these grant programs, and in researching 
greenhouse gas emissions from rail projects.\1\ This information may 
also provide FRA with opportunities to offer technical assistance to 
grantees relating to the various options to dispose of CTRTs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See also DOT's Climate Plan, available at https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2022-04/Climate_Action_Plan.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    FRA is therefore seeking any information, public comment, or 
feedback, including information about initiatives and pilot studies, on 
how CTRTs could be reused or repurposed as an alternative to 
landfilling, including information regarding the biochar process. FRA 
is also interested in potential uses for CTRT-sourced biochar as well 
as other legal and potentially commercially viable options for used 
CTRTs. Where available and appropriate, FRA requests that respondents 
provide relevant technical information, statutory or regulatory 
citations, data, or other evidence to support their comments.
    Interested parties are invited to submit comments to the electronic 
docket in response to this RFI. Please refer to the ADDRESSES section 
above for guidance on how to submit comments to the electronic docket.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
Marlys Ann Osterhues,
Director, Office of Environmental Program Management.
[FR Doc. 2023-08689 Filed 4-24-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P

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