Petition for Extension of Waiver of Compliance, 76912 [2024-21397]
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76912
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 182 / Thursday, September 19, 2024 / Notices
Anyone can search the electronic
form of any written communications
and comments received into any of the
Department of Transportation’s (DOT)
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/
privacy-notice for the privacy notice of
regulations.gov.
Issued in Washington, DC.
John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety,
Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024–21393 Filed 9–18–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA–2018–0049]
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
Petition for Extension of Waiver of
Compliance
Under part 211 of title 49 Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR), this
document provides the public notice
that by letter dated August 1, 2024,
BNSF Railway (BNSF) petitioned the
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
for an extension of a waiver of
compliance from certain provisions of
the Federal railroad safety regulations
contained at 49 CFR part 232 (Brake
System Safety Standards for Freight and
Other Non-Passenger Trains and
Equipment; End-of-Train Devices). The
relevant Docket Number is FRA–2018–
0049.
Specifically, BNSF requests to extend
the existing waiver, which provides
BNSF certain relief from 49 CFR 232.15,
Movement of defective equipment; 49
CFR 232.103(f), General requirements
for all train brake systems; and 49 CFR
232.213, Extended haul trains; and a
statutory exemption from the
requirements of title 49, United States
Code section 20303.1 BNSF stated that
1 By letter dated August 18, 2021, BNSF
submitted a request to expand the scope of the
waiver to include coal trains operating over the
Pikes Peak Subdivision in Colorado and across the
Sand Hills Subdivision in Nebraska. See https://
www.regulations.gov/document/FRA-2018-00490024. That request is pending.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:59 Sep 18, 2024
Jkt 262001
the waiver supports BNSF’s Brake
Health Effectiveness (BHE) program,
which ‘‘increases the safety and
efficiency of BNSF’s operations by using
thermal detector technology that can
gather significantly more data about the
health of train brakes than can be
collected from the visual inspections
required by existing regulations.’’ The
existing relief applies to trains operating
on several locations on BNSF’s
Southern Transcon and Northern
Intermodal routes.2
In support of its request, BNSF
explained that data from the BHE
program has demonstrated ‘‘improved
safety performance of brake systems’’
across the BNSF network. The program
has also ‘‘increased employee safety by
eliminating the potential for injury to
inspection personnel due to slips, trips,
or falls when performing intermediate
brake tests or when setting out or
repairing cars outside of mechanical or
yard limits.’’ Additionally, BNSF noted
that the BHE program is supported by
BNSF’s union partners, specifically the
Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, who
has worked closely with BNSF.
A copy of the petition, as well as any
written communications concerning the
petition, is available for review online at
www.regulations.gov.
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 at www.regulations.gov.
Follow the online instructions for
submitting comments.
Communications received by
November 18, 2024 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 the
Department of Transportation’s (DOT)
dockets by the name of the individual
submitting the comment (or signing the
document, if submitted on behalf of an
2 These routes are listed in condition 1 of FRA’s
decision letter dated November 12, 2020. See
https://www.regulations.gov/document/FRA-20180049-0017.
PO 00000
Frm 00127
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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/
privacy-notice for the privacy notice of
regulations.gov.
Issued in Washington, DC.
John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety,
Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024–21397 Filed 9–18–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA–2018–0086]
Petition for Extension of Waiver of
Compliance
Under part 211 of title 49 Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR), this
document provides the public notice
that by letter dated April 23, 2024,
Texas & Eastern Railroad (TESR)
petitioned the Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA) to extend a
waiver of compliance from certain
provisions of the Federal railroad safety
regulations contained at 49 CFR parts
215 (Railroad Freight Car Safety
Standards) and 224 (Reflectorization of
Rail Freight Rolling Stock). FRA
assigned the petition Docket Number
FRA–2018–0086.
Specifically, TESR requested to
extend the previous special approval
pursuant to 49 CFR 215.203, Restricted
cars, in this docket for 14 cars, which
are more than 50 years from the dates
of original construction. Petitioner also
seeks relief from § 215.303, Stenciling of
restricted cars, and part 224,
reflectorization requirements, to use the
cars as operating historic artifacts.
In support of its request, TESR stated
that tourist passenger operations run up
to 30 miles per hour, and that TESR
‘‘exercises complete control of the
operation and maintenance’’ of the
subject cars. TESR added that the cars
have not been interchanged in regular
freight operations with other railroads
and are primarily used for mobile
storage. They are also used with steam
and diesel locomotives in trains for
photography, historic documentation,
and film production. TESR explained
E:\FR\FM\19SEN1.SGM
19SEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 182 (Thursday, September 19, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 76912]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-21397]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA-2018-0049]
Petition for Extension of Waiver of Compliance
Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this
document provides the public notice that by letter dated August 1,
2024, BNSF Railway (BNSF) petitioned the Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA) for an extension of a waiver of compliance from
certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations contained
at 49 CFR part 232 (Brake System Safety Standards for Freight and Other
Non-Passenger Trains and Equipment; End-of-Train Devices). The relevant
Docket Number is FRA-2018-0049.
Specifically, BNSF requests to extend the existing waiver, which
provides BNSF certain relief from 49 CFR 232.15, Movement of defective
equipment; 49 CFR 232.103(f), General requirements for all train brake
systems; and 49 CFR 232.213, Extended haul trains; and a statutory
exemption from the requirements of title 49, United States Code section
20303.\1\ BNSF stated that the waiver supports BNSF's Brake Health
Effectiveness (BHE) program, which ``increases the safety and
efficiency of BNSF's operations by using thermal detector technology
that can gather significantly more data about the health of train
brakes than can be collected from the visual inspections required by
existing regulations.'' The existing relief applies to trains operating
on several locations on BNSF's Southern Transcon and Northern
Intermodal routes.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ By letter dated August 18, 2021, BNSF submitted a request to
expand the scope of the waiver to include coal trains operating over
the Pikes Peak Subdivision in Colorado and across the Sand Hills
Subdivision in Nebraska. See https://www.regulations.gov/document/FRA-2018-0049-0024. That request is pending.
\2\ These routes are listed in condition 1 of FRA's decision
letter dated November 12, 2020. See https://www.regulations.gov/document/FRA-2018-0049-0017.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In support of its request, BNSF explained that data from the BHE
program has demonstrated ``improved safety performance of brake
systems'' across the BNSF network. The program has also ``increased
employee safety by eliminating the potential for injury to inspection
personnel due to slips, trips, or falls when performing intermediate
brake tests or when setting out or repairing cars outside of mechanical
or yard limits.'' Additionally, BNSF noted that the BHE program is
supported by BNSF's union partners, specifically the Brotherhood of
Railway Carmen, who has worked closely with BNSF.
A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications
concerning the petition, is available for review online at
www.regulations.gov.
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 at www.regulations.gov.
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
Communications received by November 18, 2024 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 the Department of Transportation's
(DOT) 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/privacy-notice for the privacy notice of regulations.gov.
Issued in Washington, DC.
John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-21397 Filed 9-18-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P