Previous Article 73 FR 115 pg. 33873 - Petition for Waiver of Compliance
Type: NOTICEVolume: 73Number: 115Page: 33873
Docket number: [Docket Number FRA-2008-0039]
FR document: [FR Doc. E8-13376 Filed 6-12-08; 8:45 am]
Agency: Transportation Department
Sub Agency: Federal Railroad Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Petition for Waiver of Compliance
In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), notice is hereby given that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) received a request for a waiver of compliance with certain requirements of its safety standards. The individual petition is described below, including the party seeking relief, the regulatory provisions involved, the nature of the relief being requested, and the petitioner's arguments in favor of relief.
CSX Transportation
[Docket Number FRA-2008-0039]
CSX Transportation (CSXT) seeks a waiver of compliance from certain provisions of 49 CFR Part 231 Safety Appliance Standards, that requires uncoupling levers on each end of freight cars. Specifically, this request is to remove uncoupling levers on CSXT owned special equipment cars in rail train service while loading or unloading continuous welded rail throughout the CSXT system by CSXT forces.
CSXT believes that these welded rail cars can be operated safely with the uncoupling levers removed and couplers immobilized. These welded rail trains are operated as units and are not switched in yards as conventional freight cars. Due to the nature of moving welded rail for either loading or unloading, it is highly undesirable from a safety practice for cars to become uncoupled. The purpose of this waiver is to prevent these cars from being inadvertently uncoupled or vandalized to better ensure the safe movement of the rail trains, permitting only mechanical department personnel to uncouple the cars under blue flag protection.
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 ( e.g., Waiver Petition Docket Number 2008-0039) and may be submitted by any of the following methods:
Web site: http://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 within 45 days of the date of this notice will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be considered as far as practicable. All written communications concerning these proceedings are available for examination during regular business hours (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) at the above facility. All documents in the public docket are also available for inspection and copying on the Internet at the docket facility's Web site at http://www.regulations.gov.
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 comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78).
Issued in Washington, DC on June 9, 2008.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program Development.
[FR Doc. E8-13376 Filed 6-12-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P