[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 230 (Thursday, November 30, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61581-61582]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-29257]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Petition for Waivers of Compliance

    In accordance with 49 CFR 211.9 and 211.41, notice is hereby given 
that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has received from the 
American Railway Car Institute (ARCI) a request for waiver of 
compliance with certain requirements of the Railroad Power Brakes and 
Drawbars Regulations. The petition is described below, including the 
regulatory provisions involved, the nature of the relief being 
requested and the petitioner's arguments in favor of relief.

American Railway Car Institute (ARCI) (FRA Waiver Petition Docket 
Number PB-95-3)

    The ARCI seeks a permanent waiver of compliance from section 232.2 
of the Railroad Power Brakes and Drawbars Standards (49 CFR Part 232). 
That section states in part: ``The maximum height of drawbars for 
freight cars--shall be 34\1/2\ inches, and the minimum height of 
drawbars for freight cars on such standard-gauge railroads--shall be 
31\1/2\ inches--ARCI is requesting to increase the maximum allowable 
coupler height one inch from 34.5 inches to 35.5 inches for bottom 
shelf E couplers and top and bottom shelf E couplers only. ARCI states 
that the granting of this waiver will allow railroads and car builders 
to build safer and more efficient cars. It claims industry's need for 
safer suspension systems is being hampered by the small range of 
allowable coupler heights. Railroads, truck manufacturers, and freight 
car manufacturers know that rail worthiness of many cars would be 
improved if spring travel could be increased. For example, cars 
negotiating changes in super-elevation as they enter and exit curves 
would be subject to less wheel unloading if they had softer, more 
compliant, longer travel suspensions. Wheel unloading is most 
undesirable in curves, as the wheel set is often developing high 
lateral forces. High lateral forces combined with wheel unloading can 
result in derailment. The small range of allowable coupler heights 
severely limits the use of longer travel springs. By increasing the 
allowable range of coupler height of one inch would allow designers to 
make a significant improvement in rail worthiness.
    FRA has determined that a public hearing will be held in this 
matter. Accordingly a public hearing is hereby set for 10 a.m. on 
January 10, 1996, Room 3328 in the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street 
SW., Washington, DC 20590.
    The hearing will be an informal one and will be conducted in 
accordance with Rule 25 of the FRA Rules of Practice (49 CFR Part 
211.25), by a representative designated by the FRA. The hearing will be 
a nonadversary proceeding in which all interested parties will be given 
the opportunity to express their views regarding this waiver petition.
    Interested parties are also invited to participate in these 
proceedings by submitting written views, data or 

[[Page 61582]]
comments. All communications concerning these proceedings should 
identify the appropriate docket number (e.g., Waiver Petition Number 
PB-95-3 and must be submitted in triplicate to the Docket Clerk, Office 
of Chief Counsel, Federal Railroad Administration, 400 Seventh Street 
SW., Washington, DC 20590. Communications received by January 17, 1996 
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. to 5 p.m.) in Room 
8201, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590.

    Issued in Washington, DC on November 27, 1995.
Phil Olekszyk,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Compliance and Program 
Implementation.
[FR Doc. 95-29257 Filed 11-30-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P