[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 27 (Thursday, February 8, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4810-4811]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-2740]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[FRA Waiver Petition Docket No. PB-95-3; Notice No. 2]


Petition for Waivers of Compliance

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

ACTION: Change of hearing date.

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SUMMARY: On November 30, 1995, FRA published in the Federal Register a 
notice that the FRA 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.

[[Page 4811]]

    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 
complaint, 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 by one inch would allow designers to 
make a significant improvements in rail worthiness.
    FRA has determined that a public hearing will be held in this 
matter. Due to extreme weather conditions which closed Federal 
buildings in Washington, DC., FRA was unable to hold the public hearing 
scheduled for January 10, 1996. As a consequence, FRA is rescheduling 
the public hearing to 10:00 a.m. on February 28, 1996. The hearing 
location remains the same and will be held in room 8236-8238 of the 
Nassif Building, DOT Headquarters Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC. We apologize for any inconvenience this rescheduling 
may cause.
    The hearing will be informal 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 invited to participate in these proceedings 
by submitting written views, data or 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 Clark, Office of Chief Counsel, Federal 
Railroad Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590.

    Issued in Washington, DC on February 1, 1996.
Phil Olekszyk,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Compliance and Program 
Implementation.
[FR Doc. 96-2740 Filed 2-7-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-M