[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 131 (Monday, July 8, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35858-35859]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17298]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Petition for Waivers of Compliance

    In accordance with 49 CFR Secs. 211.9 and 211.41, notice is hereby 
given that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has received from 
Thrall Car Manufacturing Company a request for a waiver of compliance 
with certain requirements of Federal 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.

Thrall Car Manufacturing Company

[Docket No. SA-96-2]

    Thrall Car seeks a waiver of compliance from certain sections of 49 
CFR Part 231, Railroad Safety Appliance Standards. Thrall Car is 
requesting a permanent waiver of the provisions of 49 CFR Part 231 
which requires that the

[[Page 35859]]

bottom side handhold be located not more than (21) inches from top 
tread of sill step--.
    Thrall Car built 629 covered hopper cars beginning in 1995 which 
have the bottom side handhold located (21-3/8) inches from the top 
tread of sill step.

Car series:
    CCBX 58595 thru 59000 = 406 cars.
    FMLX 62001 '' 62040 = 40 cars.
    OCPX 70901 '' 70944 = 44 cars.
    UTCX 49148 '' 49287 = 139 cars.

    49 CFR 231.27(e)(3) requires in part that the bottom side handholds 
be located not more than (21) inches from top tread of sill step--.
    Thrall Car state that this discrepancy originated with the 
introduction of a new car in June of 1995 and continued until 
discovery. Design corrections have been made with all subsequent 
covered hopper cars.
    Thrall Car request to continue the use of these subject cars as 
they do not believe this condition presents a safety concern due to the 
small variance from the standard.
    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--SA-96-2 
and must be submitted in triplicate to the Docket Clerk, Chief Counsel, 
Federal Railroad Administration, Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, 
S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590. Communications received before August 19, 
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.-5 p.m.) in Room 8201, 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 1, 1996.
Phil Olekszyk,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Compliance and Program 
Implementation.
[FR Doc. 96-17298 Filed 7-5-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P