[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 9, 1996)] [Notices] [Page 36108] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-17454] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Petition for Waivers of Compliance In accordance with 49 CFR Sections 211.9 and 211.41, notice is hereby given that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has received from the De Queen & Eastern Railroad Company, Texas, Oklahoma & Eastern Railroad 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. De Queen & Eastern Railroad Company Texas, Oklahoma & Eastern Railroad Company [Docket Number SA-96-4] The De Queen & Eastern Railroad Company; Texas, Oklahoma & Eastern Railroad Company (DQE-TOE) seeks a waiver of compliance from certain sections of 49 CFR Part 231, Railroad Safety Appliance Standards. The DQE-TOE is requesting a permanent waiver of the provisions of 49 CFR Part 231 which requires end ladders. The DQE-TOE wish to remove the end ladders on the subject cars. The DQE-TOE has 300 high side open top cars for hauling wood chips. Two hundred of these cars are end dump cars, in that the ends when unlocked swing upwards permitting easier unloading of the wood chips. 49 CFR 231.1(e)(3) requires one ``. . . [ladder] on each side, not more than 8 inches from left side of car ``. . .'' The DQE-TOE states that the end ladder ladders serve no useful purpose and are costly to maintain. The end doors are opened by machinery and are constantly being damaged. The DQE-TOE operates freight service from Perkins, Arkansas to Valliant, Oklahoma, a distance of eighty-six miles one way. Two trains are operated daily for the movement of approximately thirty (30) cars of wood chips in each train. The DQE-TOE further state that company policy prohibits employees from using these ladders and that the removal of the end ladders would not have an adverse effect on safety. 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-96-4 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, D.C. on July 2, 1996. Phil Olekszyk, Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Compliance and Program Implementation. [FR Doc. 96-17454 Filed 7-8-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-06-P