[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 154 (Thursday, August 8, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 41441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20263]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    In accordance with Title 49 CFR 211.9 and 211.41, notice is hereby 
given that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has received a 
request for waiver of compliance with certain requirements of the 
Federal safety laws and regulations. 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.

Boone & Scenic Valley (BSV) Railroad (Waiver Petition Docket Number 
PB-96-1)

    The Iowa Railroad Historical Society, Boone & Scenic Valley (BSV) 
Railroad, seeks a permanent waiver of compliance from Title 49, Part 
232, Section 17(b)(2) on passenger cars equipped with U type air brakes 
by extending the clean, oil, test, and stencil (COT&S) period from 15 
calendar months to 15 operating months. BSV seeks relief for their 
eight antique passenger cars built in years 1927-1929, from the present 
requirements to perform COT&S as required by Sec. 232.17(b)(2) and 
specified in Standard S-045 in the Manual of Standards and Recommended 
Practices of the Association of American Railroads A-III-256, Section 
2.1.2. The BSV is a non-profit tourist lien that operates only 6 months 
a year, with one trip per day during the week and 3 trips on Saturday 
and Sunday over a 15-mile, captive service route originating in Boone, 
Iowa. BSV explains that they have been performing the COT&S every 12 
calendar months at considerable expense for 6 months of operation and 
that by granting this waiver, they would perform the COT&S every 24 
months for 12 months of operation.
    Title 49 CFR 232.17 ``Freight and passenger train car brakes'' 
states in Part (b)(2): Brake equipment on passenger cars must be 
cleaned, repaired, lubricated, and tested as often as necessary to 
maintain it in a safe and suitable condition for service but not less 
frequently than as required in Standard S-045 in the Manual of 
Standards and Recommended Practices of the AAR.
    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 comments, they should notify FRA in 
writing, before the end of the comment period and specify the basis of 
their request.
    All communications concerning these proceedings should identify the 
appropriate docket number (e.g. Waiver Petition Docket Number PB-96-1) 
and must be submitted in triplicate to the Docket Clerk, Office of 
Chief Counsel, Federal Railroad Administration, Nassif Building, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Communications received 
within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice, will be 
considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after 
that date will be considered as far as practical. All written 
communication 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, SW., Washington, DC 20590.

    Issued in Washington, DC on August 5, 1996.
Phil Olekszyk,
Acting Deputy Administrator for Safety.
[FR Doc. 96-20263 Filed 8-7-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-M