[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 243 (Tuesday, December 17, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66343-66344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-31921]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration


Petition for a Waiver of Compliance

    In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR), notice is hereby given that the Federal Railroad Administration 
(FRA) has received from Trinity Industries,

[[Page 66344]]

Incorporated a request for a waiver of compliance with certain 
requirements of the Federal safety laws and 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.

Trinity Industries, Incorporated

Docket Number: SA-96-5

    Trinity Industries, Incorporated seeks a waiver of compliance from 
certain sections of Title 49 CFR Part 231, Railroad Safety Appliance 
Standards. Trinity is requesting a permanent waiver of the provisions 
of 49 CFR 231.21(b)(2) and 231.21(j)(2)(vi) requiring that platforms be 
of a minimum thickness of one and three-quarter inches. Trinity 
requests that this requirement be waived and instead requirements 
similar to those found at section 231.1(c)(4)(iii) be applied.
    Section 231.1(c)(4)(iii) refers to running boards and requires that 
they be made of wood or material which provides the same as or a 
greater degree of safety than wood of 1\1/8\ inches thickness. When 
made of material other than wood, the tread surface shall be of anti-
skid design and constructed with sufficient open space to permit the 
elimination of snow and ice from the tread surface.
    The requirements of 49 CFR 231.21 refers to Tank Cars Without 
Underframes. Section 231.21(b) requires that there be two end platforms 
with a minimum width of 10 inches and a minimum thickness of 1\3/4\ 
inches. Section 231.21(j) requires that there be one operating platform 
with a minimum width of 7 inches and a minimum thickness of 1\3/4\ 
inches.
    Trinity advised that the typical construction of platforms by them 
and other manufacturers for tank cars without underframes is to 
construct a frame of members 2 to 3 inches deep with cross support 
members. A grating meeting the requirements of section 231.1 
(c)(4)(iii) is secured to the cross supports with bolts or rivets not 
less than \1/2\-inch diameter.
    The interest in this change stems from the basic operations of 
Trinity, which is manufacturing, leasing and repairing of railroad 
cars. This waiver would permit them to use grating designs of the same 
style and thickness on tank cars without underframes as used on other 
types of railroad cars. Trinity claims the option to use a thinner 
grating on platforms would allow greater flexibility in design and 
construction but would still maintain or exceed the existing levels of 
strength and safety.
    Trinity contends that the platform thickness requirements for all 
car types, except tank cars without underframes, can be met with a 
component of any thickness so long as it provides the same degree of 
safety as wood 1\1/8\-inch thickness. Running boards and end platforms 
meeting this requirement have been used on other car types for many 
years and have been considered to be safe. Trinity further states that 
the basic use and function of running boards and platforms are 
identical. That is, they afford a place for a person to walk, stand, or 
cross over the car and in some instances may require a person to kneel 
or sit in order to perform inspection of valves, etc.
    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 No. SA-96-5) 
and must be submitted in triplicate to the Docket Clerk, Office of 
Chief Counsel, Federal Railroad Administration, Nassif Building, 400 
Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590. Communications received 
within 45 days of the date of this notice 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.) at FRA's temporary docket room located at 1120 
Vermont Avenue, N.W., Room 7051, Washington, D.C. 20005.

    Issued in Washington, D.C. on December 10, 1996.
Phil Olekszyk,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Compliance and Program 
Implementation.
[FR Doc. 96-31921 Filed 12-16-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P