[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 105 (Monday, June 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29774-29775]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14243]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Petition for 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) received a request for a 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.

Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad Company

[Waiver Petition Docket Number H-97-5]

    The Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad Company (IHB) seeks a waiver of 
compliance from 49 CFR Part 229.131, Railroad Locomotive Safety 
Standards, Cabs and Cab Equipment--Sanders. Section 229.131 states: 
``Except for MU locomotives, each locomotive shall be equipped with 
operable sanders that deposit sand on each rail in front of the first 
power operated wheel set in the direction of movement.'' IHB would like 
to remove sanding equipment from three switching locomotives to test a 
new technology adhesion device. The test period would last for one 
year. The test locomotives would be confined to yard switching service 
and be monitored daily. Each of the test locomotives would be equipped 
with four Centrac Very High Positive Friction (VHPF) traction enhancer 
devices. The VHPF traction enhancer is a solid friction modifier that 
provides continuous treatment of the wheel/rail interface through 
spring loaded devices.
    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 H-97-5] 
and must be submitted in triplicate to the Docket Clerk, Office of 
Chief Counsel, FRA, Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., 
Washington, D.C. 20590. Communications received within 45 days of the 
date of this notice will be

[[Page 29775]]

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 (9:00 a.m.-5:00 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 May 20, 1997.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program 
Development.
[FR Doc. 97-14243 Filed 5-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P