[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 147 (Friday, July 31, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40948-40949]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20503]


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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

[[Page 40949]]

the petitioner's arguments in favor of relief.

Paducah & Louisville Railway, Inc.

[Waiver Petition Docket Number H-98-4]

    The Paducah & Louisville Railway, Inc. (PL) seeks a waiver of 
compliance from 49 CFR 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.'' PL would like to disable 
sanding equipment on six locomotives to test a new technology adhesion 
device. The test period would last for one year. The test locomotives 
would be operated in unit coal train service between Madisonville, 
(mile post JK 149) and Louisville, Kentucky (mile post J 1.9). The 
locomotives would 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.

Lake Terminal Railroad Company

[Waiver Petition Docket Number H-98-5]

    The Lake Terminal Railroad Company (LT) seeks a waiver of 
compliance from 49 CFR 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.'' LT would like to disable 
sanding equipment on six switching locomotives to test a new technology 
adhesion device. The test period would last for one year. The test 
locomotives would be operated in yard service and the locomotives would 
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-98-4, 
H-98-5) 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 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 docket facility located at 1120 Vermont Avenue, 
N.W., Room 7051, Washington, D.C. 20005.

    Issued in Washington, D.C. on July 27, 1998.
Edward R. English,
Director, Office of Safety Assurance and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 98-20503 Filed 7-30-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P