[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 13 (Thursday, January 21, 1999)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 3273] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-1377] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration 49 CFR Parts 229, 231, and 232 [FRA Docket No. PB-9; Notice No. 15] RIN 2130-AB16 Brake System Safety Standards for Freight and Other Non-Passenger Trains and Equipment AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), DOT. ACTION: Extension of comment period. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: By notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published on September 9, 1998 (63 FR 48294), FRA proposed revisions to the regulations governing the power braking systems and equipment used in freight and other non-passenger railroad train operations. In that notice, FRA established a deadline for the submission of written comments of January 15, 1999. Due to the need to ensure that all interested parties have a sufficient amount of time to fully develop their comments and because several requests for additional time to submit written comments have been received by FRA, this document announces an extension of the deadline for the submission of written comments. DATES: Written comments must be received by March 1, 1999. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent possible without incurring additional expenses or delay. ADDRESSES: Address written comments to the Docket Clerk, Office of Chief Counsel, RCC-10, Federal Railroad Administration, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Stop 10, Washington, D.C. 20590. Comments should identify the docket and notice number, and five copies should be submitted. Persons wishing to receive confirmation of receipt of their comments should include a self-addressed, stamped postcard. The Docket Clerk will indicate on the postcard the date on which the comments were received and will return the card to the addressee. The dockets are housed in the Seventh Floor of 1120 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Washington D.C. Public dockets may be reviewed between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leon Smith, Deputy Regional Administrator--Region 3, FRA Office of Safety, RRS-14, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Stop 25, Washington, D.C. 20950 (telephone 404-562-3800), or Thomas Herrmann, Trial Attorney, Office of the Chief Counsel, RCC- 10, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Stop 10, Washington, D.C. 20950 (telephone 202-493-6053). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FRA held two public hearings and one technical conference in October and November of 1998 in regard to this NPRM. During the hearings and technical conference, a vast amount of oral information was presented, and a considerable number of issues were raised and discussed in detail. Subsequent to these meetings, interested parties began the preparation of written comments, which were to be submitted to FRA no later than January 15, 1999. Recently, a few interested parties notified FRA of the need for additional time in which to prepare their written comments. Due to the complexity and importance of this rulemaking, especially to the railroads and rail labor, FRA does not wish to inhibit the ability of any party to fully develop its comments and seeks to provide sufficient time for all interested parties to gather necessary information. Therefore, as FRA is inclined to extend the period for the submission of written comments for certain interested parties, FRA is compelled to provide the same extension to all commenters. Consequently, FRA believes it is in the best interest of all parties involved to extend the period for the submission of written comments in this proceeding to March 1, 1999. It should be noted that FRA does not expect anyone to seek any further extension of the comment period in this proceeding and will consider comments submitted after March 1, 1999, only to the extent possible without causing additional expense or delay. George A. Gavalla, Acting Associate Administrator for Safety. [FR Doc. 99-1377 Filed 1-20-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-06-P