[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 209 (Friday, October 29, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 58466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-28349]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA-1999-5895]


Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway; Public Hearing

    On July 29, 1999, FRA published a notice in the Federal Register 
announcing Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway's (BNSF) request to 
obtain a permanent waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the 
Safety Appliance Standards, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR), part 231, and the Power Brakes and Drawbars regulations, 49 CFR 
part 232, concerning RoadRailer  train operations over 
their railroad system. Specifically, BNSF requests relief from the 
requirements of 49 CFR part 231, which specifies the number, location 
and dimensional specifications for handholds, ladders, sill steps, 
uncoupling levers and handbrakes; and Section Sec. 232.2, which 
regulates drawbar height.
    As a result of comments received by the Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA) concerning this waiver petition, FRA has 
determined that a public hearing is necessary before a final decision 
is made on this petition. Accordingly, a public hearing is hereby set 
for 10 a.m. on November 23, 1999, in the Minnesota/Michigan Conference 
Room at the FAA Building, 2300 E. Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois 
60018. Interested parties are invited to present oral statements at 
this hearing. The hearing will be informal and will be conducted in 
accordance with Rule 25 of the FRA Rules of Practice (49 CFR 211.25) by 
a representative designated by FRA. The FRA representative will make an 
opening statement outlining the scope of the hearing, as well as any 
additional procedures for the conduct of the hearing. The hearing will 
be a non-adversarial proceeding in which all interested parties will be 
given the opportunity to express their views regarding this waiver 
petition without cross-examination. After all initial statements have 
been completed, those persons wishing to make a brief rebuttal will be 
given an opportunity to do so in the same order in which initial 
statements were made.

    Issued in Washington, DC on October 25, 1999.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program 
Development.
[FR Doc. 99-28349 Filed 10-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P