[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 156 (Friday, August 11, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49288-49289]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20452]


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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 its safety standards. 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.

Thrall Car Manufacturing Company

[Waiver Petition Docket Number FRA-1999-6358]

    Thrall Car Manufacturing Company (TCMC) seeks a permanent waiver of 
compliance with certain provisions of the Railroad Safety Appliance 
Standards, 49 CFR Part 231.24, as they apply to auto carrying railcars 
as follows:
    1. Use the reduced wording described in Parts 231.24 (j)(1) and 
231.24 (j)(2) rather than 231.27 (j)(1) and (j)(2). Part 231.24 (j)(1) 
states ``That portion of each end of car more than fifteen (15) feet 
above top of rail shall be painted with contrasting reflectorized paint 
and shall bear the words ``No running board'' to the left of center and 
``Excess height car'' to the right of center.'' Section 231.24 (j)(2) 
states ``On each side-sill near end corner there shall be painted a 
yellow rectangular area with a three-fourths (\3/4\) inch black border 
containing the words ``This car excess height--no running board.'' 
Lettering to be not less than one and one-half (1\1/2\) inches high.''
    TCMC requests to use the wording in 231.24, regarding running 
boards, due to the cars not being so equipped.
    2. TCMC requests that the word ``material'' be substituted for 
``paint'' in this section to permit utilizing new technological 
advancements in reflectorization.
    3. Section 231.24 (j)(2) requires that ``On each side-sill near end 
corner there shall be painted a yellow rectangular area with a three-
fourths (\3/4\) inch black border containing the words `This car excess 
height . . .' '' TCMC petitions to relocate this stencil/decal from the 
side-sill, if room is not available, to the shear panel of the auto 
rack. The stencil/decal will be located as low as possible on three 
corners of the car and directly above the handbrake on the ``BL'' 
corner.
    4. TCMC requests that ``contrasting color'' borders be allowed on 
cars with dark exterior paint whereas a black border, required in 
231.24 (j)(2) and 231.27 (j)(2), would not be readily visible.
    5. TCMC requests that the maximum allowable misalignment between 
the front inside edge of the auto rack ladder stile to the inside edge 
of the flat car sill step be increased from the dimensions

[[Page 49289]]

listed in Motive Power and Equipment Technical Bulletin 98-05 to six 
(6) inches. This relief would be consistent with guidelines set forth 
in AAR's Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices, S-2038-85, 
2.3.4.
    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 1999-
6358) and must be submitted to the Docket Clerk, DOT Docket Management 
Facility, Room PL-401 (Plaza Level), 400 7th 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 the 
above facility. All documents in the public docket are also available 
for inspection and copying on the Internet at the docket facility's web 
site at http://dms.dot.gov.

    Issued in Washington, D.C. on August 7, 2000.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program 
Development.
[FR Doc. 00-20452 Filed 8-10-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-U