[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 6, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 13621]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-5406]


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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 
provision involved, the nature of the relief being requested, and the 
petitioner's arguments in favor of relief.

Canadian Pacific Railway

[Docket Number FRA-2000-7927]

    Canadian Pacific Railway Company (CPR), on behalf of itself, its 
Delaware and Hudson (D&H) subsidiary, and its Soo Line (Soo) subsidiary 
is seeking a waiver of compliance with the Railroad Locomotive Safety 
Standards, 49 CFR 229.71 (clearance above the rail).
    CPR jointly with General Electric Transportation Systems is 
exploring methods for improving locomotive adhesion under heavy snow 
conditions. One method that appears to have some potential for 
consideration is the application of flexible wipers under the front 
pilot. These ``snow flaps'' are made of a corrugated urethane material 
similar to the non-metallic sand pipe tips currently allowed. These 
snow flaps extended below the 2\1/2\" limit allowed by the section 
229.71
    CPR did limited testing of these snow flaps in Canada last year and 
is requesting additional exemption from Transport Canada to continue 
the testing this winter. There will be up to 40 GE locomotives equipped 
for this test. These units are principally dedicated to coal routes in 
British Columbia, but they are internationally equipped and may operate 
into the U.S. on an occasional basis. These units will enter the U.S. 
through the Minnesota gateway and over Soo Line as far as Chicago, 
Illinois.
    CPR reported no evidence that these snow flaps will present any 
risk to safe train operations or to employees.
    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 FRA-
2000-7927) and must be submitted to the Docket Clerk, DOT Docket 
Management Facility, Room PL-401 (Plaza Level), 400 7th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20590. Communications received within 30 days of the 
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 http://dms.dot.gov.

    Issued in Washington, D.C. on February 22, 2001.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program 
Development.
[FR Doc. 01-5406 Filed 3-5-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P