[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 25, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 49063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-23933]



[[Page 49063]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2001-9486]


Trinity Industries, Incorporated; Public Hearing

    On July 11, 2001, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) 
published a notice in the Federal Register (66 FR 36363) announcing 
Trinity Industries Incorporated (TII) request to obtain a permanent 
waiver of compliance from certain provisions of Railroad Safety 
Appliance Standards, 49 CFR part 231, for a new design, 100-Ton Seven 
Unit Articulated Intermodal Ramp Car (Ramp Car). Relief is requested 
from the requirements provided in title 49 CFR part 231 as follows:
    49 CFR 231.18--Cars of special construction, which states: ``Cars 
of construction not covered specifically in the foregoing sections in 
this part, relative to handholds, sill steps, ladders, hand brakes and 
running boards may be considered as of special construction, but shall 
have, as nearly as possible, the same complement of handholds, sill 
steps, ladders, hand brakes, and running boards as are required for 
cars of the nearest approximate type.'' The nearest approximate type of 
car for this new design Ramp Car is described in 49 CFR 231.6--Flat 
cars. Specifically, TII is seeking relief of four (4) requirements 
described below:
    Hand Brakes Location: 49 CFR 231.6 (a)(3)(ii) requires that ``the 
brake shaft shall be located on the end of car to the left of center, 
or on side of car not more than 36 inches from right-hand end 
thereof.''
    Sill Steps Location: 49 CFR 231.1(d)(3)(i) requires that ``one near 
each end of each side of car, so that there shall be not more than 18 
inches from end of car to center of tread of sill step.''
    Side Handholds Location: 49 CFR 231.6(c)(3)(i) requires that 
``horizontal, one on face of each side sill near each end. Clearance of 
outer end of handhold shall be not more than 12 inches from end of 
car.''
    End Handholds Location: 49 CFR 231.6(d)(3)(i) requires that 
``horizontal, one near each side of each end of car on face of end 
sill. Clearance of outer end of handhold shall be not more than 16 
inches from side of car.''
    Due to the uniqueness of the car design, special construction 
considerations, operation, and comments received by 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 hearby set for 1:30 p.m. on October 18, 2001, in Conference 
Room #1 on the seventh floor, at the FRA Headquarters Building, 1120 
Vermont Avene, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005. 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 the 
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 September 19, 2001.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program 
Development.
[FR Doc. 01-23933 Filed 9-24-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P