[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 73 (Monday, April 18, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 20203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-7642]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 favour of relief.

Link Up International, Corporation

[Docket Number FRA-2005-20426]

    The Link Up International Corporation (LUIC) seeks a waiver of 
compliance from the requirements of Title 49 Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) Sec.  231 Safety Appliance Standards, specifically 
Sec.  231.1.(a) Handbrake (2) Dimensions. 231.1(a)(2)(ii) The brake 
wheel may be flat or dished, not less than 15, preferably 16, inches in 
diameter, of malleable iron, wrought iron, or steel.
    LUIC requests this requirement be permanently waived to manufacture 
handbrake wheels from a high density polyethylene, and with an aluminum 
or steel insert, over-molded in place.
    LUIC contends a composite wheel offers several cost and safety-
related advantages over a standard steel wheel. LUIC contends the 
primary benefit of a composite wheel is weight reduction that will 
significantly reduce wear to drive shaft bearings that will extend life 
to the handbrake. LUIC believes there are secondary benefits related to 
safety by applying the composite wheel with increased torque and reduce 
personal injuries by having finger ridges and cross-checked etched 
pattern into the surface to enhance the grip, yet subtle enough to 
prevent personal injury compared to a steel wheel that can have a rough 
finish with metal burs. LUIC believes the rail industry will see a 
significant savings with composite handbrake wheels by purchase price 
equal to or below standard steel wheels, with longer handbrake life, 
and elimination of handbrake injuries.
    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-
2005-20426) and must be submitted in triplicate to the Docket Clerk, 
DOT Central Docket Management Facility, Room Pl-401, Washington, DC. 
20590-0001. 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 a.m.-5 p.m.) at DOT 
Central Docket Management Facility, Room Pl-401 (Plaza Level), 400 
Seventh Street SW., Washington. 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.
    Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments 
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19377-78). The statement 
may also be found at http://dms.dot.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC. on April 12, 2005.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program 
Development.
[FR Doc. 05-7642 Filed 4-15-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P