[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 154 (Friday, August 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 48766]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19333]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2008-0098]


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR), this document provides the public notice that by a document 
dated July 5, 2013, Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS) has petitioned the 
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a waiver of compliance from 
certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations contained 
at 49 CFR Part 223, Safety Glazing Standards--Locomotives, Passenger 
Cars and Cabooses. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2008-
0098.
    IAIS, a Class III railroad, has requested an extension, with two 
modifications, of a previously granted waiver of compliance from 
certain provisions of the safety glazing standards as prescribed by 49 
CFR 223.15, Requirements for existing passenger cars, for 14 open-
window coach cars used in tourist and excursion service. Specifically, 
the car numbers are: RRDX 804, 806, 810, 814, 816, 819, 820, 822, 826, 
831, 834, 836, 837, and 838. These cars were built by the Canadian Car 
and Foundry Company in 1953 for the Canadian Pacific Railway, and were 
used in Montreal, QC, in commuter service until 2005. The cars were 
purchased by the parent company of IAIS, Railroad Development 
Corporation, in autumn 2006 for excursion service on an infrequent 
basis. The cars are locomotive-hauled and operate over a mixture of 
urban and rural areas at speeds up to 30 mph.
    The glazing in these coaches is polycarbonate plastic and meets the 
requirement for Canadian passenger equipment glazing, but may not meet 
the requirements of 49 CFR Part 223. Since the cars were purchased and 
delivered to IAIS, there have been no acts of vandalism against the 
glazing. The primary use of the cars is fundraising for local volunteer 
fire departments along the IAIS line.
    The railroad has requested two modifications to the conditions of 
the original waiver. First, remove the limitation that the cars only be 
operated a maximum of 10 times a year to provide the opportunity to 
improve the use of the equipment. Second, increase the speed 
restriction from 30 mph to 40 mph to match the timetable speed of other 
IAIS trains. The other conditions set by the original waiver will 
remain in effect.
    A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications 
concerning the petition, is available for review online at 
www.regulations.gov and in person at the U.S. Department of 
Transportation's (DOT) Docket Operations Facility, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue, SE., W12-140, Washington, DC 20590. The Docket Operations 
Facility is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal Holidays.
    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 and may be submitted by any of the following 
methods:
     Web site: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Operations Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., W12-140, Washington, DC 
20590.
     Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room W12-140, 
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal Holidays.
    Communications received by September 23, 2013 will be considered by 
FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date 
will be considered as far as practicable.
    Anyone is able to search the electronic form of any written 
communications and comments received into any of our dockets by the 
name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the document, 
if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
See http://www.regulations.gov/#!privacyNotice for the privacy notice 
of regulations.gov or interested parties may review DOT's complete 
Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 
2000 (65 FR 19477).

Robert C. Lauby,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Regulatory and Legislative 
Operations.
[FR Doc. 2013-19333 Filed 8-8-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P