[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 105 (Monday, June 2, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 31403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-12623]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2014-0013]


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 June 6, 2013, Montana Rail Link (MRL) 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 232, Brake System Safety Standards for Freight and Other Non-
Passenger Trains and Equipment; End-of-Train Devices. FRA assigned the 
petition Docket Number FRA-2014-0013.
    MRL seeks a waiver of compliance from 49 CFR 232.219, Double 
heading and helper service. This section states that ``a Class III 
brake test pursuant to [Section] 232.211 shall be made to ensure that 
the brakes are operative from the automatic brake valve of the 
locomotive taking control of the train.'' MRL petitions FRA for a 
modified Class 3 brake test for the use of the Helper-Link[supreg] 
equipped helper locomotive when pushing trains with one or more 
distributed power (DP) locomotives on the rear of the train. Most of 
MRL's traffic is bridge traffic for BNSF Railway (BNSF), which uses a 
waiver for Helper-Link[supreg] (Docket Number FRA-2006-26435). MRL 
seeks the use of identical conditions to BNSF's relief for its 
operation of Helper-Link[supreg]-equipped trains. MRL's evaluation of 
benefits includes increased safety due to the reduced need for train 
service employees to couple and uncouple from trains twice for each 
train assisted and operational benefits by reducing turnaround time for 
helper consists, improving velocity and increasing fuel savings.
    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 July 17, 2014 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).

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 27, 2014.
Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-12623 Filed 5-30-14; 8:45 am]
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