[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 120 (Monday, June 23, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 35631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-14525]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2014-0030]


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 March 25, 2014, the Gulf & Ohio Railways, Inc. (G&O), on behalf 
of one of its companies, the Knoxville & Holston River Railroad (KXHR), 
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 215, Railroad Freight Car Safety 
Standards. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2014-0030.
    G&O requests a waiver on behalf of KXHR from the stenciling 
requirement specified in 49 CFR 215.303, Stenciling of restricted cars, 
for nine freight cars. The nine cars' reporting marks, car numbers, 
type, capacity, condition, status, and year built are listed in a table 
contained in the petition letter.
    KXHR operates over 22 miles of track in and around Knoxville, TN. 
Established in 1998, it normally handles in excess of 7,000 carloads 
annually. It also operates the Three Rivers Rambler excursion train, 
owned by a sister company, which travels to and from Knoxville over a 
5.5-mile portion of the railroad along the Tennessee River. The 
excursion train, powered mostly by a steam locomotive, uses three 
passenger cars built about 80 years ago. Between the two companies, 
they own nine freight cars that are more than 50 years of age. These 
cars are being preserved because of their educational value, usefulness 
in creating an antique freight train that can be operated for 
photographs, and as a backdrop for the antique passenger train. The 
maximum operating speed of these cars will be 10 mph. These cars have 
been examined and are safe to operate under the conditions in this 
petition. In the case of cars that are not yet operable, they will be 
examined and not operated unless they are found to be safe under the 
conditions requested in this petition. These nine cars will not be 
interchanged with other railroads.
    G&O states that these cars are a collection of antique equipment 
that is not intended for operation except (1) for repositioning when 
needed and (2) for photo freight trains, not to exceed three times per 
year, 20 miles per trip, except that Car KXHR 9 will operate as an open 
air passenger car on the Three Rivers Rambler excursion train at 10 
mph.
    In addition, G&O has requested a Special Approval for these nine 
cars to continue in service in accordance with 49 CFR 205.203(c).
    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 August 7, 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 June 17, 2014.
Ron Hynes,
Director, Office of Safety Assurance and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2014-14525 Filed 6-20-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P