[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 60 (Monday, March 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16724-16725]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07102]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2015-0021]


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR), this document provides the public notice that by a 
document dated November 20, 2014, the Transportation Technology Center 
(TTCI) 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 231.136(c)(4) and 231.126(c)(4). 
FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2015-0021.
    Industry efforts are underway to develop industry standards for 
natural gas fuel tenders (NGFT) as fuel sources for locomotives. FRA 
has provided funding for a program to complement work conducted by the 
Association of American Railroads (AAR) NGFT Technical Advisory Group 
(TAG) in developing industry standards for NGFT tenders. This effort is 
focused on documenting (measuring and analyzing) the worst-case 
displacement environment between a common line-haul locomotive and a 
trailing vehicle (simulating a fuel tender).
    This petition for a temporary waiver has been filed so that a test 
project can be conducted to measure and an understanding can be had of 
the tri-axial displacement environment of interconnections (e.g., gas, 
cooling system loop, electrical, air, etc.) between the locomotive and 
adjacent tender vehicle during normal full-scale freight train 
operations in revenue service. This waiver also serves to give notice 
that the instrumentation brackets will be mounted to and partially 
obstruct the safety appliances on the locomotive and box car. The 
safety appliances affected will be the A-end end platform and the A-end 
handhold on the box car, and, in addition, a test fixture bracket will 
be attached to the uprights that secure horizontal handholds on the 
rear end of the locomotive. The test program outlined in the petition 
includes measurement of relative longitudinal, lateral, and vertical 
displacements and accelerations between the locomotive and simulated 
fuel tender. Data gathered will provide input for testing future fuel 
transfer components (e.g., hoses, wires, and connectors for gas/heat 
exchange fluids/electrical power/control) planned for use on the next 
generation of NGFT vehicles.
    Canadian National Railway (CN) is supplying the locomotive and 
high-cube box car for this testing. The locomotive's long hood end will 
be connected to and leading the box car's A-end. The intent is for both 
to be used throughout the testing from Chicago, IL, to Memphis, TN, and 
back. The requested duration of the waiver is to allow the testing from 
Chicago, IL, to Memphis, TN, and back to be completed. 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

[[Page 16725]]

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-
2015-0021) 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 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.
    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.). 
In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the 
public to better inform its processes. DOT posts these comments, 
without edit, including any personal information the commenter 
provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records 
notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at www.dot.gov/privacy. 
See also 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 March 24, 2015.
Ron Hynes,
Director, Office of Technical Oversight.
[FR Doc. 2015-07102 Filed 3-27-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P