[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 64 (Friday, April 3, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18282-18283]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07617]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2015-0019]


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    In accordance with part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR), this provides the public notice that by a document dated 
February 27, 2015, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NS) 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 213. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2015-
0019.
    Pursuant to 49 CFR 213.113(a), NS requests a waiver from the 
accepted practice of stop/start rail testing to start a pilot test 
process for nonstop continuous testing. The projected starting date for 
implementing the test process would be May 1, 2015, for a period of 3 
years. The test process will commence initially on the main tracks of 
the Dearborn Division Chicago Line (Cleveland, OH, to Chicago, IL, 
Milepost (MP) CD 181.2-523.3). Once this district has been completed, 
NS will expand to the following locations: (1) Dearborn Division 
Cleveland Line (Ravenna to Drawbridge, MP RD 85.9-123.2), Chicago 
District (Chicago, IL, to Hobart, IN, MP B 518.7-486.5), Lake Erie 
District (Euclid to Bay Village B 172.0-197.3); (2) Lake Division 
Chicago, Fostoria, & Cleveland Districts (Hobart, IN, to Bay Village, 
OH, MP B 486.5-197.3); (3) Pittsburgh Division Fort Wayne Line 
(Pittsburgh, PA, to Crestline, OH, MP PC 0.0-188.7), Pittsburgh Line 
(Pittsburgh, PA, to CP Cannon, MP PT 353.5-119.1), Conemaugh Line (CP 
Conpit to CP Penn, MP LC 0.0-77.9), Lake Erie District (Euclid to 
Ashtabula, B 172.0-129.2), Cleveland Line (Ravenna to Alliance, MP RD 
85.9-67.2); and (4) Harrisburg Division Pittsburgh Line (Harris to CP 
Cannon, MP PT 104.9-119.1), Harrisburg Line (Falls to Harrisburg, PA, 
MP HP 5.2-112.9), Port Road Branch (Port to Banks, MP EP 33.7-76.1 & 
Perryville to Port, MP PD 0.3-39.7).
    The nonstop continuous rail test vehicle will be a self-propelled 
ultrasonic/induction rail flaw detection vehicle operating at test 
speeds up to 30 mph. Upon completion of each daily run, data will be 
analyzed offline by technical experts experienced with the process on 
other Class I railroads. The analysis will categorize and prioritize 
suspect locations for post-test field verification and hand tests. 
Field verification will be conducted by

[[Page 18283]]

qualified and certified rail test professionals with recordable field 
validation equipment based on GPS location and known track features 
identified within the flaw detection electronic record. Remedial 
actions will be applied based on the findings per 49 CFR 213.113 for 
confirmed rail defect locations.
    NS plans to test the Dearborn Division Chicago Line approximately 
every 30 to 45 days and the extended territories within a similar 
timeframe. The NS Engineering Department will also provide the FRA Rail 
Integrity Office with rail test reports for review as required. NS 
believes nonstop continuous rail testing will provide the capability to 
test track more quickly and frequently, and minimize the risk of rail 
service failures.
    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 (e.g., Waiver Petition Docket Number FRA-
2015-0019) 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 May 18, 2015 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.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 27, 2015.
Ron Hynes,
Director, Office of Technical Oversight.
[FR Doc. 2015-07617 Filed 4-2-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P