[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 247 (Thursday, December 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 80449]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32450]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2005-20383]


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 October 28, 2015, the Maine Eastern Railroad (MERR) 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 236. FRA assigned the petition 
Docket Number FRA-2005-20383.
    This request is for relief from the mechanical locking requirements 
found in 49 CFR 236.312, Movable bridge, interlocking of signal 
appliances with bridge devices, on the Carlton Bridge at Bath, ME, 
Milepost 30.0 on the Rockland Branch. Specifically, MERR requests 
permission to detect displacement of the bridge-locking members when 
displaced more than 2 inches from their proper position, instead of the 
existing 1-inch requirement.
    MERR states that it was granted relief from the 1-inch locking 
requirement in 2005 in Docket Number FRA-2005-20383, but allowed that 
waiver to expire in 2010. MERR notes that it is not possible to 
maintain the 1-inch span lock retraction limit in cold-temperature 
extremes. These conditions will cause the movable span-locking members 
to move within the fixed span positions enough to cause a noncompliance 
of the 1-inch requirement. The contraction of the steel affects the 
moveable span's west-end span lock adjustment, which requires a 
maintainer to travel to the bridge piers to seasonally adjust both 
west-end span lock circuit controller boxes to a setting of 2 inches to 
compensate for the contraction. Later in the season, the settings must 
be returned to 1 inch. This often places the maintainer at a safety 
risk due to icy conditions. The span lock members extend approximately 
13 inches in length into the fixed portions when the movable span is 
locked with the fixed span.
    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 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 February 8, 2016 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.
Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety. Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-32450 Filed 12-23-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P