[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 22 (Thursday, February 1, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 4728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-01961]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2018-0005]


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    Under part 211 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR), this provides the public notice that on January 2, 2018, the 
National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) 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 238, Passenger Equipment Safety Standards. FRA assigned the 
petition docket number FRA-2018-0005.
    Amtrak plans to lease two articulated Series 8 trainsets from Tren 
Articulado Ligero Goicoechea Oriol (Talgo) to support its Cascade 
intercity service. The Cascade service operates between Eugene, OR and 
Vancouver, BC. The service uses both Talgo Series 6 and Series 8 
trainsets. Amtrak currently has two Series 8 trainsets now in service 
that were purchased by the state of Oregon in 2013. The two train sets 
to be leased from Talgo were originally built for the state of 
Wisconsin in 2013 but never purchased. The trainsets have never been 
operated but have been stored in serviceable condition at the Amtrak 
Beech Grove facility in Beech Grove, IN.
    Amtrak requests relief for the two Talgo Series 8 trainsets from 
the requirements of 49 CFR 238.131(b), Safety System for Manual and 
Powered Side Doors--propulsion interlock, which applies to passenger 
cars beginning service after February 5, 2018, and Sec.  238.133, 
Exterior side door safety systems--all passenger cars and locomotives 
used in a passenger service.
    The Talgo Series 8 trainsets currently in operation have been in 
service since 2013 and are therefore exempt from the requirements of 
Sec. Sec.  238.131(b) and 238.133 because they were ordered prior to 
April 5, 2016 and placed into service prior to February 5, 2018. The 
Talgo Series 8 trainsets to be leased are identical to the Series 8 
trainsets currently in operation. The relief would apply only to the 
trainsets to be leased from Talgo that have never been placed in 
service.
    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 
Docket Operations Facility, 1200 New Jersey Ave. 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 parties 
desire 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:
     Website: 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 March 19, 2018 will be considered by FRA 
before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be 
considered if practicable.
    Anyone can 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.). 
Under 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 https://www.transportation.gov/privacy. See also https://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. 2018-01961 Filed 1-31-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P