[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 1, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 19137]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09120]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2013-0081]


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    Under part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this 
document provides the public notice that on April 4, 2018, the 
Association of American Railroads (AAR) petitioned the Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA) for a Special Approval of certain industry 
standards in accordance with the Federal railroad safety regulations 
contained at 49 CFR 231.33, Procedure for special approval of existing 
industry safety appliance standards, and 49 CFR 231.35, Procedure for 
modification of an approved industry safety appliance standard for new 
railcar construction. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2013-
0081.
    AAR, on behalf of itself and its member railroads, submitted a 
petition for special approval of existing industry safety appliance 
standards contained in 49 CFR part 231, Railroad Safety Appliance 
Standards, and minor edits to AAR Standard S-2044 and its appendices 
that have been previously approved by the FRA. Specifically, AAR 
requests approval of the standards and specifications delineated in AAR 
Standard S-2044, Appendices F4, Safety Appliances for Side-Dump Cars, 
and J1, Safety Appliances for Rail-Compatible Vehicles. Appendices F4 
and J1 were not included in the version of AAR Standard S-2044 approved 
March 29, 2016, and are entirely new. AAR also seeks approval of minor 
clarifying edits to previously-approved AAR Standard S-2044 and its 
appendices. AAR Standard S-2044 and its appendices have been developed 
to serve as requirements for safety appliance arrangements. The revised 
standard and its appendices are to be applied to new railroad freight 
cars, if approved by FRA.
    AAR Standard S-2044 was established by the AAR Safety Appliance 
Task Force (Task Force), which was created by AAR's Equipment 
Engineering Committee (EEC) to develop industry standards for safety 
appliance arrangements on modern railcar types not explicitly covered 
by 49 CFR part 231. The Task Force consists of representatives from 
Class I railroads, labor unions, car builders, private car owners, and 
shippers, along with ergonomics experts and government representatives 
from FRA and Transport Canada who participate as non-voting members. 
The Task Force drafted a base safety appliance standard for all car 
types, plus industry safety appliance standards for specific car types. 
These industry standards have been adopted by AAR's Engineering 
Equipment Committee and, with FRA's approval, will serve as the core 
criteria for safety appliance arrangements on railcars that are more 
specialized in design.
    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 parties 
desire an opportunity for oral comment and a public hearing, 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 June 15, 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. 2018-09120 Filed 4-30-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P