[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 13, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9203-9204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04608]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2010-0129]


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    Under part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this 
provides the public notice that by a letter dated February 14, 2019, 
the Sierra Northern Railway (SERA) petitioned the Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA) for an extension of a waiver of compliance from 
certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations contained 
at 49 CFR part 215. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2010-
0129.
    Specifically, SERA requests relief from the stenciling requirement 
contained in 49 CFR 215.303, Stenciling of restricted cars, for 5 
freight cars, one gondola and four box cars modified as ``open air 
concession'' passenger cars to give passengers a pleasurable ride in 
the Sacramento and Coastal Mountain area. SERA operates the subject 
cars on the 40-mile Mendocino Division between Willits and Ft. Bragg, 
California, and on the Sacramento Division for 14 miles between 
Woodland and Lovdal Siding near West Sacramento, California. SERA does 
not interchange this equipment with the general system of 
transportation. The maximum speed of operation is 20 miles per hour. 
The cars are typically operated no more than 40 miles in a day and 
approximately 75 days per year.
    SERA states that it continues to maintain all equipment, operations 
and track to FRA compliance standards and there has not been an 
equipment-related derailment of any SERA tourist or dinner train in 
over 10 years. These cars are painted to match passenger cars. 
Stenciling according to Sec.  215.303 would be disruptive to the 
appearance of the train. Further, stenciling indicating some 
restriction might invite unwarranted concerns by passengers.
    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

[[Page 9204]]

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 April 29, 2019 will be considered by FRA 
before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be 
considered as far as 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.). 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 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. 2019-04608 Filed 3-12-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P