[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 148 (Thursday, August 1, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 37709]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-16379]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Numbers FRA-2009-0096 and FRA-2012-0056]


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    Under part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this 
document provides the public notice that on July 12, 2019, New Jersey 
Transit Rail Operations (NJTR), petitioned the Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA) for an extension of its waivers of compliance from 
certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations contained 
at 49 CFR part 240, Qualification and Certification of Locomotive 
Engineers, and part 242, Qualification and Certification of Conductors. 
FRA assigned the petition Docket Numbers FRA-2009-0096 and FRA-2012-
0056.
    The relief is requested as part of NJTR's continued participation 
in FRA's Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C\3\RS) Program. 
NJTR implemented C\3\RS in June 2009 and is a founding member railroad 
choosing to participate in the Program. NJTR, with the support of its 
labor union partners, have implemented many corrective actions to 
improve railroad safety as a result of C\3\RS. NJTR seeks to shield 
reporting employees and the railroad from mandatory punitive sanctions 
that would otherwise arise as provided in 49 CFR 240.117(e)(1)-(4); 
240.305(a)(l)-(4) and (a)(6); 240.307; 242.403(b), (c), (e)(l)-(4), 
(e)(6)-(11), (f)(l)-(2), and 242.407. The C\3\RS Program encourages 
certified operating crew members to report close calls and protect the 
employees and the railroad from discipline or sanctions arising from 
the incidents reported per the C\3\RS Implementing Memorandum of 
Understanding.
    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 September 16, 2019 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.
John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2019-16379 Filed 7-31-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P