[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 227 (Monday, November 25, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64954-64955]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25423]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2019-0090]


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this 
document provides the public notice that on November 12, 2019, Norfolk 
Southern Corporation (NS) 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 
232, Brake System Safety Standards for Freight and Other Non-Passenger 
Trains and Equipment. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2019-
0090.
    Specifically, NS seeks relief from Sec.  232.305(b)(2), which 
requires a single car air brake test (SCABT) when a ``car is on a shop 
or repair track . . . for any reason and has not received a [SCABT] 
within the previous 12-month period.'' NS requests to replace FRA-
condemnable and other non-condemnable wheelsets on railcars as part of 
an in-train wheelset replacement program, without performing the 
required SCABT. NS explains that railcars due for 5- and 8-year SCABTs 
would still be addressed. The NS system alert notifications are 
viewable to NS repair personnel for railcars that are due SCABTs. NS 
asks that this relief apply to all NS unit trains receiving in-train 
wheel replacement as part of NS's in-train wheelset replacement 
program, on two designated tracks at the NS railyard in Bluefield, West 
Virginia.
    NS desires to implement this program to proactively identify and 
replace wheelsets. In-train wheelset replacements can be done by NS 
mechanical forces in as little as 15 minutes with no need to remove the 
cars from trains. This reduces the number of switching events that 
would otherwise be required to repair cars, reducing the risk of injury 
and derailment. Additionally, in-train wheelset replacement will permit 
NS to replace a greater percentage of wheelsets than those currently 
replaced using traditional techniques.
    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 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 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 Ave. SE, W12-140, Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Room W12-140, 
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal Holidays.
    Communications received by January 9, 2020 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

[[Page 64955]]

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. 2019-25423 Filed 11-22-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P