[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 239 (Thursday, December 12, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68008-68009]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26744]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2012-0091]


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this 
document provides the public notice that by a letter dated November 22, 
2019, Montana Rail Link, Inc. (MRL) petitioned the Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA) to include MRL in 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-2012-0091.
    Specifically, MRL seeks relief with respect to the application of 
49 CFR 232.205(c)(1), Class I brake test-initial terminal inspection, 
and Sec.  232.207(b)(1), Class IA brake tests--1,000-mile inspection, 
for trains operating in distributive power mode. MRL requests to extend 
the maximum allowable brake pipe air flow from the present regulatory 
limit of 60 cubic feet per minute (CFM) to 90 CFM for distributed 
power-equipped trains under specified operating conditions.
    On March 26, 2013, FRA granted a pilot test waiver to the BNSF 
Railway Company for these same provisions. Canadian National Railway 
and Canadian Pacific Railway were added as parties to the test waiver 
on November 21, 2014, and Union Pacific Railroad was added as a party 
on March 4, 2015. On May 3, 2017, FRA granted a change in status from a 
test waiver to a waiver of compliance, and on February 8, 2019, CSX 
Transportation, Inc. was added to the waiver. MRL requests to be a 
party to the same waiver. If granted, MRL would be subject to the same 
conditions as set forth in FRA's May 3, 2017 letter.
    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 27, 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

[[Page 68009]]

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. 2019-26744 Filed 12-11-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P