[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 25, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47535-47536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18244]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2021-0083]


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this 
document provides the public notice that on August 10, 2021, Terminal 
Railroad Association of St. Louis (Terminal Railroad) petitioned the 
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a waiver of compliance from 
certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations contained 
at 49 CFR parts 240 (Qualification and Certification of Locomotive 
Engineers); and 242 (Qualification and Certification of Conductors). 
FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2021-0083.
    Terminal Railroad requests an extension of the relief that was 
granted to the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association 
(ASLRRA), on behalf of its member railroads, by letter dated September 
18, 2020, from certain regulations pertaining to vision and hearing 
acuity.\1\ Specifically, Terminal Railroad notes it seeks relief from 
engineer and conductor certification requirements in 49 CFR 240.121, 
Criteria for vision and hearing acuity data, and 242.117, Vision and 
hearing acuity.
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    \1\ See https://www.regulations.gov/document/FRA-2020-0063-0003.
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    Terminal Railroad states that it has performed multiple searches to 
locate a clinic to perform vision and hearing acuity testing as 
required by Sec. Sec.  240.121

[[Page 47536]]

and 242.117, but it currently has only one clinic available. Terminal 
Railroad states that the increase in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-
19) cases and the possibility of increased state restrictions may limit 
clinic use further.
    A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications 
concerning the petition, is available for review online at 
www.regulations.gov.
    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 party 
desires 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 at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
    Communications received by September 9, 2021 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), the U.S. 
Department of Transportation (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/privacy-notice for the 
privacy notice of regulations.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-18244 Filed 8-24-21; 8:45 am]
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