[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 164 (Friday, August 27, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 48292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18509]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2018-0100]


Petition for Extension of Waiver of Compliance

    Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this 
document provides the public notice that on July 27, 2021, Norfolk 
Southern Corporation (NS) petitioned the Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA) for an amendment of 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; End-of-Train Devices. The relevant 
FRA Docket Number is FRA-2018-0100.
    Specifically, NS requests to amend an existing waiver from the 
requirements of 49 CFR 232.203, Training requirements, to allow 
electronic air brake test refresher training via customized simulation 
software in place of hands-on training. The current waiver applies to 
conductors and supervisors and is limited to an 18-month pilot program 
for freight car repair personnel reporting for duty at Birmingham, 
Alabama; Elkhart, Indiana; Enola, Pennsylvania; Kansas City, Missouri; 
Macon, Georgia; Norfolk, Virginia; and Portsmouth, Ohio.
    As the pilot period has concluded, NS requests to amend the waiver 
to allow electronic air brake test training as an optional replacement 
for hands-on training for refresher training of freight car repair 
personnel on the entire NS system. In support of its request, NS states 
that (1) all personnel intended for inclusion have already received 
electronic training; (2) feedback from electronically-trained personnel 
has been positive; (3) delivering training electronically achieves 
safety benefits; and (4) NS has improved the training since the 
original pilot waiver was granted.
    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 October 12, 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. 2021-18509 Filed 8-26-21; 8:45 am]
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