[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 244 (Thursday, December 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73089-73090]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27791]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2016-0018]


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 December 15, 2021, Union 
Pacific Railroad (UP) petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration 
(FRA) to extend 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. UP also requests to extend an 
exemption from the requirements of title 49, United States Code 
(U.S.C.), section 20303, which mandate that a rail vehicle with 
defective or insecure equipment may be moved to make repairs only to 
the nearest available place at which the repairs can be made. The 
relevant FRA Docket Number is FRA-2016-0018.
    Specifically, UP requests to extend its relief from 49 CFR 232.213, 
Extended haul trains; 232.15, Movement of defective equipment; and 
232.103(f), General requirements for all train brake systems, to 
continue using wheel temperature detectors (WTD) on a segment of UP 
track to measure potential safety improvements and cost reductions on 
brake testing and maintenance. UP states that operations of trains 
under the waiver have demonstrated a significantly positive effect on 
the safety of train operations. Further, UP continues to collect data 
through the test component of the waiver and work with the test waiver 
oversight committee. UP also seeks clarification on condition 12 of the 
February 23, 2017, decision letter.\1\
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    \1\ https://www.regulations.gov/document/FRA-2016-0018-0013.
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    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

[[Page 73090]]

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 https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
    Communications received by February 7, 2022 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.
Carolyn Hayward-Williams,
Director, Office of Railroad Systems and Technology.
[FR Doc. 2021-27791 Filed 12-22-21; 8:45 am]
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