[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 1, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 35302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-09451]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2014-0106]


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 March 14, 2024, Metro-North 
Railroad (MNCW) petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) 
for an extension of a waiver of compliance from certain provisions of 
the Federal railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR part 240 
(Qualification and Certification of Locomotive Engineers) and part 242 
(Qualification and Certification of Conductors). The relevant Docket 
Number is FRA-2014-0106.
    Specifically, MNCW requests relief required to continue 
participation in FRA's Confidential Close Call Reporting System 
(C\3\RS) Program. MNCW seeks to continue shielding reporting employees 
from mandatory punitive sanctions that would otherwise arise as 
provided in Sec. Sec.  240.117(e)(1)-(4); 240.305(a)(1)-(4) and (a)(6); 
240.307; 242.403(b), (c), (e)(1)-(4), (e)(6)-(11), (f)(1)-(2); and 
242.407. The C\3\RS Program encourages certified operating crew members 
to report close calls and protects the employees and the railroad from 
discipline or sanctions arising from the incidents reported per the 
C\3\RS Implementing Memorandum of Understanding (IMOU). MNCW notes that 
it and the Association of Commuter Rail Employees have been governed by 
an IMOU since September 2014. MNCW states that recent safety 
improvements associated with C\3\RS include: ``Development of diagrams 
to enhance notices to crews for partial passenger platform closures;'' 
``Deployment of standardized train spotting or enhanced spotting 
markers for specific stations;'' and ``Enhancement of root cause 
analysis for C\3\RS eligible `known events' by inviting employees 
involved to be interviewed by members of the PRT.''
    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 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 at www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
    Communications received by July 1, 2024 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 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. 2024-09451 Filed 4-30-24; 8:45 am]
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