[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 21, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67707-67708]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18717]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2006-25837]


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 by letter dated May 20, 2024, 
the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) 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 219 (Control of Alcohol and Drug 
Use). The relevant Docket Number is FRA-2006-25837.
    Specifically, CATS requests relief for its fixed guideway public 
transit Blue Line (LYNX BLE) operation that shares limited connections 
in a corridor with Norfolk Southern Railway's (NS) freight operations. 
CATS and NS share 3 highway-rail grade crossings (East Hebron Street, 
Sweden Road, and East 16th Street), but they ``do not share any 
trackage or train control systems.''
    In support of its request, CATS states that it ``has already 
adopted and enforces a comprehensive set of drug and alcohol policies 
compliant with the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) . . . 
requirements for covered employees that apply to the entirety of the 
CATS light rail service.'' \1\ Further, CATS states that the relief 
will ``preserve consistency throughout the CATS System with regard to 
its already-existing drug and alcohol policies.'' Without the requested 
relief, CATS would be required to comply with Part 219 only at the 3 
named highway-rail grade crossings. CATS asserts that ``preserving the 
system-wide applicability of the rules rather than having a set of 
different regulations applicable at these three (3) locations, would 
avoid confusion, promote consistency and, thus, enhance safety.''
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    \1\ See Petition at 8, ``CATS employees are fully subject to, 
and CATS complies with FTA's Part 655 Requirements.''
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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 parties 
desire

[[Page 67708]]

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 October 21, 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 the Department of Transportation's 
(DOT) 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 
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. 2024-18717 Filed 8-20-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P