[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 107 (Thursday, June 5, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23989-23990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-10206]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2020-0008]


Notice of Petition for Extension of Waiver of Compliance

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This document provides the public notice that CSX 
Transportation, Inc. (CSXT) petitioned FRA for an extension of relief 
from certain regulations concerning virtual simulation training.

DATES: FRA must receive comments on the petition by July 7, 2025. FRA 
will consider comments received after that date to the extent 
practicable.

ADDRESSES: 
    Comments: Comments related to this docket may be submitted by going 
to https://www.regulations.gov and following the online instructions 
for submitting comments.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and 
docket number. All comments received will be posted without change to 
https://www.regulations.gov; this includes any personal information. 
Please see the Privacy Act heading in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
section of this document for Privacy Act information related to any 
submitted comments or materials.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to https://

[[Page 23990]]

www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for accessing 
the docket.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lance Hawks, Rail Safety Specialist, 
FRA Human Performance Division, telephone: 678-633-7400, email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR), this document provides the public notice that by 
letter received on March 19, 2025, CSXT petitioned FRA for an extension 
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). FRA assigned the petition Docket 
Number FRA-2020-0008.
    Specifically, CSXT seeks an extension of relief from Sec.  
232.203(b)(8), Training requirements, to use three-dimensional 
simulations using web-based or desktop software to satisfy the ``hands-
on'' portion of required training, in connection with periodic 
refresher training for conductors and supervisory personnel responsible 
for performing Class I air brake tests.
    In support of its request, CSXT states that the simulator-based 
training ``measures proficiency in a completely objective manner'' and 
``ensures that users receive identical instruction, are measured in a 
uniform fashion, and encounter the same conditions throughout 
testing.'' CSXT adds that the simulation training provides the employee 
the opportunities to rectify ``a wide variety of defects that are 
difficult to replicate during traditional hands-on training.'' Further, 
as FRA's conditions stipulate that students must be able to opt out of 
the simulated training, since 2021, CSXT reports that no students have 
elected to do so.
    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.
    Communications received by July 7, 2025 will be considered by FRA 
before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be 
considered if practicable.

Privacy Act

    Anyone can search the electronic form of any written communications 
and comments received into any of FRA's 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 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. 2025-10206 Filed 6-4-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P