[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 241 (Monday, December 17, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64632-64633]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-27214]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2018-0086]


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    Under part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this 
provides the public notice that on October 5, 2018, the Texas State 
Railroad (TSR), on behalf of the Texas & Eastern Railroad, a subsidiary 
of The Western Group, petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration 
(FRA) for a waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal 
railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR parts 215 and 224. FRA 
assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2018-0086.
    Specifically, TSR requests relief from 49 CFR 215.303, Stenciling 
of restricted cars, and 49 CFR part 224, Reflectorization of Rail 
Freight Rolling Stock, for 14 TSR freight cars. Each of these freight 
cars is more than 50 years old, measured from the date of original 
construction, and is the subject of a parallel petition for Special 
Approval for continued operation under Sec.  [thinsp]215.203(c). TSR 
states that the required stenciling and reflectorization would violate 
the historic impression that the cars are maintained to preserve.
    TSR further states that these freight cars have been inspected by 
its shop personnel and have been deemed safe for service. The 
restricted cars are limited in their service by speed, lading and 
territory, specifically, its 29-mile railroad, at speeds not exceeding 
25 miles per hour, with light tonnage (if any), in accordance with Part 
215. The cars will never be subject to regular railroad interchange 
operations. TSR states that its restricted cars will always be operated 
in a context that ensures that each car and its restrictions and

[[Page 64633]]

limitations are readily accessible and known both to TSR and to FRA.
    A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications 
concerning the petition, is available for review online at 
www.regulations.gov and in person at the U.S. Department of 
Transportation's (DOT) Docket Operations Facility, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE, W12-140, Washington, DC 20590. The Docket Operations 
Facility is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal Holidays.
    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 by any of the following 
methods:
    <bullet> Website: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail: Docket Operations Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, W12-140, Washington, DC 
20590.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12-140, 
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal Holidays.
    Communications received by January 31, 2019 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.). In 
accordance with 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/privacyNotice for the 
privacy notice of regulations.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-27214 Filed 12-14-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P