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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 244 (Thursday, December 21, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 88337]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28155]

[[Page 88337]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

49 CFR Part 674

[FTA Docket No. FTA 2023-0008]
RIN 2132-AB42

State Safety Oversight

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), United States Department 
of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is extending the 
comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking regarding FTA's 
State Safety Oversight program, which was published on November 15, 
2023, with the original comment period closing on January 16, 2024.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published November 15, 
2023, at 88 FR 78269, is extended. Comments are requested by February 
15, 2024. Late-arriving comments will be considered to the extent 
practicable.

ADDRESSES: You may file comments identified by docket number FTA-2023-
0008 by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket number or Regulatory Information Number (RIN) for this 
rulemaking. All comments received will be posted without change to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided. For detailed instructions on sending comments and additional 
information on the rulemaking process, see the ``Public Participation'' 
heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
    Docket: To access the docket and read background documents or 
comments received, go to: https://www.regulations.gov. Background 
documents and comments received may also be viewed at the U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, 
DC 20590-0001, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For program matters, contact Loretta 
Bomgardner, Office of Transit Safety and Oversight, FTA, telephone 
(202) 577-5896 or [email protected]. For legal matters, 
contact Richard Wong, Office of the Chief Counsel, telephone (202) 366-
4011 or [email protected]. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 6 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a letter submitted to the docket dated 
November 16, 2023, the American Public Transportation Association 
(APTA), on behalf of more than 1,300 member organizations, requested a 
30-day extension of the comment period for the State Safety Oversight 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published in the Federal Register 
on November 15, 2023 (88 FR 78269).
    As justification for this extension, APTA cited two current 
rulemakings for which FTA is seeking comments, the Public 
Transportation Safety Certification Training NPRM (88 FR 73573) and the 
Hours of Service and Fatigue Risk Management ANPRM (88 FR 74107). APTA 
noted that transit agencies, State safety oversight agencies, and APTA 
are already reviewing and preparing comments, and replying to a third 
would be burdensome. In addition, APTA notes three Federal holidays 
between the time the NPRM was published and comments are due, and that 
many offices, including APTA, will be closed between Christmas and New 
Year's Day. APTA believes an extension of time would ensure that APTA 
and its members have the necessary time to produce a thoughtful 
response to the NPRM.
    Given the importance of public transportation safety and the need 
for a more fulsome dialogue on FTA's safety priorities, FTA believes an 
extension of time is justified and is extending the comment period 
until February 15, 2024.
    To ensure that comments are filed correctly, please follow the 
instructions in the ADDRESSES section above, including the docket 
number provided [FTA-2023-0008] in your comments.

Veronica Vanterpool,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2023-28155 Filed 12-20-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P
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