[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 192 (Thursday, October 3, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 80627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-22737]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2024-0089]


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this 
document provides the public notice that on August 5, 2024, the 
Association of American Railroads (AAR) petitioned the Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA) for a waiver of compliance from certain provisions 
of the Federal railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR part 245 
(Qualification and Certification of Dispatchers). FRA assigned the 
petition Docket Number FRA-2024-0089.
    Specifically, AAR, on behalf of its members, requests relief 
required to participate in FRA's Confidential Close Call Reporting 
System (C\3\RS) Program. AAR seeks to shield its member railroads' 
reporting employees from mandatory punitive sanctions that would 
otherwise arise as provided in Sec. Sec.  245.303(a), (b), (c), (d), 
(e)(1)-(6), (g), (h), and 245.307. The C\3\RS Program would encourage 
certified dispatchers to report close calls and protect the employees 
and the member railroads from discipline or sanctions arising from the 
incidents reported per the C\3\RS Implementing Memorandum of 
Understanding.
    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 December 2, 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.
Carolyn Hayward-Williams,
Director, Office of Railroad Systems and Technology.
[FR Doc. 2024-22737 Filed 10-2-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P