[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 9, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81985-81986]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-23335]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2019-0090]


Petition for Extension of Waiver of Compliance

    Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this 
document provides the public notice

[[Page 81986]]

that by letters received August 16, 2024, and August 30, 2024, Norfolk 
Southern Corporation's operating subsidiary, Norfolk Southern Railway 
Company (NS), 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 232 (Brake 
System Safety Standards for Freight and Other Non-Passenger Trains and 
Equipment; End-of-Train Devices). The relevant Docket Number is FRA-
2019-0090.
    Specifically, NS requests to extend the existing waiver, which 
provides NS certain relief from the requirements of 49 CFR 
232.305(b)(2), Single car air brake tests, to ``permit the replacement 
of FRA condemnable and other non-FRA condemnable wheelsets on railcars 
as part of an in-train wheelset replacement program, without the need 
to also perform the [single car air brake tests (SCABTs)]'' as 
required. The program is only operated on two designated tracks at the 
NS railyard in Bluefield, West Virginia.
    The existing wheelset replacement program aims to ``proactively 
identify and replace wheelsets,'' which NS stated, ``reduces the number 
of switching events that would otherwise be required to affect the 
repairs, reducing the risk of injury and derailment.'' NS added that 
the program permits NS ``to replace a greater percentage of wheelsets 
than currently replaced using traditional techniques.''
    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 9, 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 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. 2024-23335 Filed 10-8-24; 8:45 am]
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