10208 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 37 / Wednesday, February 25, 2015 / Notices 

Conductors. The request was assigned 

Docket Number FRA–2014–0127. The 

relief is contingent on KRSM’s 

implementation of and participation in 

the Confidential Close Call Reporting 

System (C3RS) pilot project. 

KRSM seeks to shield reporting 

employees and the railroad from 

mandatory punitive sanctions that 

would otherwise arise as provided in 49 

CFR 240.117(e)(1)–(4); 240.305(a)(1)–(4) 

and (a)(6); 240.307; and 242.403(b), (c), 

(e)(1)–(4), (e)(6)–(11), (f)(1)–(2). The 

C3RS pilot project encourages certified 

operating crew members to report close 

calls and protects the employees and the 

railroad from discipline or sanctions 

arising from the incidents reported per 

the C3RS 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 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 party desires 

an opportunity for oral comment, 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: 

• Web site: http://

www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: Docket Operations Facility, 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE., W12–140, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

• 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 within 

April 13, 2015 of the date of this notice 

will be considered by FRA before final 

action is taken. Comments received after 

that date will be considered as far as 

practicable. 

Anyone is able to 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 

www.dot.gov/privacy. See also http://

www.regulations.gov/#!privacyNotice 

for the privacy notice of regulations.gov. 

Issued in Washington, DC, on February 19, 

2015. 

Ron Hynes, 

Director, Office of Technical Oversight. 

[FR Doc. 2015–03768 Filed 2–24–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–06–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Railroad Administration 

[Docket Numbers FRA–2014–0124 and 

FRA–2013–0128] 

Petition for Waiver of Compliance 

In accordance with Part 211 of Title 

49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), 

this document provides the public 

notice that by a document dated 

November 18, 2014, the National 

Railroad Passenger Corporation 

(Amtrak) petitioned the Federal 

Railroad Administration (FRA) for a 

waiver of compliance from certain 

provisions of the Federal railroad safety 

regulations contained in 49 CFR, 

governing the operation of passenger 

trains on the Northeast Corridor (NEC). 

Relief was also requested from speed 

limitations imposed by the Order of 

Particular Applicability for the 

Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement 

System (ACSES) Order. [FRA Docket 

No. 87–2, Notice No. 7; 63 FR 39343; 

July 28, 1998]. FRA assigned the 

petition Docket Number FRA–2014– 

0124. 

Amtrak’s petition incorporated by 

reference a prior request for relief in 

Docket Number FRA–2013–0128 (see 79 

FR 8238; Feb. 11, 2014). Accordingly, 

additional comments may be submitted 

regarding the petition in Docket Number 

FRA–2013–0128 as well as on the new 

petition in FRA–2014–0124. 

The Amtrak petitions address two 

distinct requests. First, both petitions 

request permission to operate existing 

Acela trainsets, built in compliance 

with the specific requirements for Tier 

II equipment under 49 CFR part 238 

subpart E, at speeds up to 160 miles per 

hour (mph) in three speed zones where 

track conditions can support higher 

speeds than currently operated. As 

discussed above, Amtrak’s earlier 

petition in Docket Number FRA–2013– 

0128 proposed the same speed increase 

for a segment of track in Rhode Island, 

milepost (MP) AB 154.3 to MP AB 

171.7. 

The new petition in Docket Number 

FRA–2014–0124 adds a request for a 

160 mph speed zone in Massachusetts 

(MP AB 194 to MP AB 204) and— 

subject to completion of certain 

infrastructure improvements—a 160 

mph speed zone in New Jersey (MP AN 

33 to MP AB 55.5). 

In summary, Amtrak seeks a waiver of 

provisions in the ACSES Order and the 

150 mph limitation for Tier II 

equipment in the Passenger Equipment 

Safety Standards to permit operation up 

to 160 mph in each of these discrete 

zones. Amtrak does not seek to use the 

existing Acela trainsets at speeds higher 

than presently authorized elsewhere on 

the NEC. Amtrak notes that increasing 

speeds in the subject zones would be 

subject to special approvals qualifying 

the existing Acela Tier II trainsets at the 

higher speed under 49 CFR part 213, 

Track Safety Standards, and regulations 

governing Positive Train Control, such 

as 49 CFR part 236, Rules, Standards, 

and Instructions Governing the 

Installation, Inspection, Maintenance, 

and Repair of Signal and Train Control 

Systems, Devices, and Appliances. With 

FRA oversight, Amtrak has been 

conducting tests that, although not yet 

concluded, are intended by Amtrak to 

support qualification of the existing 

trainsets and train control system for 

160 mph operation. Successful 

completion of these processes would be 

necessary for Amtrak to use any relief 

related to the Acela service that might 

be granted in this proceeding. 

Secondly, in Docket Number FRA– 

2014–0124, Amtrak requests approval to 

operate, on the ‘‘spine’’ of the NEC 

between Washington, DC and Boston, 

new trainsets that would be built to 

‘‘Tier III’’ standards proposed by the 

second Engineering Task Force (ETF) of 

the Passenger Safety Working Group of 

the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee 

(RSAC). Those standards were accepted 

by the full RSAC on June 14, 2013, (see 

‘‘ETF_001–02—Proposed Ruletext for 

NPRM 1.docx,’’ available on the RSAC 

Web site at https://rsac.fra.dot.gov/ 

meetings/20130614.php.). Minutes of 

the June 14, 2013, RSAC meeting are 

available at https://rsac.fra.dot.gov/ 

meetings/20131031.php. 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 37 / Wednesday, February 25, 2015 / Notices 10209 

Amtrak proposes to use Tier III 

equipment on the NEC at speeds up to 

160 mph (rather than the 220 mph 

maximum contemplated for Tier III 

equipment operating on dedicated rightof-way). In support of this request, 

Amtrak has submitted a review of NEC 

operating experience that Amtrak 

represents as demonstrating a high level 

of safety, supported by compliance with 

FRA safety regulations and existing risk 

mitigations undertaken as voluntary 

measures. Amtrak notes that Tier III 

trainsets would be operated at greater 

than Tier I speeds (i.e., above 125 mph) 

only on the fully grade-separated 

portions of the NEC in designated highspeed zones. 

In further support of its Tier III 

request, Amtrak has submitted the 

report of a semi-quantitative risk 

assessment and a description of specific 

safety mitigations designed to 

compensate for the differences in 

crashworthiness between equipment 

built to Tier II and Tier III standards. 

Amtrak asserts that, with the existing 

and proposed mitigations, Tier III 

equipment can be operated at a level of 

safety equivalent to, or better than, 

operations with Tier II equipment. 

Amtrak’s petition and exhibits are 

available for reference in Docket 

Number FRA–2014–0124. 

Amtrak asserts that all of the relief 

requested is consistent with safety and 

in the public interest. 

Copies of the petitions, as well as any 

written communications concerning the 

petitions, are 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. 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. 

All communications concerning these 

proceedings should identify the 

appropriate docket number and may be 

submitted by any of the following 

methods: 

Web site: http://www.regulations.gov. 

Follow the online instructions for 

submitting comments. 

Fax: 202–493–2251. 

Mail: Docket Operations Facility, U.S. 

Department of Transportation, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE., W12–140, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

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 April 

13, 2015 will be considered by FRA 

before final action is taken. Comments 

received after that date will be 

considered as far as practicable. 

Anyone is able to 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 

www.dot.gov/privacy. See also http:// 

www.regulations.gov/#!privacyNotice 

for the privacy notice of regulations.gov. 

Issued in Washington, DC, on February 19, 

2015. 

Ron Hynes, 

Director, Office of Technical Oversight. 

[FR Doc. 2015–03763 Filed 2–24–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–06–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 

Call for Nominations for Treasury 

Secretary Appointments to Tribal 

Advisory Committee 

AGENCY: Departmental Offices, Treasury. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Treasury Department 

(‘‘Treasury’’) seeks nominations for 

appointments by the Secretary of the 

Treasury (‘‘Secretary’’) to the Treasury 

Tribal Advisory Committee (TTAC), 

established pursuant to the Tribal 

General Welfare Exclusion Act of 2014 

(Pub. L. 113–168, or TGWEA). The 

TTAC will advise the Secretary on 

matters related to the taxation of 

Indians, training and education for 

Internal Revenue Service (‘‘Service’’) 

field agents who administer and enforce 

internal revenue laws with respect to 

Indian tribes; and training and technical 

assistance for tribal financial officers. 

Nominations should describe the 

candidate’s qualifications for TTAC 

membership. Submittal of an 

application and resume is required. 

This request for nominations, 

particularly from tribal leaders, is in 

furtherance of the objectives of 

Executive Order 13175 under which 

Treasury consults with tribal officials in 

the development of federal policies that 

have tribal implications, to reinforce the 

United States government-togovernment relationships with Indian 

tribes and to reduce the imposition of 

unfunded mandates upon Indian tribes. 

DATES: Please submit the names and 

qualifications of individuals you would 

recommend for appointment to the 

TTAC by the Secretary, applications for 

appointment by the Secretary to the 

TTAC or comments on this matter, 

before April 28, 2015. 

ADDRESSES: Please send 

recommendations and applications to 

tribal.consult@treasury.gov, with a 

subject line ‘‘Treasury Tribal Advisory 

Committee member recommendation or 

application.’’ We will accept 

applications for Secretarial 

appointments until April 28, 2015. Selfnominations are welcome. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Elaine Buckberg, Deputy Assistant 

Secretary for Policy Coordination and 

Point of Contact for Tribal Consultation, 

Department of the Treasury, at 

tribal.consult@treasury.gov or 202–622– 

2200. Please use the subject line 

‘‘Treasury Tribal Advisory Committee’’ 

in email correspondence. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction and Background 

I. Description and Mandate of the 

TTAC 

The TGWEA, signed into law by 

President Obama on September 26, 

2014, requires that Treasury establish 

the TTAC. Committee members will 

advise the Secretary on matters related 

to the taxation of Indians, the training 

of Service field agents who administer 

and enforce internal revenue laws with 

respect to Indian tribes, and the 

provision of training and technical 

assistance to Native American financial 

officers. The Secretary will appoint 

three Committee members; the Chairs 

and Ranking Members of the Senate 

Finance Committee and House of 

Representative Ways and Means 

Committee will each appoint one 

member. The TTAC Charter has been 

filed; a copy of the Charter is posted at 

http://www.treasury.gov/resourcecenter/economic-policy/tribal-policy/

Documents/TTAC%20Charter%202-10- 

15.pdf. 

Recommendations for the four 

Congressional appointments to the 

TTAC should be directed to the offices 

of the four Members of Congress 


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