21298 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 74 / Friday, April 17, 2015 / Notices 

Correction 

In the Federal Register of April 3, 

2015, in FR Doc. 2015–07656, on page 

18292, in the second column, correct 

the paragraph to read: 

In addition, FRA is extending the 

comment period for this waiver petition 

to June 21, 2015, to allow adequate time 

for any additional comments to be 

submitted following the public hearing 

on May 21, 2015. 

Issued in Washington, DC, on April 11, 

2015. 

Ron Hynes, 

Director, Office of Technical Oversight. 

[FR Doc. 2015–08938 Filed 4–16–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–06–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Railroad Administration 

[Docket No. FRA–2012–0033] 

Notice of Intent To Grant a Buy 

America Waiver to the New York 

Metropolitan Transportation Authority 

for the Use of Transponders and 

Temporary Speed Restriction Safety 

Servers 

AGENCY: Federal Railroad 

Administration (FRA), United States 

Department of Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of intent to grant Buy 

America waiver. 

SUMMARY: FRA is issuing this notice to 

advise the public that it intends to grant 

the New York Metropolitan 

Transportation Authority (MTA) on 

behalf of its commuter railroad 

subsidiaries, Long Island Rail Road 

(LIRR) and Metro-North Commuter 

Railroad Company (Metro-North), a 

waiver from FRA’s Buy America 

requirement for the use of (a) 

transponders and (b) Temporary Speed 

Restriction (TSR) safety servers, which 

are made in Sweden. Transponders and 

TSR safety servers are two components 

of LIRR’s and Metro-North’s Positive 

Train Control system (PTC). The two 

non-domestic components represent 

approximately 1% of the $428 million 

total value of the contracts Metro-North 

and LIRR entered into with a system 

integrator to design and furnish PTC 

(PTC Contracts). The TSR safety servers 

cost less than $1 million and the 

transponders approximately $4 million. 

FRA anticipates funding the PTC 

Contracts, and other PTC-related 

projects, under a $967.1 million FRA 

Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement 

Financing loan. 

DATES: Written comments on FRA’s 

determination to grant MTA’s Buy 

America waiver request should be 

provided to the FRA on or before April 

22, 2015. 

ADDRESSES: Please submit your 

comments by one of the following 

means, identifying your submissions by 

docket number FRA–2012–0033. All 

electronic submissions must be made to 

the U.S. Government electronic site at 

http://www.regulations.gov. 

Commenters should follow the 

instructions below for mailed and handdelivered comments. 

(1) Web site: http://

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments 

on the U.S. Government electronic 

docket site; 

(2) Fax: (202) 493–2251; 

(3) Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE., Docket Operations, M–30, 

Room W12–140, Washington, DC 

20590–0001; or 

(4) Hand Delivery: Room W12–140 on 

the first floor of the West Building, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 

DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 

Monday through Friday, except Federal 

holidays. 

Instructions: All submissions must 

make reference to the ‘‘Federal Railroad 

Administration’’ and include docket 

number FRA–2012–0033. Due to 

security procedures in effect since 

October 2001, mail received through the 

U.S. Postal Service may be subject to 

delays. Parties making submissions 

responsive to this notice should 

consider using an express mail firm to 

ensure the prompt filing of any 

submissions not filed electronically or 

by hand. Note that all submissions 

received, including any personal 

information therein, will be posted 

without change or alteration to http://

www.regulations.gov. For more 

information, you may review DOT’s 

complete Privacy Act Statement in the 

Federal Register published on April 11, 

2000 (65 FR 19477), or visit http://

www.regulations.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

John Johnson, Attorney-Advisor, FRA 

Office of Chief Counsel, 1200 New 

Jersey Avenue SE., Mail Stop 25, 

Washington, DC 20590, (202) 493–0078, 

John.Johnson@dot.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

The letter granting MTA’s request is 

quoted below: 

Mr. Richard L. Gans 

Vice President—General Counsel & Secretary 

Long Island Rail Road 

Jamaica Station 

Jamaica, NY 11435–4380 

Re: Request for Waiver of Buy America 

Requirement 

Dear Mr. Gans: 

As you are aware, on February 19, 2015, 

the New York Metropolitan Transportation 

Authority (MTA) on behalf of its commuter 

railroad subsidiaries, Long Island Rail Road 

(LIRR) and Metro-North Commuter Railroad 

Company (Metro-North), requested a waiver 

from the Federal Railroad Administration’s 

(FRA) Buy America requirement to purchase 

(a) transponders and (b) Temporary Speed 

Restriction (TSR) safety servers for use in 

LIRR’s and Metro-North’s Positive Train 

Control system (PTC). The Rail Safety 

Improvement Act of 2008 requires certain 

railroads, including LIRR and Metro-North, 

to implement a PTC system on all nonexempt 

commuter main-line tracks by December 31, 

2015. Facilitating PTC implementation is one 

of FRA’s top priorities. 

MTA requested the waiver, stating that the 

components were not produced in the U.S. 

in sufficient and reasonably available 

amounts or are not of a satisfactory quality. 

The transponders and TSR safety servers are 

manufactured in Sweden. The two nondomestic components represent 

approximately 1% of the total value of the 

PTC system integrator contracts (PTC 

Contracts). MTA values the TSR safety 

servers at less than $1 million and the 

transponders at approximately $4 million. 

Total contract costs are approximately $428 

million. For the reasons set forth below, FRA 

is granting a waiver for the purchase of the 

transponders and TSR safety servers. 

A waiver is appropriate because 

domestically-produced transponders and 

TSR safety servers meeting MTA’s technical 

and schedule requirements are not currently 

‘‘produced in sufficient and reasonably 

available amount or are not of a satisfactory 

quality.’’ Coordinating with FRA, MTA 

engaged the U.S. Department of Commerce’s 

National Institute of Standards and 

Technology’s Hollings Manufacturing 

Extension Partnership (NIST–MEP) to 

conduct market research for the transponders 

and TSR safety servers. In conducting that 

research, MTA contacted several potential 

manufacturers identified by NIST–MEP. 

None produced the transponders or TSR 

safety servers. 

On February 20, 2015, FRA provided 

public notice of this waiver request and a 15- 

day opportunity for comment on its Web site. 

FRA also emailed notice to over 6,000 

persons who have signed up for Buy America 

notices through ‘‘GovDelivery.’’ See http://

www.fra.dot.gov/Page/P0784. FRA received 

one comment, which was not responsive to 

this waiver request. FRA will publish this 

letter granting MTA’s request in the Federal 

Register and provide notice of such finding 

and an opportunity for public comment after 

which this waiver will become effective. 

Question about this letter can be directed 

to, John Johnson, Attorney-Advisor, at 

John.Johnson@dot.gov or (202) 493–0078. 

Sincerely, 

Sarah Feinberg 

Acting Administrator 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 74 / Friday, April 17, 2015 / Notices 21299 

Issued in Washington, DC, on April 2015. 

Melissa L. Porter, 

Chief Counsel. 

[FR Doc. 2015–08786 Filed 4–16–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–06–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Railroad Administration 

[Docket Number FRA–2004–18895] 

Petition for Waiver of Compliance 

In accordance with part 211 of title 49 

of the Code of Federal Regulations 

(CFR), this provides the public notice 

that by a document dated November 25, 

2014, Wabtec Railway Electronics has 

petitioned the Federal Railroad 

Administration (FRA) for a waiver of 

compliance from certain provisions of 

the Federal railroad safety regulations 

contained at 49 CFR 232.409(d)— 

Inspection and testing of end-of-train 

devices. FRA assigned the petition 

Docket Number FRA–2004–18895. 

Wabtec Railway Electronics (Wabtec) 

is submitting a request for a 5-year 

extension to the waiver previously 

granted to it in Docket Number FRA– 

2004–18895. Wabtec initially submitted 

its request for a waiver of compliance 

from 49 CFR 232.409(d) in July 2004, 

and the waiver was granted in May 

2005. Subsequently, Wabtec applied for 

a 5-year extension to the original waiver 

in October 2009. The extension was 

granted in May 2010. 

In its original request for waiver of 

compliance from 49 CFR 232.409(d) in 

July 2004, Wabtec stated that the 

advanced technology being used in the 

units includes transceivers with phase 

locked loop circuitry along with 

temperature and voltage controlled 

crystal oscillators to maintain spectral 

(signal) purity. This automatic 

calibration algorithm works by 

optimizing the voltage-controlled 

oscillators’ control parameters to 

achieve minimum phase noise. It auto 

calibrates the power amplifier and 

power amplifier driver bias current 

every time the transmitter is powered. 

This automatic calibration feature is the 

heart of maintaining the radio’s 

performance integrity. 

Should the radio experience a 

component failure, the automated 

calibration routine will cycle 

continuously, effectively shut down the 

radio, and provide the appropriate ‘‘No 

Comm’’ display in the cab of the 

locomotive. Failure in the micro/power 

supply areas will also result in an 

inoperable radio, and the same ‘‘No 

Comm’’ message will be received in the 

locomotive cab. Therefore, there is no 

need to annually test and calibrate the 

new synthesized radio. Essentially, if 

the radio is transmitting, the signal is 

within the proper specifications. 

In the most recent letter dated 

November 25, 2014, Wabtec stated that 

it still offers this radio (Wabtec 

TrainLink II) in certain new 

manufactured end-of-train/head-of-train 

(EOT/HOT) products today, although it 

has largely been replaced by a more 

modern radio design. However, there is 

a large fielded population in service in 

North America. Wabtec further stated 

that in order to meet the needs of 

customers, the company plans to 

continue to manufacture Wabtec 

digitally synthesized radios (Wabtec 

TrainLink series) for replacement use in 

HOT and EOT equipment, as well as 

limited use in new production 

deliveries. 

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 (e.g., Waiver 

Petition Docket Number FRA–2004– 

18895) 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 June 1, 

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 

or interested parties may review DOT’s 

complete Privacy Act Statement in the 

Federal Register published on April 11, 

2000 (65 FR 19477). 

Issued in Washington, DC, on April 11, 

2015. 

Ron Hynes, 

Director of Technical Oversight. 

[FR Doc. 2015–08937 Filed 4–16–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–06–P 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

Advisory Committee on Cemeteries 

and Memorials, Notice of Meeting 

The Department of Veterans Affairs 

(VA) gives notice under Federal 

Advisory Committee Act, 38 U.S.C. 

App. 2 that a meeting of the Advisory 

Committee on Cemeteries and 

Memorials will be held on May 12–13, 

2015, in the National Cemetery 

Administration’s training room 104 at 

1100 First Street NE., Washington, DC 

20002, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The 

meeting is open to the public. 

The purpose of the Committee is to 

advise the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

on the administration of national 

cemeteries, soldiers’ lots and plots, the 

selection of new national cemetery sites, 

the erection of appropriate memorials, 

and the adequacy of Federal burial 

benefits. 

On May 12, the Committee will 

receive mandatory training from the 

Office of General Counsel in the 

morning and updates on VA and 

National Cemetery Administration 

(NCA) issues by appropriate VA staff. 

On the morning of May 13, the 

Committee will receive background 

information on NCA projects and 

updates from ex-officio members. 

Time will be allocated on both May 

12 and May 13 to receive public 


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