[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 26, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 28496-28497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13911]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

49 CFR Parts 216, 223, 229, 231, 232, and 238

[FRA Docket No. PCSS-1, Notice No. 4]
RIN 2130-AA95


Passenger Equipment Safety Standards

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Entries in the Docket.

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SUMMARY: FRA is issuing this notice to inform all interested parties 
that written comments and other documents specifically addressing 
issues related to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Passenger 
Equipment Safety Standards have recently been placed in the public 
docket for the rulemaking. These recent entries in the docket are 
available for public examination.

ADDRESSES: The public docket for the rulemaking is available for 
examination during regular business hours in FRA's Office of Chief 
Counsel, Seventh Floor, 1120 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 
Written comments concerning the rulemaking should identify the docket 
number and must be submitted in triplicate to the Docket Clerk, Office 
of Chief Counsel, Federal Railroad Administration, 400 Seventh Street, 
S.W., Mail Stop 10, Washington, D.C. 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Alpert, Trial Attorney, Office 
of Chief Counsel, FRA, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Mail Stop 10, 
Washington, D.C. 20590 (telephone: 202-632-3186); or Thomas Herrmann, 
Trial Attorney, Office of Chief Counsel, FRA, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., 
Mail Stop 10, Washington, D.C. 20590 (telephone: 202-632-3178).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 23, 1997, FRA published an NPRM 
on Passenger Equipment Safety Standards in the Federal Register. See 62 
FR 49728. The proposed rule contained requirements concerning equipment 
design and performance criteria related to passenger and crew 
survivability in the event of a passenger train accident; the 
inspection, testing, and maintenance of passenger equipment; and the 
safe operation of passenger train service. The proposed rule was 
designed to address the safety of passenger train service in an 
environment where technology is advancing, and equipment is being 
designed for operation at higher speeds. The NPRM sought to amend 
existing regulations concerning special notice for repairs, safety 
glazing, locomotive safety, safety appliances, and railroad power 
brakes as applied to passenger equipment.
    The NPRM stated that written comments on the rulemaking had to be 
received on or before November 24, 1997, and that written comments 
received after that date would be considered by FRA and the Passenger 
Equipment Safety Standards Working Group to the extent possible without 
incurring substantial additional expense or delay. The NPRM also stated 
that the docket would remain open until the proceedings of the Working 
Group concluded. The Working Group concluded its meetings on January 6, 
1998.
    Subsequent to the formal close of the comment period, various 
entries have been made in the docket, many of which have been available 
for public examination for some time. However, due to the length of 
time that has passed since the formal close of the comment period and 
the completion of the Working Group meetings, FRA would like to notify 
all interested parties of the following recent entries in the docket:
    <bullet> Minutes of the Passenger Equipment Safety Standards 
Working Group meeting held on December 15-16, 1997.
    <bullet> Minutes of the Passenger Equipment Safety Standards 
Working Group meeting held on January 6, 1998.
    <bullet> A letter dated April 2, 1998 from William W. Millar, 
President, American

[[Page 28497]]

Public Transit Association, to Jolene M. Molitoris, Administrator, FRA.
    <bullet> A letter dated April 17, [1998] and attached documents 
from G. P. Binns, General Manager, Mechanical Standards and Compliance, 
National Railroad Passenger Corporation, to Grady C. Cothen, Jr., 
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety, Federal Railroad 
Administration.
    <bullet> Documents dated April 24, 1998 from the National Railroad 
Passenger Corporation.
    The items noted above--and all other information contained in the 
public docket for the rulemaking--are available for examination during 
regular business hours in FRA's Office of Chief Counsel, Seventh Floor, 
1120 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.

    Issued in Washington, D.C., on May 19, 1998.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program 
Development.
[FR Doc. 98-13911 Filed 5-22-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P