Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 248 / Friday, December 27, 2024 / Notices 105683 

System), which can be reviewed at 

https://www.transportation.gov/ 

individuals/privacy/privacy-act-systemrecords-notices, the comments are 

searchable by the name of the submitter. 

II. Background 

Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 

31315(b), FMCSA may grant an 

exemption from the FMCSRs for no 

longer than a 5-year period if it finds 

such exemption would likely achieve a 

level of safety that is equivalent to, or 

greater than, the level that would be 

achieved absent such exemption. The 

statutes also allow the Agency to renew 

exemptions at the end of the 5-year 

period. FMCSA grants medical 

exemptions from the FMCSRs for a 2- 

year period to align with the maximum 

duration of a driver’s medical 

certification. 

The 10 individuals listed in this 

notice have requested an exemption 

from the hearing requirement in 49 CFR 

391.41(b)(11). Accordingly, the Agency 

will evaluate the qualifications of each 

applicant to determine whether granting 

the exemption will achieve the required 

level of safety mandated by statute. 

The physical qualification standard 

for drivers regarding hearing found in 

§ 391.41(b)(11) states that a person is 

physically qualified to drive a CMV if 

that person first perceives a forced 

whispered voice in the better ear at not 

less than 5 feet with or without the use 

of a hearing aid or, if tested by use of 

an audiometric device, does not have an 

average hearing loss in the better ear 

greater than 40 decibels at 500 Hz, 1,000 

Hz, and 2,000 Hz with or without a 

hearing aid when the audiometric 

device is calibrated to American 

National Standard (formerly ASA 

Standard) Z24.5—1951. 

This standard was adopted in 1970 

and was revised in 1971 to allow drivers 

to be qualified under this standard 

while wearing a hearing aid, (35 FR 

6458, 6463 (Apr. 22, 1970) and 36 FR 

12857 (July 8, 1971), respectively). 

On February 1, 2013, FMCSA 

announced in a Notice of Final 

Disposition titled, ‘‘Qualification of 

Drivers; Application for Exemptions; 

National Association of the Deaf,’’ (78 

FR 7479), its decision to grant requests 

from 40 individuals for exemptions 

from the Agency’s physical qualification 

standard concerning hearing for 

interstate CMV drivers. Since that time 

the Agency has published additional 

notices granting requests from hard of 

hearing and deaf individuals for 

exemptions from the Agency’s physical 

qualification standard concerning 

hearing for interstate CMV drivers. 

III. Qualifications of Applicants 

James Armstrong 

James Armstrong, 37, holds a class D 

driver’s license in Tennessee. 

Bethany Barrett 

Bethany Barrett, 32, holds a class D 

driver’s license in Wisconsin. 

Kevin Lopez Morales 

Kevin Lopez Morales, 29, holds a 

class D driver’s license in North Dakota. 

Socorro Melendez 

Socorro Melendez, 32, holds a class C 

driver’s license in Texas. 

Robert Piacente 

Robert Piacente, 69, holds a class A 

commercial driver’s license (CDL) in 

Louisiana. 

Dalton Rosch 

Dalton Rosch, 27, holds a class C 

driver’s license in Iowa. 

Ferfran Sanchez Molina 

Ferfran Sanchez Molina, 30, holds a 

class D driver’s license in New Jersey. 

Jonathan Santiago 

Jonathan Santiago, 40, holds a class E 

driver’s license in Florida. 

John Shepard 

John Shepard, 76, holds a class B CDL 

in Connecticut. 

Andrew Weaver 

Andrew Weaver, 32, holds a class D 

driver’s license in Virginia. 

IV. Request for Comments 

In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) 

and 31315(b), FMCSA requests public 

comment from all interested persons on 

the exemption petitions described in 

this notice. We will consider all 

comments received before the close of 

business on the closing date indicated 

under the DATES section of the notice. 

Larry W. Minor, 

Associate Administrator for Policy. 

[FR Doc. 2024–30896 Filed 12–26–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Railroad Administration 

[Docket Number FRA–2014–0048] 

Petition for Extension of Waiver of 

Compliance 

Under part 211 of title 49 Code of 

Federal Regulations (CFR), this 

document provides the public notice 

that on October 14, 2024, and December 

13, 2024, Union Pacific Railroad 

Company (UP) 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 parts 215 (Railroad Freight Car 

Safety Standards), 229 (Railroad 

Locomotive Safety Standards), and 232 

(Brake System Safety Standards for 

Freight and Other Non-Passenger Trains 

and Equipment; End-of-Train Devices). 

The relevant Docket Number is FRA– 

2014–0048. 

Specifically, UP seeks an extension of 

relief from part 215, § 229.21, Daily 

inspection, and § 232.205(a)(1), Class I 

brake test—initial terminal inspection, 

to move freight cars received in 

interchange from Ferrocarriles 

Nacionales de Mexico at the 

International Yard on the Lordsburg 

Subdivision in El Paso, Texas, to Dallas 

Street Yard (for westbound traffic) or 

Alfalfa Yard (for eastbound traffic). The 

required inspections are conducted at 

these yards, which are 2.8 and 7 miles 

from the International Yard, 

respectively. In its petition, UP notes 

that the territory between International 

Yard and Dallas Street and Alfalfa Yards 

‘‘traverses through a residential area 

with multiple public grade crossings[,] 

which also handle heavy pedestrian 

traffic.’’ Additionally, UP requests to 

expand the relief in this docket to 

permit it to move trains to Santa Teresa, 

New Mexico, a distance of 20.5 miles. 

In support of its petition, UP states 

that the movement ‘‘expedit[es] any 

delays caused by port of entry 

inspections and allow[s] a more efficient 

use of the bridge window.’’ UP adds that 

completing inspections and testing of 

equipment at the Dallas and Alfalfa 

Yards is ‘‘safer/more secure than 

attempting it on the bridge precisely at 

the US border line,’’ as the 

infrastructure of the Dallas and Alfalfa 

facilities ‘‘supports inspections, and 

repair associated activities, including 

switching out bad orders, safer and 

better than other upstream properties.’’ 

Finally, UP notes that the relief avoids 

‘‘unnecessary public disruptions within 

the city of El Paso, [Texas], including, 

but not limited to, excessively blocked 

crossings’’ as well as ‘‘alleviates undue 

additional locomotive emissions from 

excessive idling times.’’ 

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 


khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
105684 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 248 / Friday, December 27, 2024 / Notices 

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 

February 25, 2025 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 

U.S. 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. 2024–31061 Filed 12–26–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–06–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Railroad Administration 

[Docket Number FRA–2020–0009] 

Petition for Extension of Waiver of 

Compliance 

Under part 211 of title 49 Code of 

Federal Regulations (CFR), this 

document provides the public notice 

that on October 24, 2024, the 

Metropolitan Council’s Metro Transit 

Division (Metro Transit) 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 parts 219 (Control 

of Alcohol and Drug Use), 220 (Railroad 

Communications), and 234 (Grade 

Crossing Safety). The relevant Docket 

Number is FRA–2020–0009. 

Specifically, Metro Transit seeks an 

extension of relief for its METRO Green 

Line Light Rail Transit Extension 

Project, which is partly adjacent to 

freight rail service operated by Twin 

Cities & Western Railroad (TCWR), with 

which it will share five highway-rail 

grade crossings. Metro Transit seeks 

extended relief from part 219 (excepting 

subpart C), as it has ‘‘adopted an alcohol 

and drug use policy (‘‘FTA Safety 

Sensitive Drug and Alcohol Program’’) 

that complies with applicable Federal 

Transit Administration regulations, 

meeting the requirements of part 655 

(Prevention of Alcohol Misuse and 

Prohibited Drug Use in Transit 

Operations). 

Further, Metro Transit seeks an 

extension of relief from the entirety of 

part 220, noting that transit operations 

‘‘will be signaled and dispatched 

separately from the adjacent TCWR 

freight railroad’’ at the shared five 

crossings. Metro Transit states that it 

‘‘recognizes the importance of 

maintaining clear, effective and prompt 

communications between Metro Transit 

and the freight operator, particularly 

related to planned maintenance of way 

activities and emergencies.’’ 

Metro Transit also requests relief from 

§ 234.105(c), Activation failure, which 

gives requirements for protection of 

grade crossings in case of a train 

warning system activation failure. 

Because transit trains are operated by 

single-person crews, the train operator 

cannot simultaneously flag a crossing 

and move the train through the crossing. 

Metro Transit provides two alternative 

safety procedures involving sounding 

the horn followed by moving at 

restricted speed and indication using a 

lunar aspect signal. 

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 

February 25, 2025 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 

U.S. 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. 2024–31054 Filed 12–26–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–06–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

[Docket No: PHMSA–2024–0137] 

Pipeline Safety: Information Collection 

Activities 

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous 

Materials Safety Administration 

(PHMSA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice and request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: In compliance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 

notice announces that the eight 

information collection requests 

abstracted below are being forwarded to 

the Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) for review and comment. A 

Federal Register notice with a 60-day 

comment period soliciting comments on 

the information collections was 

published on October 10, 2024. 

DATES: Interested persons are invited to 

submit comments on or before January 

27, 2025. 

ADDRESSES: The public is invited to 

submit comments regarding these 

information collection requests, 

including suggestions for reducing the 

burden, to Office of Management and 


khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES