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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 248 (Friday, December 27, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 105683-105684]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-31061]

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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, Sec.  
229.21, Daily inspection, and Sec.  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

[[Page 105684]]

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
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