[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 211 (Thursday, November 2, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 50936]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-23840]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2008-0029]


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    Under part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this 
provides the public notice that on October 9, 2017, Norfolk Southern 
Corporation (NS) petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) 
for a waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal 
railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR part 231, Railroad 
Safety Appliance Standards. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number 
FRA-2008-0029.
    Specifically, NS is seeking a renewal of its waiver of compliance 
from 49 CFR 231.1(k) which are the requirements for uncoupling levers 
for box and other house cars built or placed in service before October 
1, 1966. NS seeks this waiver for its Rail Train service, which is non-
revenue service operated by NS to deliver sections of continuously 
welded rail to rail gangs replacing rail throughout the NS system. This 
equipment has the sole purpose of hauling welded rail sections spanning 
from car to car throughout the train. Sections of welded rail span 
several cars at once and the cars serve as a continuous support for the 
sections of rail while in transit and at the work site.
    NS requests approval to operate all Rail Trains with uncoupling 
levers removed from both ends of the rail cars that are coupled to one 
another in this train service. These trains operate only on NS property 
in Maintenance of Way service and are not operated in revenue service, 
nor are they offered to other carriers in interchange. NS states that 
its process of uncoupling cars allows for safe uncoupling through 
utilization of Mechanical Department personnel under Blue Flag 
Protection. Additionally, NS states that there are safety benefits to 
be gained in granting relief from 49 CFR 231.1(k). Namely, the waiver 
will help prevent unintentional train uncoupling during these 
operations and the resulting potential employee injuries and damage to 
rail structure and road bed.
    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 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 by any of the following 
methods:
    <bullet> Web site: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail: Docket Operations Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., W12-140, Washington, DC 
20590.
    <bullet> 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 December 18, 2017 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 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.). 
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/privacyNotice for the 
privacy notice of regulations.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
John K. Alexy,
Director, Office of Safety Analysis.
[FR Doc. 2017-23840 Filed 11-1-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P