Document ID: FRA-2017-0107-0004
Agency: fra
Document Type: Notice
Title: Petitions for Waivers of Compliance: Vermilion Valley Railroad
Posted Date: 2017-11-02T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 211 (Thursday, November 2, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 50934]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-23846]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2017-0107]

Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    Under part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this 
provides the public notice that on October 6, 2017, the Vermilion 
Valley Railroad (VVRR) 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 223, Safety 
Glazing Standards. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2017-
0107.
    Specifically, VVRR has petitioned FRA for a waiver of compliance 
from 49 CFR 223.11, Requirements for existing locomotives, for two of 
its locomotives, IBCX 4210 and IBCX 4214. Both of these units are EMD F 
9 units and were built in 1956 for the Erie Mining Company in 
Minnesota. These units have been used exclusively in private iron ore 
operations and were never required to be FRA compliant. They were saved 
from scrapping in 2015 by the Indiana Boxcar Corporation, which is the 
parent company of VVRR.
    VVRR operates in a mostly rural area from Olin, IN to an 
interchange point with CSX in Danville, IL, with a 10 miles-per-hour 
maximum operating speed. VVRR states that the glass on the two 
locomotives is in good condition and retrofitting of the locomotives 
would be costly. In addition, VVRR states that retrofitting of the 
locomotives with compliant glazing would compromise the historical 
appearance by eliminating the ``roll down'' side windows and opening 
vent windows. VVRR further states that while the two units will be part 
of its freight locomotive fleet, their use will be sporadic and the 
units will primarily be used for photographs and special occasions.
    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:
     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 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, on October 26, 2017.
John K. Alexy,
Director, Office of Safety Analysis.
[FR Doc. 2017-23846 Filed 11-1-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P