Document ID: FRA-2005-21014-0012
Agency: fra
Document Type: Notice
Title: Petition for Waiver of Compliance
Posted Date: 2020-11-05T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 215 (Thursday, November 5, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 70707]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-24559]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2005-21014]

Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this 
document provides the public notice that on October 1, 2020, Maine 
Narrow Gauge Railroad Company and Museum (MNGR) 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 230, Steam Locomotive Inspection and Maintenance Standards. 
FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2005-21014.
    Specifically, MNGR, a 2-foot gage tourist and museum railroad, 
seeks a renewal of a waiver of compliance from the requirements of 49 
CFR 230.51, Water glasses and gage cocks, number and location. MNGR 
operates two steam locomotives, No. 3 and No. 4, built in 1913 and 
1918, respectively, by Vulcan Iron Works. The locomotives pull tourist 
trains on approximately two miles of track located within the 
waterfront district of Portland, Maine. MNGR specifically requests that 
the minimum reading for the water glasses on these two locomotives be 
retained at inches above the highest part of the crown sheet as 
originally designed, constructed, and operated since the early 1900s. 
Modifying the locomotives to comply with the regulatory requirement of 
a minimum water reading of 3 inches would result in the top or full 
reading of the water glasses being of equal height with the top of the 
boiler. Thus, when the water glass indicates full, there is very little 
remaining volume for steam to accumulate, and water may carry over into 
the dry pipe, creating an unsafe condition. In addition, the boilers on 
these two locomotives are 37-1/8 inches in diameter, which is 
significantly smaller than that found on standard gage locomotives. 
MNGR states that due to the difference in boiler diameters, an 
equivalent level of safety exists.
    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 by any of the following 
methods:
     Website: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Operations Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, W12-140, Washington, DC 
20590.
     Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Ave. 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 21, 2020 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 Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-24559 Filed 11-4-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P