Document ID: FRA-2013-0108-0012
Agency: fra
Document Type: Notice
Title: Petitions for Waivers of Compliance
Posted Date: 2013-11-29T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 230 (Friday, November 29, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 71712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28687]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2013-0108]

Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    In accordance with part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR), this document provides the public notice that by a document 
dated October 10, 2013, New Jersey Transit Rail (NJTR) has petitioned 
the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a waiver of compliance 
from certain Federal hours of service requirements for train employees 
engaged in commuter or intercity rail passenger transportation 
contained at 49 CFR 228.405(a)(3). FRA assigned the petition Docket 
Number FRA-2013-0108.
    In its petition, NJTR seeks a temporary waiver, from January 31, 
2014, to February 3, 2014, allowing train employees to exceed the 
consecutive day limitations of initiating on-duty periods to 
accommodate an anticipated increase in business during the 2014 Super 
Bowl weekend. Specifically, NJTR is requesting relief from the 
mandatory time off requirements of 24 consecutive hours and 2 
consecutive calendar days following the initiation of on-duty periods 
for 6 and 14 consecutive calendar days.
    In support of its request, NJTR explained that, because of the 
extended nature of the required additional service and the possibility 
of workforce illness or weather events, manpower shortfalls may occur 
and a waiver from the rest requirements would provide greater certainty 
in filling extra jobs. In addition, NJTR expressed that its safety 
record demonstrates that its employees worked safely before the Federal 
rest requirements, and that it is committed to taking additional steps 
to ensure fatigue is minimized.
    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 party 
desires an opportunity for oral comment, 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 January 13, 2014 will be considered by 
FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date 
will be considered as far as practicable.
    Anyone is able to 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.). 
See http://www.regulations.gov/#!privacyNotice for the privacy notice 
of regulations.gov or interested parties may review DOT's complete 
Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 
2000 (65 FR 19477).

Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-28687 Filed 11-27-13; 8:45 am]
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