Document ID: FRA-2012-0065-0003
Agency: fra
Document Type: Notice
Title: Petitions for Waivers of Compliance
Posted Date: 2012-12-17T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 242 (Monday, December 17, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74738-74739]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-30246]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2012-0065]

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 May 29, 2012, Peter J. Douglas, on behalf of Union Tank Car 
Company (UTLX), has 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; specifically, 49 CFR 231.21(f)(3) that 
addresses the location of side handholds. FRA assigned the petition 
Docket Number FRA-2012-0065.
    UTLX requests relief for cars where the side horizontal handholds 
are currently in compliance, as they intend to remove and replace the 
four horizontal handholds with vertical handholds on each corner of 
each car. Twelve cars are in the process of being constructed that are 
affected by the requirements of 49 CFR 231.21(f)(3). UTLX contends that 
the addition of the ergonomically designed vertical

[[Page 74739]]

handhold at each corner of the car would also eliminate the horizontal 
handhold (``knee knocker'') when boarding the car, and thus eliminate a 
tripping hazard while egressing. UTLX believes that the installation of 
the vertical handhold provides a safer means for railroad employees 
equipped with a radio, remote-control belt pack, and lantern to board 
the end platform or ride while standing on the sill step, and maintain 
three-point contact.
    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 31, 2013 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 comment, 
if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 
Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 
19477-78), or online at http://www.dot.gov/privacy.html.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 10, 2012.
Robert C. Lauby,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Regulatory and Legislative 
Operations.
[FR Doc. 2012-30246 Filed 12-14-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P