Document ID: FRA-2018-0026-0004
Agency: fra
Document Type: Notice
Title: Petitions for Waivers of Compliance
Posted Date: 2018-09-18T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 181 (Tuesday, September 18, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 47238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20204]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2018-0026]

Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    Under part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this 
provides the public notice that on June 7, 2018, the Western Maryland 
Scenic Railroad (WMSR) petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration 
(FRA) for a waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal 
railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR parts 215 and 224. FRA 
assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2018-0026.
    Specifically, WMSR requests relief from 49 CFR 215.303, Stenciling 
of restricted cars, and 49 CFR part 224, Reflectorization of Rail 
Freight Rolling Stock, for 16 freight cars. WMSR explains it is a non-
profit entity, operating on 17 miles of track from Ridgeley, WV, 
through Cumberland, MD, and west to Frostburg, MD. WMSR owns several 
freight cars of various built and rebuilt dates, and primarily uses 
this equipment as operating historic artifacts. WMSR receives inquiries 
for the making up and operation of historic demonstration trains using 
the freight cars for photography, historic documentation, and film 
production, along with its diesel and steam engines. Because the 
chartering of such demonstration trains is potentially profitable, WMSR 
would like the flexibility to make and operate the historic freight 
trains at any time. WMSR states these ``dedicated service'' cars have 
been certified as safe to operate. The cars will only be operated 
occasionally, on WMSR track, empty, and at or below 10 miles per hour.
    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:
     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, 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 November 2, 2018 will be considered by 
FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date 
will be considered as far as 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.
Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-20204 Filed 9-17-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P