Document ID: FRA-2017-0101-0003
Agency: fra
Document Type: Notice
Title: Petitions for Modifications: Single Car Air Brake Test Procedures
Posted Date: 2017-12-21T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 244 (Thursday, December 21, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 60664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27475]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2017-0101]

Petition for Modification of Single Car Air Brake Test Procedures

    Under part 232 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this 
provides the public notice that on September 21, 2017, the Long Island 
Rail Road (LIRR) requested the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) 
grant a modification of the single car air brake test procedures as 
prescribed in 49 CFR 232.305(a). FRA assigned the request Docket Number 
FRA-2017-0101.
    As described in its request, LIRR has modified several Ml/M3 
Multiple Unit passenger cars for use as Alcohol-Sandite (ALSA) cars for 
third rail ice removal and running rail adhesion conditioning. These 
cars were originally equipped with RT-5A brake equipment for Electric 
Multiple unit operation and D-1-A triple valve brake system (D-1-A) for 
use with conventional locomotives. As converted, the ALSA cars will 
operate exclusively with the original D-1-A system. With these 
modifications, the ALSA cars will fall under the definition of freight 
cars and will be subject to the single car brake testing requirements 
of 49 CFR 232.305.
    Section 232.305 requires testing in accordance with the Association 
of American Railroads (AAR) procedure S-486-04 or a modified procedure 
approved by FRA pursuant to 49 CFR 232.307. The tests in AAR S-486-04 
are intended for freight cars with systems significantly different from 
the D-1-A system used on the ALSA cars and cannot be used for testing 
this equipment. LIRR has developed an alternative single car brake test 
procedure customized to the D-1-A system for use on the ALSA cars. The 
procedure, specified in LIRR's posted Maintenance Instruction Letter 
MIL-2097-M4, closely conforms to all applicable sections of S-486-04 
and LIRR asserts that it provides an equivalent level of safety. LIRR 
requests that it be granted special approval to use MIL-2097-M4 for 
single car brake testing on ALSA cars.
    A copy of these documents and 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. All communications 
concerning these proceedings should identify the appropriate docket 
number (e.g., Docket Number FRA-2017-0101) 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 February 20, 2018 will be considered by 
FRA before final action is taken. Pursuant to 49 CFR 232.307(d), if no 
comment objecting to the requested modification is received during the 
60-day comment period, or if FRA does not issue a written objection to 
the requested modification, the modification will become effective on 
March 6, 2018.
    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.). In 
accordance with 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. 2017-27475 Filed 12-20-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P