Document ID: FRA-2021-0024-0004
Agency: fra
Document Type: Notice
Title: Petition for Waiver of Compliance
Posted Date: 2021-02-22T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 33 (Monday, February 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 10616]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-03484]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2021-0024]

Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this 
document provides the public notice that on February 1, 2021, 
Sandersville Railroad Company (SAN) 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 
237, Bridge Safety Standards. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number 
FRA-2021-0024.
    Specifically, SAN seeks relief from the requirements of 49 CFR 
237.31, Adoption of bridge management programs. SAN's requested relief 
would include continuing the use of a scale inspector rather than a 
railroad bridge inspector for annual bridge inspections.
    SAN owns and operates 35 miles of track and has one railroad 
bridge, which is a weigh-in-motion scale with a maximum authorized 
speed of 6 miles per hour. The scale provides accurate weights for 
customers using SAN's sidings and for Norfolk Southern Corporation (NS) 
to ensure it does not exceed weight restrictions for its intended 
routes or railcar weight limits. No railcars containing hazardous 
materials operate over the scale. SAN claims the scale was designed to 
meet American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association, 
Association of American Railroads, and Cooper E-80 design 
specifications.
    SAN states that an NS railroad scale inspector inspects the scale 
annually and provides a report that details any structural deficiencies 
found that could jeopardize the safety of the scale. SAN believes that 
its current method of inspection, which has been in place for twenty 
years, provides a more knowledgeable and less costly inspection than 
would be required by 49 CFR part 237.
    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 April 8, 2021 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. 2021-03484 Filed 2-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P