Document ID: FRA-2013-0020-0006
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]
[Pages 71711-71712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28686]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2013-0020]

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 February 4, 2013, GE Transportation (GE) 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 232--Brake System Safety Standards for Freight and Other 
Non-Passenger Trains and Equipment; End-of-Train Devices. FRA assigned 
the petition Docket Number FRA-2013-0020.
    Specifically, GE requests relief from 49 CFR 232.409(d), Inspection 
and testing of end-of-train devices, as applied to its STR-1821 dual 
receive data transceivers. The current rule requires telemetry 
equipment to be tested for accuracy and calibrated, if necessary, at 
least every 368 days. The date and location of the last calibration or 
test, as well as the name of the person performing the calibration or 
test, must be legibly displayed on a weather-resistant sticker or other 
marking device affixed to the outside of both the front and rear of the 
unit.
    In its petition, GE states that the STR-1821 radio is the type 
accepted by the Federal Communications Commission under a Grant of 
Equipment Authorization with identifier OQW-STR1820. Prior to shipment, 
each STR-1821 is tested by its supplier, Summation Research, Inc. 
(SRI), to specifications including frequency and modulation. SRI then 
affixes a sticker that indicates the date the unit passed testing. 
These transceivers use a master reference oscillator to determine the 
frequency stability of the transmitted signal. The actual transmitted 
signal is phase-locked to this master oscillator by the phase-locked 
loop (PLL). Circuitry within the PLL determines when the system is in 
``lock'' and will prevent or inhibit transmission if the transmitted 
signal is not in frequency. The master oscillator itself is specified 
to a much higher stability than the resulting transmitted frequency 
required by Federal regulations. This oscillator is used in all of 
SRI's mobile data radio offerings and, to date, has never failed due to 
being out of tolerance. GE states that, due to the transceiver's 
development history, key features, and proven performance, approval of 
this waiver request to eliminate annual calibration will be in the 
public interest and consistent with public safety.
    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

[[Page 71712]]

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. 2013-28686 Filed 11-27-13; 8:45 am]
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