Document ID: FRA-2016-0056-0004
Agency: fra
Document Type: Notice
Title: Petition for Special Approval of Alternate Standard: Maryland Transit Administration
Posted Date: 2016-08-10T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 154 (Wednesday, August 10, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 52956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18954]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2016-0056]

Petition for Special Approval of Alternate Standard

    In accordance with part 238 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR), this provides the public notice that by a document dated May 4, 
2016, the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) has requested a Special 
Approval of an alternate standard for 49 CFR 238.311(a), Single car 
test, as prescribed in 49 CFR 238.21(b), Special approval procedure. 
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) assigned the request Docket 
Number FRA-2016-0056.
    MTA requests consideration for Special Approval of the submitted 
alternate standard identified as ``MARC Mechanical Department Single 
Car Air Brake Test--MARC IV Cab Standard Maintenance Instruction (SMI) 
M4-06002'' for single car testing of the MARC IV cab cars. MTA states 
that the proposed alternative maintenance standard provides an 
equivalent level of safety as the standard contained in American Public 
Transportation Association (APTA) PR-MS-005-98 Rev. 2.1, which is 
incorporated by reference at 49 CFR 238.311, Single car test. MARC IV 
cab cars are equipped with New York Air Brake CCBII electronic 
locomotive brake equipment, and cannot be qualified for trailer car use 
with an unmodified version of the referenced APTA standard. MTA 
considers that the information contained within its petition supports 
granting the use of an alternate standard to the APTA PR-M-S-005-98 
standard for single car testing of the MARC IV cab cars as requested, 
and seeks FRA concurrence with MTA's conclusions drawn regarding the 
equivalency of air brake system validation identified in APTA PR-M-S-
005-98 with implementation of the procedure, M4-06002.
    Copies of these documents and the petition, as well as any written 
communications concerning the petition, are 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 September 9, 2016 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 FRA's 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 www.dot.gov/privacy. 
See also http://www.regulations.gov/#!privacyNotice for the privacy 
notice of regulations.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 28, 2016.
Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-18954 Filed 8-9-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P