Document ID: FRA-2003-16666-0014
Agency: fra
Document Type: Notice
Title: Petitions for Special Approvals of Alternate Standards
Posted Date: 2014-06-02T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 105 (Monday, June 2, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 31401]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-12621]

[[Page 31401]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2003-16666]

Petition for Special Approval of Alternate Standard

    In accordance with Part 238 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR), this document provides the public notice that by letters dated 
January 30 and 31, 2014, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation 
(Amtrak) petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for an 
extension of its Special Approval of alternate standard for certain 
requirements of the Federal railroad safety regulations contained at 49 
CFR Part 238, Passenger Equipment Safety Standards. FRA assigned the 
petition Docket Number FRA-2003-16666.
    Amtrak seeks approval to continue using an alternate standard to 
comply with 49 CFR 238. 311, Single car test. This section requires 
single car air brake tests to be performed in accordance with either 
American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Standard SS-M-005-98, 
``Code of Tests for Passenger Car Equipment Using Single Car Testing 
Device,'' published March 1998, or with an alternative procedure 
approved by FRA pursuant to 49 CFR 238.21, Special approval procedure. 
In 2003, Amtrak requested and received approval from FRA for an 
alternate standard for single car air brake tests on Talgo train sets 
operated by Amtrak. This approval was renewed by FRA for 5 years in 
2009. Amtrak states that while Talgo brake equipment can receive the 
single car test using the APTA standard, the alternate standard allows 
a semipermanently coupled train set to remain coupled during testing. 
Amtrak also indicates that using the APTA standard procedure on shorter 
length cars combined with reduced brake pipe volume would produce air 
flow rates not compatible with the APTA standard.
    Amtrak supplied a copy of the alternate Talgo standard, a statement 
affirming that Amtrak served a copy of the petition to a designated 
representative of its employees and the name and address of the person 
served as required by 49 CFR 238.21(b)(4). These documents are 
available for inspection in the docket for this proceeding.
    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 July 2, 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 complete 
Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 
2000 (65 FR 19477).

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 27, 2014.
Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-12621 Filed 5-30-14; 8:45 am]
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