[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 184 (Friday, September 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 58615]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23270]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA-2001-10654]
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 July 26, 2012, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) has
petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for an extension
and amendment of an existing waiver of compliance from certain
provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations contained at 49
CFR 213.143 and 213.355. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-
2001-10654.
The existing waiver was originally granted on April 22, 2003, and
was extended by a letter dated February 25, 2008. The current waiver
expires on February 1, 2013. AAR is petitioning for an additional
extension of the waiver. The waiver permits the operation of trains at
Class 5 speeds over ``heavy-point'' frog designs conforming to the
standards for Class 4 track frogs guard check and face gage dimensions.
The heavy-point frog is a unique design, which has a thicker frog
point. As proposed in the original waiver petition, AAR states that it
offers safety benefits over a traditional frog because there is more
mass to reduce metal fatigue from impact loading, greater durability,
reduced susceptibility to point rollover, and better ability to guide
the wheel flange toward the proper flangeway. Heavy-point frog insert
design characteristics gradually widen to \31/32\ (0.9688) inches
overall, resulting in the heavy-point frog insert point being thicker
at the actual \5/8\ (0.6250)-inch frog point gage lines. The gage line
is actually \11/32\ (0.3438) inches thicker than a traditional \5/8\
(0.6250)-inch rail bound manganese frog point. Heavy-point frogs reduce
the standard guard check distance from 4 feet and 6[frac58] inches
(54.6250 inches) to 4 feet 6\29\/64 inches (54.4531 inches),
which does not comply with minimum safety standards for Class 5 track.
AAR also seeks approval for the operation of trains at Class 6
speeds over heavy-point frog designs with guard check gages conforming
to the standards for Class 4 track frogs guard check and face gage
dimensions. AAR states that waiver denial would adversely affect
proposed high-speed operations that have numerous existing heavy-point
frog installations. AAR claims that since the requirements are the same
for Class 5 and Class 6 (49 CFR 213.143 and 213.355), the waiver should
be extended to Class 6.
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 October 22, 2012 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 comment,
if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.).
You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal
Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages
19477-78), or online at http://www.dot.gov/privacy.html.
Issued in Washington, DC, on September 17, 2012.
Ron Hynes,
Director, Office of Safety Assurance and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2012-23270 Filed 9-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P