[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 230 (Friday, November 29, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71711-71712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing 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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