[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 120 (Monday, June 23, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 35631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-14525]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA-2014-0030]
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 March 25, 2014, the Gulf & Ohio Railways, Inc. (G&O), on behalf
of one of its companies, the Knoxville & Holston River Railroad (KXHR),
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 215, Railroad Freight Car Safety
Standards. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2014-0030.
G&O requests a waiver on behalf of KXHR from the stenciling
requirement specified in 49 CFR 215.303, Stenciling of restricted cars,
for nine freight cars. The nine cars' reporting marks, car numbers,
type, capacity, condition, status, and year built are listed in a table
contained in the petition letter.
KXHR operates over 22 miles of track in and around Knoxville, TN.
Established in 1998, it normally handles in excess of 7,000 carloads
annually. It also operates the Three Rivers Rambler excursion train,
owned by a sister company, which travels to and from Knoxville over a
5.5-mile portion of the railroad along the Tennessee River. The
excursion train, powered mostly by a steam locomotive, uses three
passenger cars built about 80 years ago. Between the two companies,
they own nine freight cars that are more than 50 years of age. These
cars are being preserved because of their educational value, usefulness
in creating an antique freight train that can be operated for
photographs, and as a backdrop for the antique passenger train. The
maximum operating speed of these cars will be 10 mph. These cars have
been examined and are safe to operate under the conditions in this
petition. In the case of cars that are not yet operable, they will be
examined and not operated unless they are found to be safe under the
conditions requested in this petition. These nine cars will not be
interchanged with other railroads.
G&O states that these cars are a collection of antique equipment
that is not intended for operation except (1) for repositioning when
needed and (2) for photo freight trains, not to exceed three times per
year, 20 miles per trip, except that Car KXHR 9 will operate as an open
air passenger car on the Three Rivers Rambler excursion train at 10
mph.
In addition, G&O has requested a Special Approval for these nine
cars to continue in service in accordance with 49 CFR 205.203(c).
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 August 7, 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 June 17, 2014.
Ron Hynes,
Director, Office of Safety Assurance and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2014-14525 Filed 6-20-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P