[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 60 (Monday, March 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16727-16728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07100]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA-2008-0161]
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
[[Page 16728]]
December 16, 2014, the Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) 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 238, Passenger Equipment Safety
Standards. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2008-0161.
The ARRC, a Class II railroad, petitioned FRA for a waiver of
compliance from certain provisions of 49 CFR part 238, as prescribed by
49 CFR 238.303(c), Exterior calendar day inspection of passenger
equipment, and 238.313(d), Class I brake test, for one set of
conventional passenger equipment. Specifically, this waiver request
applies to the seasonal Hurricane Turn passenger train. This service is
operated during the months of May through September, 4 days a week with
one round trip per day, between Talkeetna, AK, Milepost (MP) 226, and
Hurricane Gulch Bridge, AK, MP 284. The passenger equipment utilized
for this train consists of two passenger coaches, one baggage car, and
two locomotives (used in push/pull service). This train provides ``flag
stop'' service to residents and visitors to an area that has no road
access.
The ARRC maintains mechanical facilities in Fairbanks, AK, MP 470,
and Anchorage, AK, MP 114, where qualified maintenance employees are
headquartered. The equipment is stored overnight at Talkeetna during
the work week, and may be moved to Anchorage during rest days for
cleaning, supplies, and servicing. FRA requires a qualified maintenance
person (QMP) to conduct the daily exterior inspection and the Class I
initial terminal airbrake inspection on each day the equipment is used.
This requires the ARRC to assign a QMP to Talkeetna, where there is not
enough work to support a position, or have an employee travel 224 miles
(round trip) each day from Anchorage.
The ARRC requests that a QMP be authorized to complete the required
daily exterior and airbrake inspections at Talkeetna at least once a
week, during those months when equipment is stationed there. The
equipment may be moved to Anchorage, or a mechanical department road
truck will travel to Talkeetna to have a QMP conduct the required
inspections. Talkeetna is the only location that this relief is sought.
Qualified persons, as defined in 49 CFR 238.5, Definitions, may perform
the exterior calendar-day inspection and Class I brake test on all
other days, provided they are trained, qualified, and designated to
perform such functions in accordance with 49 CFR 238.109, Training,
qualification, and designation program.
The ARRC has safely operated this equipment under the conditions
set by FRA's Railroad Safety Board since 2009, under Docket Number FRA-
2008-0161. Due to economic growth, the ARRC is looking to expand the
seasonal Hurricane Turn passenger train service and equipment. The ARRC
has petitioned FRA to modify the current waiver of compliance to
increase the service from 4 to 5 days a week and to increase the
passenger train consist from two passenger coaches to three passenger
coaches.
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 May 14, 2015 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.).
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 March 24, 2015.
Ron Hynes,
Director, Office of Technical Oversight.
[FR Doc. 2015-07100 Filed 3-27-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P