[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 225 (Monday, November 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73037-73038]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-29686]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA-2015-0047]
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 May 8, 2015, the Stewartstown Railroad (STRT) 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 215, Railroad Freight Car Safety Standards; Part 223,
Safety Glazing Standards--Locomotives, Passenger Cars and Cabooses; and
Part 224, Reflectorization of Rail Freight Rolling Stock. FRA assigned
the petition Docket Number FRA-2015-0047.
STRT owns 7.4 miles of railroad between Stewartstown and New
Freedom, PA. The last revenue trains were operated in 2004. Over the
last several years, volunteers have made repairs and upgrades to track,
locomotives, and rolling stock. STRT initially intends to operate six-
tenths of a mile out of Stewartstown and gradually expand services as
more track is rehabilitated to Class 1 condition. Initial service will
be provided by a 35-ton Plymouth locomotive and Caboose PRR 478173 to
carry passengers for tourist railroad operations conducted at speeds
not exceeding 10 mph. Caboose PRR 478173 is the subject of the present
waiver petition.
STRT indicates that this car was built in February 1951, which
makes the current date more than 50 years from the date of original
construction, and STRT will therefore require relief from 49 CFR
215.203, Restricted cars, to continue the car in service. Because the
caboose is not equipped with compliant glazing, SRTR also requests
relief from the requirements of 49 CFR 223.13, Requirements for
existing cabooses. STRT notes that there is no history of vandalism and
that retrofitting the caboose with compliant glazing would be cost
prohibitive. Since STRT does not interchange equipment with any of the
railroad, the railroad also requests relief from the requirements of 49
CFR 215.303, Stenciling of restricted cars.
[[Page 73038]]
STRT notes that there is no freight service on this line and none is
anticipated in the near future. As the caboose will be used only in
excursion passenger service, the railroad requests relief from the
requirements of 49 CFR part 224.
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 December 23, 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 November 13, 2015.
Ron Hynes,
Director, Office of Technical Oversight.
[FR Doc. 2015-29686 Filed 11-20-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P