Petition for Extension of Waiver of Compliance

• Published date: 27 August 2021
• Record Number: 2021-18509
• Section: Notices
• Court: Federal Railroad Administration

Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 164 (Friday, August 27, 2021)

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 164 (Friday, August 27, 2021)]
                [Notices]
                [Page 48292]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2021-18509]
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                DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
                Federal Railroad Administration
                [Docket Number FRA-2018-0100]
                Petition for Extension of Waiver of Compliance
                 Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this
                document provides the public notice that on July 27, 2021, Norfolk
                Southern Corporation (NS) petitioned the Federal Railroad
                Administration (FRA) for an amendment of 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. The relevant
                FRA Docket Number is FRA-2018-0100.
                 Specifically, NS requests to amend an existing waiver from the
                requirements of 49 CFR 232.203, Training requirements, to allow
                electronic air brake test refresher training via customized simulation
                software in place of hands-on training. The current waiver applies to
                conductors and supervisors and is limited to an 18-month pilot program
                for freight car repair personnel reporting for duty at Birmingham,
                Alabama; Elkhart, Indiana; Enola, Pennsylvania; Kansas City, Missouri;
                Macon, Georgia; Norfolk, Virginia; and Portsmouth, Ohio.
                 As the pilot period has concluded, NS requests to amend the waiver
                to allow electronic air brake test training as an optional replacement
                for hands-on training for refresher training of freight car repair
                personnel on the entire NS system. In support of its request, NS states
                that (1) all personnel intended for inclusion have already received
                electronic training; (2) feedback from electronically-trained personnel
                has been positive; (3) delivering training electronically achieves
                safety benefits; and (4) NS has improved the training since the
                original pilot waiver was granted.
                 A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications
                concerning the petition, is available for review online at
                www.regulations.gov.
                 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 and a public hearing, 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 at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting
                comments.
                 Communications received by October 12, 2021 will be considered by
                FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date
                will be considered if practicable. Anyone can 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.). Under 5 U.S.C. 553(c), the U.S.
                Department of Transportation (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 https://www.transportation.gov/privacy. See also https://www.regulations.gov/privacy-notice for the
                privacy notice of regulations.gov.
                 Issued in Washington, DC.
                John Karl Alexy,
                Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
                [FR Doc. 2021-18509 Filed 8-26-21; 8:45 am]
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