Notice2021-20644
Petition for Waiver of Compliance
Primary source
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Published
September 24, 2021
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 183 (Friday, September 24, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 183 (Friday, September 24, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53141-53142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20644]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA-2021-0091]
Petition for Waiver of Compliance
This document provides the public notice that on September 7, 2021,
Wisconsin Central Ltd. (WCL) and Canadian National Railway Company
(collectively referred to as CN) petitioned the Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA) under 49 CFR 211.51 to temporarily suspend for
testing purposes, certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety
regulations contained at 49 CFR 232.205, Class I brake test-initial
terminal inspection. Although CN filed its petition under Sec. 211.51,
FRA concluded that considering this request under the provisions of 49
CFR part 211, subpart C, Waivers, would be more appropriate.
Accordingly, FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2021-0091.
Specifically, CN seeks relief from the requirements of Sec.
232.205(c)(ii)(B) for testing purposes which would allow CN to operate
trains with a combined air flow to the brake pipe above 90 cubic feet
per minute (CFM) with no individual source of air having a flow greater
than 60 CFM or 15 psi gradient. CN seeks a short duration of relief to
physically test braking reaction and train performance, under
conditions of higher air flow, specifically caused by the addition of
air sources (air cars or locomotives) that yield a more even pressure
throughout the brake pipe. CN seeks to perform the testing on the WCL
Chicago to Winnipeg corridor and the CN Sprague Subdivision, from
November 2021 to April 2022, to test under cold temperature conditions.
CN has previously conducted similar testing through an exemption
granted by Transport Canada between February and April 2020 and
November 2020 and March 2021. CN reports that the program yielded
positive results, demonstrating that when multiple air sources were
used, trains operated at a healthy pressure level in cold weather,
which resulted in cars applying an even level of braking effort and
greater braking efficiency.
A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications
concerning the petition, is available for review online at
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>.
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
[[Page 53142]]
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 <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
Communications received by November 8, 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
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/
ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/privacy">https://www.transportation.gov/privacy</a>. See also <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/privacy-notice">https://www.regulations.gov/privacy-notice</a> for the
privacy notice of <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>.
Issued in Washington, DC.
John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-20644 Filed 9-23-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 24, 2021.
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