Notice2022-04763
Petition for Modification of Standards and Alternate Compliance
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
March 7, 2022
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 44 (Monday, March 7, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 44 (Monday, March 7, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 12759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04763]
[[Page 12759]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA-2022-0017]
Petition for Modification of Standards and Alternate Compliance
Under part 232 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this
document provides the public notice that on February 8, 2022, the
HeritageRail Alliance (HRA) (co-sponsored jointly by the Railroad
Passenger Car Alliance (RPCA)) petitioned the Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA) for a modification of standards and alternate
compliance in accordance with 49 CFR 232.307, Modification of brake
test procedures, pertaining to the Federal railroad safety regulations
contained at 49 CFR 232.717, Freight and passenger train car brakes.
FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2022-0017.
Specifically, HRA/RPCA requests a modification of standards and
alternative compliance pursuant to 49 CFR 232.717(d) using HRA
Recommended Practice RP-001-21, which includes proposed alternate
compliance methods to fulfill the requirements of Sec. 232.717,
Freight and passenger train car brakes.\1\ HRA states that many
tourist/museum operations employ obsolete equipment types that are not
subject to current Association of American Railroads (AAR) Interchange
Rules, nor any other currently published maintenance standard, and that
in recent years the maintenance of railroad mechanical systems has
moved away from prescribed periodic attention to performance based
systems, and that the assurance of safety is achieved by employing more
frequent periodic testing (primarily single car tests) to detect
degradation of performance. Railroads have also identified
opportunities to extend service intervals through application of newer
materials, and as tourist and excursion equipment is often used
infrequently, extended service periods may be warranted. The
Recommended Practice includes justification of the reduction of
cleaning, oiling, testing, and stenciling periods (an activity that in
itself can degrade the performance and service life of the equipment),
and provides documentation guides on the operating history to assure
compliance with the conditions of the extension.
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\1\ To view the Recommended Practice, see <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/document/FRA-2022-0017-0001">https://www.regulations.gov/document/FRA-2022-0017-0001</a>.
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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.
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 May 6, 2022 will be considered by FRA
before final action is taken. Pursuant to Sec. 232.307(d), if no
comment objecting to the requested modification is received during the
60-day comment period, or if FRA does not issue a written objection to
the requested modification, the modification will become effective May
23, 2022.
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. 2022-04763 Filed 3-4-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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