Notice2024-31061
Petition for Extension of Waiver of Compliance
Primary source
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Published
December 27, 2024
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 248 (Friday, December 27, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 248 (Friday, December 27, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 105683-105684]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-31061]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA-2014-0048]
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 October 14, 2024, and
December 13, 2024, Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) petitioned the
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for an extension of a waiver of
compliance from certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety
regulations contained at 49 CFR parts 215 (Railroad Freight Car Safety
Standards), 229 (Railroad Locomotive Safety Standards), and 232 (Brake
System Safety Standards for Freight and Other Non-Passenger Trains and
Equipment; End-of-Train Devices). The relevant Docket Number is FRA-
2014-0048.
Specifically, UP seeks an extension of relief from part 215, Sec.
229.21, Daily inspection, and Sec. 232.205(a)(1), Class I brake test--
initial terminal inspection, to move freight cars received in
interchange from Ferrocarriles Nacionales de Mexico at the
International Yard on the Lordsburg Subdivision in El Paso, Texas, to
Dallas Street Yard (for westbound traffic) or Alfalfa Yard (for
eastbound traffic). The required inspections are conducted at these
yards, which are 2.8 and 7 miles from the International Yard,
respectively. In its petition, UP notes that the territory between
International Yard and Dallas Street and Alfalfa Yards ``traverses
through a residential area with multiple public grade crossings[,]
which also handle heavy pedestrian traffic.'' Additionally, UP requests
to expand the relief in this docket to permit it to move trains to
Santa Teresa, New Mexico, a distance of 20.5 miles.
In support of its petition, UP states that the movement
``expedit[es] any delays caused by port of entry inspections and
allow[s] a more efficient use of the bridge window.'' UP adds that
completing inspections and testing of equipment at the Dallas and
Alfalfa Yards is ``safer/more secure than attempting it on the bridge
precisely at the US border line,'' as the infrastructure of the Dallas
and Alfalfa facilities ``supports inspections, and repair associated
activities, including switching out bad orders, safer and better than
other upstream properties.'' Finally, UP notes that the relief avoids
``unnecessary public disruptions within the city of El Paso, [Texas],
including, but not limited to, excessively blocked crossings'' as well
as ``alleviates undue additional locomotive emissions from excessive
idling times.''
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
[[Page 105684]]
scheduling a public hearing in connection with these proceedings since
the facts do not appear to warrant a hearing. If any interested parties
desire 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">www.regulations.gov</a>.
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
Communications received by February 25, 2025 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 the U.S. Department of
Transportation's (DOT) 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), 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. 2024-31061 Filed 12-26-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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