Notice2025-18477
Notice of Petition for Extension of Waiver of 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
September 24, 2025
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Abstract
This document provides the public notice that Portland & Western Railroad, Inc. (PNWR) petitioned FRA for an extension of relief from certain regulations concerning inspection of track with concrete ties.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 183 (Wednesday, September 24, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 24, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 45976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-18477]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA-2016-0034]
Notice of Petition for Extension of Waiver of Compliance
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This document provides the public notice that Portland &
Western Railroad, Inc. (PNWR) petitioned FRA for an extension of relief
from certain regulations concerning inspection of track with concrete
ties.
DATES: FRA must receive comments on the petition by October 24, 2025.
FRA will consider comments received after that date to the extent
practicable.
ADDRESSES:
Comments: Comments related to this docket may be submitted by going
to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and following the online instructions
for submitting comments.
Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and
docket number. All comments received will be posted without change to
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>; this includes any personal information.
Please see the Privacy Act heading in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section of this document for Privacy Act information related to any
submitted comments or materials.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received, go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and follow the
online instructions for accessing the docket.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Baker, Railroad Safety
Specialist, FRA Operating Practices Division, telephone: 202-308-1440,
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f094919e99959cde92919b9582b0949f84de979f86"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="dfbbbeb1b6bab3f1bdbeb4baad9fbbb0abf1b8b0a9">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR), this document provides the public notice that by
letter dated August 7, 2025 PNWR petitioned FRA for an extension of a
waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal railroad
safety regulations contained at 49 CFR part 213 (Track Safety
Standards). FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2016-0034.
PNWR requests extended relief from 49 CFR 213.234, Automated
inspection of track constructed with concrete crossties, which requires
railroads to conduct automated inspections to identify rail set
deterioration. In lieu of the regulation's requirements, PNWR seeks to
continue the practices of the current waiver, including annual training
to employees on identifying the signs of and handling rail seat
deterioration; bi-annual on-foot track inspections; and annual light
and heavy hi-rail geometry vehicle inspections. PNWR requests to
continue using this relief on 20.3 miles of track constructed with
concrete ties on the Oregon Electric subdivision on which DMU commuter
trains operate.
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 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.
Communications received by October 24, 2025 will be considered by
FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date
will be considered if practicable.
Privacy Act
Anyone can search the electronic form of any written communications
and comments received into any of FRA's 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 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. 2025-18477 Filed 9-23-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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