Notice2026-10307
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
May 22, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Abstract
This document provides the public notice that The Housatonic Railroad Company (HRRC) petitioned FRA for an extension of relief from certain regulations concerning hours of service.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 99 (Friday, May 22, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 99 (Friday, May 22, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30372-30373]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-10307]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA-2012-0068]
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 The Housatonic
Railroad Company (HRRC) petitioned FRA for an extension of relief from
certain regulations concerning hours of service.
DATES: FRA must receive comments on the petition by July 21, 2026. 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: Bill Smith, Railroad Safety
Specialist, FRA Operating Practices Division, telephone: 682-305-6709,
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#24534d48484d45490a57494d504c64404b500a434b52"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bdcad4d1d1d4dcd093ced0d4c9d5fdd9d2c993dad2cb">[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 March 30, 2026, HRRC petitioned FRA for an extension of a
waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the hours of service
laws contained at title 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) section
21103(a). The relevant Docket Number is FRA-2012-0068.
Specifically, HRRC seeks an extension of relief from the provisions
of 49 U.S.C. 21103(a)(4), which in part, provides that a train employee
may not be required or allowed to remain or go on duty after that
employee has initiated an on-duty period each day for 6 consecutive
days, unless that employee has had at least 48 hours off duty at the
employee's home terminal. HRRC seeks to continue to allow a train
employee to initiate an on-duty period for 6 consecutive days followed
by 24 hours off duty. HRRC states that the waiver allows more flexible
employee work schedules, minimizes employee fatigue, and enables better
service for HRRC customers.
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 July 21, 2026 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
[[Page 30373]]
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. 2026-10307 Filed 5-21-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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