Notice2026-11515
Notice of Petition for 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
June 9, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Abstract
This document provides the public notice that the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis (TRRA) petitioned FRA to renew relief from certain regulations concerning a transfer train brake test.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 110 (Tuesday, June 9, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 110 (Tuesday, June 9, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34888-34889]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-11515]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA-2013-0069]
Notice of Petition for 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 Terminal
Railroad Association of St. Louis (TRRA) petitioned FRA to renew relief
from certain regulations concerning a transfer train brake test.
DATES: FRA must receive comments on the petition by August 10, 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: Steven Zuiderveen, Railroad Safety
Specialist, FRA Motive Power & Equipment Division, telephone: 202-493-
6337, email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#394a4d5c4f5c5717434c505d5c4b4f5c5c57795d564d175e564f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7f0c0b1a091a1151050a161b1a0d091a1a113f1b100b51181009">[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
letters dated January 7, 2026, and April 29, 2026, TRRA petitioned FRA
to renew a waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal
railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR part 232 (Brake System
Safety Standards for Freight and Other Non-Passenger Trains and
Equipment; End-of-Train Devices). FRA assigned the petition Docket
Number FRA-2013-0069.\1\
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\1\ TRRA previously operated pursuant to a waiver in this docket
that expired on April 4, 2019, ``due to the facility idling down and
being acquired by Nip[p]on Steel Corporation.'' TRRA seeks to
restart the waiver because the ``blast furnace will be turned back
on and trains will commence'' in 2026. See <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/document/FRA-2013-0069-0010">https://www.regulations.gov/document/FRA-2013-0069-0010</a>.
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Specifically, TRRA seeks to renew relief from the requirements of
Sec. 232.215, Transfer train brake tests, which states that the brake
test must be performed on trains that travel between a point of origin
and a point of final destination not exceeding 20 miles. Instead, TRAA
proposes to perform an inspection per Sec. 232.211, Class III brake
tests--trainline continuity inspection, and a roll-by inspection. TRRA
intends to perform these inspections on the empty BNSF BNORE train as
it doubles up and departs the Blast Furnace. When the train is then
``spotted to an outbound track,'' a Class 1 brake test per Sec.
232.205, Class I brake test--initial terminal inspection, will be
performed.
In support of its request, TRRA states that walking conditions near
the Blast Furnace are unsafe and employees could be injured while
performing the transfer train brake test. The train will operate only
2.95 miles before receiving the Class I brake test, and the train's
shoving will also reduce the blocking of public road crossings in the
area. TRRA notes that there have been no incidents while operating
under this waiver and requests to make the relief permanent.
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
[[Page 34889]]
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 August 10, 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
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. 2026-11515 Filed 6-8-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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