Notice2026-17870
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
September 1, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Abstract
This document provides the public notice that CSX Transportation Inc. (CSXT) petitioned FRA for relief from certain regulations concerning inspections performed by qualified mechanical inspectors (QMIs).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 168 (Tuesday, September 1, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 168 (Tuesday, September 1, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56279-56280]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17870]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA-2026-1684]
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 CSX
Transportation Inc. (CSXT) petitioned FRA for relief from certain
regulations concerning inspections performed by qualified mechanical
inspectors (QMIs).
[[Page 56280]]
DATES: FRA must receive comments on the petition by November 2, 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: Caleb Rogers, Railroad Safety
Specialist, FRA Motive Power & Equipment Division, telephone: 202-493-
6322, email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e784868b8285c9958880829594a7838893c9808891"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ccafada0a9aee2bea3aba9bebf8ca8a3b8e2aba3ba">[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 June 5, 2026, CSXT petitioned FRA for a waiver of
compliance from certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety
regulations contained at 49 CFR part 229 (Railroad Locomotive Safety
Standards). FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2026-1684.
Specifically, CSXT seeks relief from the requirements of Sec.
229.23(b)(2), Periodic inspection: general, related to locomotives
equipped with advanced microprocessor-controlled systems. CSXT seeks to
eliminate the requirement for QMIs to perform a daily inspection once
every 33 days on a microprocessor-equipped locomotives maintained on
extended 184-day periodic inspection cycles.
In support of its request, CSXT states that microprocessor-based
systems allow ``continuous monitoring of locomotive health and system
performance'' and ``immediate digital reporting [of such performance]
to mechanical personnel,'' enabling the identification and
rectification of issues in real time before they impact the
locomotive's operation. CSXT asserts that its ability to use the data
from microprocessor-based systems to identify developing faults and
provide continuous oversight and rapid response ``exceeds the value of
a periodic 33-day inspection,'' which creates ``additional line-of-road
exposure [and] disruption in train operations'' and ``diverts skilled
mechanical personnel away from shop-based maintenance activity.''
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 November 2, 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. 2026-17870 Filed 8-31-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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