[Federal Register: December 9, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 237)]
[Notices]
[Page 74798-74799]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09de08-101]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Petition for Special Approval of Alternate Standard
In accordance with Part 238.21 of Title 49 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR), notice is hereby given that the Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA) received a request for approval of an Alternate
Standard of compliance with certain requirements of its safety
standards. The individual petition is described below, including the
party seeking relief, the regulatory provisions involved, the nature of
the relief being requested, and the petitioner's arguments in favor of
relief.
American Public Transit Association
[Special Approval Petition Docket Number FRA-2005-20853]
The American Public Transit Association (APTA) seeks approval for
use of an alternate standard required to be used in accordance with the
Passenger Equipment Safety Standards, 49 CFR Part 238, Section 311,
single car test of passenger equipment brakes.
[[Page 74799]]
Section 311(a) requires single car air brake tests on all passenger
cars, except self-propelled passenger cars. Specifically, Sec.
238.311(a) requires single car tests of all passenger cars and all
unpowered vehicles used in passenger trains be performed in accordance
with ``either APTA Standard SS-M-005-98, `Code of Tests for Passenger
Car Equipment Using Single Car Testing Device,' published March, 1998;
or an alternative procedure approved by FRA pursuant to Sec. 238.21.''
By letter dated August 17, 2005, FRA approved Revision 1 of the APTA
Standard as an alternative standard of compliance (Revision 1 required
a railroad to perform the single car test procedure at the same working
pressure as the car being tested utilizes in revenue service. The
Original Test Standard dated March 1998, required that the test be
performed at 90 psi while some trains operate their brake systems at
110 psi.) APTA now requests that Revision 2 of the APTA Standard, dated
May 18, 2007, be incorporated into the requirements of Sec.
238.311(a). These revisions are editorial in nature to Revision 1.
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, 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 (e.g., Waiver Petition Docket Number FRA-
2008-20853) and may be submitted by any of the following methods:
Web site: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: Docket Operations Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., W12-140, Washington, DC
20590.
Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room W12-140,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
Communications received within 45 days of the date of this notice
will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments
received after that date will be considered as far as practicable. All
written communications concerning these proceedings are available for
examination during regular business hours (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) at the above
facility. All documents in the public docket are also available for
inspection and copying on the Internet at the docket facility's Web
site at http://www.regulations.gov.
Anyone is able to search the electronic form of any written
communications and comments received into any of our dockets by the
name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment,
if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.).
You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal
Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages
19477-78).
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 1, 2008.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program
Development.
[FR Doc. E8-29097 Filed 12-8-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P