E8-30157. Petition for Waiver of Compliance  

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    In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), notice is hereby given that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) received a request for a waiver 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 favour of relief.

    Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation

    The Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation (PATH) seek a permanent waiver of compliance with the Locomotive Safety Standards, 49 CFR 229.123, which requires that each lead locomotive be equipped with an end plate that extends across both rails, a pilot or a snowplow. The petition is being made for PATH's new fleet of passenger MU locomotives designated as PA-5 cars. Prior to receiving this new fleet of cars, PATH had been granted a waiver, Docket Number LI-81-9, from the pilot end plate requirement. PATH operated under this waiver over the past 26 years. PATH operates a closed system with no public highway-rail crossings over 13.8 miles between New York, and New Jersey. PATH states that the addition of a pilot would interfere with space allocated for Communication Based Train Control Equipment to be mounted under the cars.

    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-2008-0135) 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).

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    Issued in Washington, DC on December 15, 2008.

    Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,

    Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program Development.

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    [FR Doc. E8-30157 Filed 12-18-08; 8:45 am]

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