94-32107. Freight Car Safety Standards; Maintenance-of-Way Equipment

[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 249 (Thursday, December 29, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-32107]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 29, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

49 CFR Part 215

[FRA Docket No. RSFC-7, Notice No. 3]
RIN 2130-AA68

 

Freight Car Safety Standards; Maintenance-of-Way Equipment

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: FRA is extending the comment period on its notice of proposed 
rulemaking to amend the Freight Car Safety Standards. The NPRM proposed 
changing the provisions in 49 CFR Part 215, by making all maintenance-
of-way vehicles subject to the Standards with the exception of 
stenciled cars not used in revenue service and restricted to a speed of 
less than 20 miles per hour. The extension is necessary to allow 
sufficient time for interested parties to submit comments.

DATES: Written comments must be received no later than February 27, 
1995. Comments received after that date will be considered to the 
extent practicable without incurring additional expense or delay.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should identify the docket number and the 
notice number and should be submitted in triplicate to the Docket 
Clerk, Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Railroad Administration, 400 
Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590. Persons desiring to be 
notified that their written comments have been received by FRA should 
submit a stamped, self-addressed postcard with their comments. The 
Docket Clerk will indicate the date on which the comments were received 
and will return the postcard to the addressee. Written comments will be 
available for examination during regular business hours in room 8201 of 
the Nassif Building located at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Phil Olekszyk, Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Compliance and 
Program Implementation, Office of Safety, Federal Railroad 
Administration, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590 
(telephone: [phone]), or Cedestra L. Jordan, Trial Attorney, 
Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Railroad Administration, 400 Seventh 
Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590 (telephone: [phone]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FRA published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) on March 10, 1994 (59 FR 11238) to amend its Freight 
Car Safety Standards. The Freight Car Safety Standards, at 49 CFR 
215.3(c)(3), exclude maintenance-of-way equipment from the requirements 
of Part 215, ``if that equipment is not used in revenue service and is 
stenciled in accordance with Sec. 215.305.'' The proposed amendment 
would add to the present regulation an additional condition which must 
be met before a freight car in maintenance-of-way service can be 
operated without complying with the Freight Car Safety Standards: the 
equipment must be operated at a speed of less than 20 mph. FRA received 
comments from the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees; The 
American Short Line Railroad Association; the Brotherhood Railway 
Carmen Division, Transportation Communication International Union; the 
Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway Company; and the Association of 
American Railroads (AAR).
    FRA has prepared a requested for clarification on some issues 
presented in the AAR's comments. FRA's written request as well as any 
written response will be included in the docket and make available for 
review. Copies will be made available upon request.
    Based on the above, FRA believes it would be beneficial to extend 
the comment period, so that all interested parties will have ample 
opportunity to comment. For these reasons, FRA has determined that an 
extension to February 27, 1995, is appropriate. In addition, FRA has 
not received any requests, formal or informal, for a hearing on this 
matter; therefore, a hearing has not been scheduled.

    Issued in Washington, D.C. on December 22, 1994.
Donald M. Itzkoff,
Deputy Administrator, Federal Railroad Administrator.
[FR Doc. 94-32107 Filed 12-28-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P-M