2010-17741. Petition for Waiver of Compliance

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

Great Lakes Central Railroad (Waiver Petition Docket Number FRA-2010-0094)

The Great Lakes Central Railroad (GLC) seeks a waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Passenger Equipment Safety Standards, 49 CFR 238.103(a)(1), which requires that “Materials used in constructing a passenger car or a cab of a locomotive ordered on or after September 8, 2000, or placed in service for the first time on or after September 9, 2002, shall meet the test performance criteria for flammability and smoke emission characteristics as specified in Appendix B to this part.”

GLC states that it is installing new seats in its Budd-built commuter cars. The armrest cover material is made of urethane which, when burned, emits smoke and, therefore, not complying with the aforementioned standard. GLC states that the armrest is attached to a metal riser, which is attached to the metal seat frame. The seat, frame and the flooring all meet the requirement of 49 CFR 238.103(a)(1). The armrest is separated by metal from other vehicle parts, and there are no combustible materials within four feet of the armrest. It is unlikely that this armrest could contribute to flame or smoke unless there is a major fire. GLC provided a diagram and photograph of the armrest which are included in the docket.

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-2010-0094) and may be submitted by any of the following methods:

• Web site: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: [phone].
• 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 document (or signing the document, 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; Page 19477) or at http://www.dot.gov/​privacy.html.

Issued in Washington, DC, on July 14, 2010.

Robert C. Lauby,

Deputy Associate Administrator for Regulatory and Legislative Operations.