2019-16379. Petition for Waiver of Compliance  

  • Start Preamble

    Under part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this document provides the public notice that on July 12, 2019, New Jersey Transit Rail Operations (NJTR), petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for an extension of its waivers of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR part 240, Qualification and Certification of Locomotive Engineers, and part 242, Qualification and Certification of Conductors. FRA assigned the petition Docket Numbers FRA-2009-0096 and FRA-2012-0056.

    The relief is requested as part of NJTR's continued participation in FRA's Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3 RS) Program. NJTR implemented C3 RS in June 2009 and is a founding member railroad choosing to participate in the Program. NJTR, with the support of its labor union partners, have implemented many corrective actions to improve railroad safety as a result of C3 RS. NJTR seeks to shield reporting employees and the railroad from mandatory punitive sanctions that would otherwise arise as provided in 49 CFR 240.117(e)(1)-(4); 240.305(a)(l)-(4) and (a)(6); 240.307; 242.403(b), (c), (e)(l)-(4), (e)(6)-(11), (f)(l)-(2), and 242.407. The C3 RS Program encourages certified operating crew members to report close calls and protect the employees and the railroad from discipline or sanctions arising from the incidents reported per the C3 RS Implementing Memorandum of Understanding.

    A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications concerning the petition, is available for review online at www.regulations.gov and in person at the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Docket Operations Facility, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, W12-140, Washington, DC 20590. The Docket Operations Facility is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.

    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 parties desire 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.

    All communications concerning these proceedings should identify the appropriate docket number and may be submitted by any of the following methods:

    • Website: 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 by September 16, 2019 will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be considered if practicable.

    Anyone can 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 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 better inform its processes. DOT posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov,, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at https://www.transportation.gov/​privacy. See also https://www.regulations.gov/​privacyNotice for the privacy notice of regulations.gov.

    Start Signature

    Issued in Washington, DC.

    John Karl Alexy,

    Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety Chief Safety Officer.

    End Signature End Preamble

    [FR Doc. 2019-16379 Filed 7-31-19; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 4910-06-P

Document Information

Published:
08/01/2019
Department:
Federal Railroad Administration
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
2019-16379
Pages:
37709-37709 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket Numbers FRA-2009-0096 and FRA-2012-0056
PDF File:
2019-16379.pdf