[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 28, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page ]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-23967]
[Federal Register: September 28, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
49 CFR Part 215
[FRA Docket No. RSFC-7, Notice No. 2]
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 clarify
initial comments received from interested parties.
DATES: Written comments must be received no later than November 28,
1994. Comments received after that date will be considered to the
extent practicable without incurring additional expense or delay.
ADDRESSES: Written comment 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, Acting 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: 202-366-0897), or Cedestra L. Jordan, Trial Attorney,
Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Railroad Administration, 400 Seventh
Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590 (telephone: 202-366-0628).
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 has
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). In light of comments received, particularly
from the AAR, FRA is preparing a request 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 made
available for review. Based on the comments received, 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 November 28, 1994, is
appropriate. In addition, FRA has not received any requests, formal or
informal, for a hearing on this matter; therefore a hearing will not be
scheduled.
Donald M. Itzkoff,
Federal Railroad Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 94-23967 Filed 9-27-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P-M
