2012-12291. Petition for Alternative Locomotive Crashworthiness Design

In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this document provides the public notice that by a document dated March 2, 2012, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) has petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for approval of alternative locomotive crashworthiness design for an electric locomotive, Model ACS-64, built by Siemens Industry, Inc. This request is made in accordance with the provisions prescribed in 49 CFR 229.209. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2012-0036.

The alternative design incorporates crash energy management features, detailed in the petition and attachments, in lieu of collision and corner posts as required by 49 CFR 229.205. Amtrak states that the performance of this design is equivalent to that obtained through traditional structural requirements. Further, Amtrak states that the design will fully comply with the requirements of Appendix F to 49 CFR part 238.

A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications concerning the petition, is available for review online at http://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 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 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 by July 20, 2012 will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be considered as far as practicable.

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), or online at http://www.dot.gov/​privacy.html.

Issued in Washington, DC, on May 10, 2012.

Ron Hynes,

Acting Deputy Associate Administrator for Regulatory and Legislative Operations.