[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 63 (Monday, April 5, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17667-17668]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-06950]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2008-0166]


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this 
document provides the public notice that on February 25, 2021, Union 
Pacific Railroad Company (UPRR) petitioned the Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA) for an extension of a waiver of compliance from 
certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations contained 
at 49 CFR part 218, Railroad Operating Practices. FRA assigned the 
petition Docket Number FRA-2008-0166.
    Specifically, UPRR seeks continued relief from blue signal 
requirements as prescribed in 49 CFR 218.25, Workers on a main track, 
on five specific track locations in Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas 
City, Missouri. The subject tracks are in the middle of the Kansas City 
facilities and are used for functions normally performed on yard 
tracks, including fueling, locomotive inspections, and adding or 
removing power from trains. This request is for the following track 
locations:
     Main 1 and Main 2, between Manchester and Troost (MP 
MX279-MX281);
     Main 1 and Main 2 at 18th St., between MP KX004 and KX006; 
and
     Main line at 10th St., between MP KX287 and KX289.
    UP requests flexibility to treat these main tracks at the Kansas 
City facilities as other-than-main-tracks, so it can have the option of 
protecting its employees working on, under, or between rolling 
equipment in accordance with 49 CFR 218.25, Workers on a main track, or 
49 CFR 218.27, Workers on track other

[[Page 17668]]

than main track, or a combination of both regulations.
    UP states that the safest and most efficient method of protecting 
its employees in the Kansas City facilities is by a combination of blue 
signal protection and remotely-controlled switches. UP explains that it 
has operated under the requirements of this waiver since 2009 without 
any adverse effects on safety of operations.
    A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications 
concerning the petition, is available for review online at 
www.regulations.gov.
    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 (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, W12-140, Washington, DC 
20590.
     Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Room W12-140, 
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal Holidays.
    Communications received by May 20, 2021 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.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-06950 Filed 4-2-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


