[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 13, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40126-40127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-17228]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2013-0081]


Petition for Special Approval

    Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this 
document provides the public notice that on June 6, 2019, the 
Association of American Railroads (AAR) petitioned the Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA) for a special approval of certain industry 
standards in accordance with the Federal railroad safety regulations 
contained at 49 CFR 231.33, Procedure for special approval of existing 
industry safety appliance standards, and 49 CFR 231.35, Procedure for 
modification of an approved industry safety appliance standard for new 
railcar construction. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2013-
0081.
    AAR, on behalf of itself and its member railroads, submitted a 
petition for special approval of existing industry safety appliance 
standards contained in 49 CFR part 231, and minor edits to AAR Standard 
S-2044 and its appendices that have been previously approved by FRA. 
Specifically, AAR requests approval of the standards and specifications 
delineated in AAR Standard S-2044, Appendices E3, Safety Appliances for 
Tank Cars with Side Ladders and Low Side-Mounted Hand Brakes, and E4, 
Safety Appliances for Tank Cars with End Ladders and Low Side-Mounted 
Handbrakes. Appendices E3 and E4 were not included in the version of 
AAR Standard S-2044 approved September 26, 2018, and are entirely new. 
Additionally, AAR seeks approval of minor edits to previously-approved 
S-2044 and its appendices, as shown in Attachment 2 to the petition. 
AAR S-2044 and its appendices have been developed to serve as 
requirements for safety appliance arrangements. The revised standard 
and its appendices are to be applied to new railroad freight cars, if 
approved by FRA.
    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 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 about 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:
     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 27, 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

[[Page 40127]]

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. 2019-17228 Filed 8-12-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


