
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 247 (Thursday, December 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 80451]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32454]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2015-0131]


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    In accordance with part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR), this document provides the public notice that by a document 
dated September 22, 2015, Keolis Commuter Services (Keolis), contract 
operator of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTX) 
commuter rail system, has petitioned the Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA) for a waiver of compliance from certain provisions 
of the Federal railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR part 
238, Passenger Equipment Safety Standards. FRA assigned the petition 
Docket Number FRA-2015-0131.
    Keolis seeks a temporary waiver of compliance from the requirements 
of 49 CFR 238.115(b)(2) regarding passenger car emergency lighting 
until October 31, 2016. Keolis is seeking this temporary relief because 
70 percent of its rolling stock fleet (233 of 332 coaches encompassing 
series: 200, 300, 500, 600, 700, 1500, 1600, and 1700), ordered prior 
to September 8, 2000, and placed into service prior to September 9, 
2002, will not meet the emergency lighting requirement deadline of 
December 31, 2015. Keolis justifies the need for this deadline because 
of the delay in finding qualified vendors and adding the required labor 
forces to successfully complete this installation. MBTX rolling stock 
fleet was not in compliance with all applicable safety standards. The 
extra time sought in this petition will allow Keolis to finish its 
ongoing program (58 coaches have been upgraded to date) so that 70 
percent of this rolling stock is in compliance.
    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 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: 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 February 8, 2016 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 document, 
if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
In accordance with 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 www.dot.gov/privacy. 
See also http://www.regulations.gov/#!privacyNotice for the privacy 
notice of regulations.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-32454 Filed 12-23-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


