[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 101 (Thursday, May 25, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 33858-33859]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11188]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

49 CFR Parts 216, 231, and 238

[Docket No. FRA-2021-0067, Notice No. 2]
RIN 2130-AC90


Passenger Equipment Safety Standards; Standards for High-Speed 
Trainsets; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); extension of comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: On April 3, 2023, FRA published an NPRM proposing to

[[Page 33859]]

amend its Passenger Equipment Safety Standards to modernize Tier I and 
Tier III safety appliance requirements; update the pre-revenue 
compliance documentation and testing requirements; establish 
crashworthiness requirements for individual Tier I-compliant vehicles 
equipped with crash energy management; establish standards for Tier III 
inspection, testing, and maintenance and movement of defective 
equipment; incorporate general safety requirements from FRA's Railroad 
Locomotive Safety Standards for Tier III trainsets; and provide for 
periodic inspection of emergency lighting to ensure proper functioning. 
By this notice, FRA is extending the NPRM's comment period, which will 
close on June 2, 2023, by 60 days.

DATES: The comment period for the NPRM published April 3, 2023, at 88 
FR 19730, is extended until August 1, 2023.

ADDRESSES: 
    Comments: Comments related to Docket No. FRA-2021-0067, Notice No. 
1, may be submitted by going to https://www.regulations.gov and 
following the online instructions for submitting comments.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name, docket 
name, and docket number or Regulatory Identification Number (RIN) for 
this rulemaking (2130-AC90). Note that all comments received will be 
posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any 
personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading in 
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document for Privacy Act 
information related to any submitted comments or materials.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to https://www.regulations.gov and follow the 
online instructions for accessing the docket.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Hunter, Executive Staff 
Director, Office of Railroad Systems and Technology, telephone: (202) 
579-5508 or email: [email protected]; or James Mecone, Attorney 
Adviser, Office of the Chief Counsel, telephone: (202) 380-5324 or 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a May 11, 2023, letter, the American 
Public Transportation Association (APTA) requested a 120-day extension 
of the NPRM's comment period.\1\ APTA stated it needs additional time 
to thoroughly review the NPRM and review and consolidate comments on 
the NPRM from its members and affiliates.
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    \1\ 88 FR 19730 (Apr. 3, 2023).
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    The comment period for this NPRM is scheduled to close on June 2, 
2023. As FRA is granting an extension in response to APTA's request, 
the comment period is now extended to August 1, 2023, which is a total 
of 60 days. Although APTA requested a 120-day extension, FRA believes 
that a 60-day extension will provide sufficient time for APTA and other 
interested parties to review the NPRM.

Privacy Act

    In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the 
public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts these 
comments, without edit, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the 
system of records notice, DOT/ALL-14 FDMS, accessible through 
www.dot.gov/privacy. To facilitate comment tracking and response, we 
encourage commenters to provide their name, or the name of their 
organization; however, submission of names is completely optional. 
Whether or not commenters identify themselves, all timely comments will 
be fully considered. If you wish to provide comments containing 
proprietary or confidential information, please contact the agency for 
alternate submission instructions.

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 20103, 20107, 20133, 20141, 20302-20303, 
20306, 20701-20702, 21301-21302, 21304; 28 U.S.C. 2461, note; and 49 
CFR 1.89.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
Amitabha Bose,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2023-11188 Filed 5-24-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


