[Federal Register: April 22, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 77)] [Notices] [Page 19854-19855] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr22ap99-131] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [FRA Docket No. FRA-1999-5103; Old Docket No. RST-93-3] Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Co.; Petition for an Extension and Modification of a Waiver of Compliance with Certain Provisions of 49 CFR 213.113(a)(2), Notes C and D In accordance with 49 CFR 211.41, notice is hereby given that The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF) has petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) under date of December 2, 1998, for extension and modification of a waiver of compliance with certain requirements of Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 213: Track Safety Standards. This proceeding [[Page 19855]] was previously identified with FRA Docket Number RST-93-3. The present waiver was granted by FRA to BNSF in August 1990 to permit the use on certain BNSF tracks of a device known as a Bulldog Clamp. The purpose of the device is to provide additional security between detection and removal of certain types of transverse defects internal to a rail head. The device achieves this purpose by functioning as a boltless track joint centered on a rail at the location of a flaw and being attached to the rail by two ``C'' clamps. It is claimed that avoidance of bolting the joint saves times, but more important, eliminates drilled bolt holes in the rail web which can serve later as sources of equally unwanted defects of a different type. FRA has granted extensions to that original waiver up to the present time. BNSF specifically requests of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) that the subject waiver be extended for an indefinite period unless modified or revoked by FRA, that BNSF be relieved from monthly reporting as presently required in the terms of the waiver, and that the waiver be made applicable on additional tracks owned by BNSF beyond the ten line segments presently encompassed in the waiver. 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 be identified with docket number FRA-1999-5103 and must be submitted to the Docket Clerk, DOT Central Docket Management Facility, Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-0001. Communications received within 30 days of publication of this notice will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be considered as far as practicable. All written communications concerning these proceedings are available for examination during regular business hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at DOT Central Docket Management Facility, Room PL- 401 (Plaza Level), 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC. All documents in the public docket are also available for inspection and copying on the Internet at the docket facility's Web site at http://dms.dot.gov. Issued in Washington, DC on April 7, 1999. Edward R. English, Director, Office of Safety Assurance and Compliance. [FR Doc. 99-10047 Filed 4-21-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-06-M