Petition for Waiver of Compliance

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[FRA Docket No. H-92-3]

Petition for Waiver of Compliance

In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations

(CFR), notice is hereby given that the Federal Railroad Administration

(FRA) received a request for an extension of a waiver of compliance

with certain provisions of its safety standards. The individual

petition is described below, including the party seeking relief, the

regulatory provisions involved, and the nature of the relief being

requested.

Westinghouse Air Brake Company

[Waiver Petition Docket Number H-92-3]

In 1992, the Westinghouse Air Brake Company (WABCO) was granted a

waiver for their EPIC microprocessor-based locomotive braking

equipment. Specifically, the waiver excludes 1000 locomotives equipped

with EPIC braking equipment from the requirements of 49 CFR 229.29 by

extending the required time interval for cleaning, testing, and

inspecting locomotive air brake valves from 736 calendar days to five

years. WABCO requests that the waiver condition which limits the number

of locomotives permitted to be equipped with EPIC microprocessor-based

braking equipment, be adjusted to include all locomotives in the United

States that are equipped with EPIC 3102 and EPIC II electronic brake

equipment. The EPIC 3101 series electronic brake equipment is not

included in this request.

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 (e.g., Waiver Petition Docket Number H-92-3)

and must be submitted in triplicate to the Docket Clerk, Office of

Chief Counsel, FRA, Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, S.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20590. Communications received within 45 days of the

date 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.--5

p.m.) at FRA's temporary docket room located at 1120 Vermont Avenue,

N.W., Room 7051, Washington, D.C. 20005.

Issued in Washington, D.C. on January 8, 1997.

Phil Olekszyk,

Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Compliance and Program

Implementation.

[FR Doc. 97-959 Filed 1-14-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-06-P