2024-31065: Federal Railroad Administration's Procedures for Waivers and Safety-Related Proceedings; Withdrawal

Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 250 (Tuesday, December 31, 2024) [Federal Register Volume 89, Number 250 (Tuesday, December 31, 2024)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 107103] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2024-31065] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration 49 CFR Part 211 [Docket No. FRA-2024-0033, Notice No. 3] RIN 2130-AC97 Federal Railroad Administration's Procedures for Waivers and Safety-Related Proceedings; Withdrawal

Agency

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

Action

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); withdrawal. -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Summary

FRA is withdrawing the October 29, 2024, NPRM that proposed to update FRA's procedures for waivers and safety-related proceedings to define the two components of the statutory waiver and suspension standard, ``in the public interest'' and ``consistent with railroad safety.''

Dates

The NPRM published at 89 FR 85895 on October 29, 2024, is withdrawn as of December 31, 2024.

For Further Information Contact

Veronica Chittim, Senior Attorney, Office of the Chief Counsel, at [email protected], 202-480-3410; or Lucinda Henriksen, Senior Advisor, Office of Railroad Safety, at [email protected], 202-657-2842.

Supplementary Information

Background This action withdraws an NPRM published in the Federal Register on October 29, 2024 (89 FR 85895), that proposed to update FRA's procedures for waivers and safety-related proceedings to define the two components of the statutory waiver and suspension standard, ``in the public interest'' and ``consistent with railroad safety.'' The NPRM's comment period is scheduled to close on January 15, 2025. Reason for Withdrawal In light of resource constraints to address the numerous rail safety matters before the agency and because FRA has previously issued guidance on the subject matter covered by the NPRM,\1\ FRA has decided to withdraw the NPRM. FRA may pursue similar regulations in the future and will consider updating the existing guidance. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/guidance-submitting-requests-waivers-block-signal-applications-and-other-approval-requests; 88 FR 1448 (Jan. 10, 2023). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Despite the decision not to move forward with the proposed rule at this time, FRA appreciates and takes seriously the thoughtful perspectives raised by stakeholders concerning the waiver process. FRA will continue engaging with its stakeholders on all rail safety matters. Conclusion The NPRM published in the Federal Register on October 29, 2024 (89 FR 85895), is hereby withdrawn. Authority: 49 U.S.C. 20103, 20107, 20114, 20306, 20502-20504, and 49 CFR 1.89. Issued in Washington, DC. Allison Ishihara Fultz, Chief Counsel. [FR Doc. 2024-31065 Filed 12-30-24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-06-P