2026-17869: Notice of Petition for Waiver of Compliance

Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 168 (Tuesday, September 1, 2026) [Federal Register Volume 91, Number 168 (Tuesday, September 1, 2026)] [Notices] [Pages 56281-56282] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2026-17869] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [Docket Number FRA-2026-1420] Notice of Petition for Waiver of Compliance

Agency

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

Action

Notice. -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Summary

This document provides the public notice that Union Pacific Railroad Company (UPRR) petitioned FRA for relief from certain regulations concerning inspections performed by qualified mechanical inspectors (QMIs).

Dates

FRA must receive comments on the petition by November 2, 2026. FRA will consider comments received after that date to the extent practicable.

Addresses

Comments: Comments related to this docket 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 and docket number. All comments received will be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov; this includes any personal information. 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

Caleb Rogers, Railroad Safety Specialist, FRA Motive Power & Equipment Division, telephone: 202-493- 6322, email: [email protected].

Supplementary Information

Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this document provides the public notice that by letter dated June 9, 2026, UPRR petitioned FRA for a waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR part 229 (Railroad Locomotive Safety Standards). FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2026-1420. Specifically, UPRR seeks relief from Sec. 229.23(b)(2), Periodic inspection: general, related to locomotives equipped with advanced microprocessor-controlled systems. UPRR requests a waiver from the requirement that the daily inspection conducted once every 33 days on a microprocessor-equipped locomotive be performed by a QMI, which, as defined under Sec. 229.5, Definitions, must have a primary responsibility that includes work generally consistent with locomotive troubleshooting, inspection, testing, maintenance, and repair of locomotives. As a result, UPRR proposes to remove the requirement for a QMI to perform the referenced periodic inspection. In support of its request, UPRR states that it has collected data on daily inspections performed by QMIs and non-QMIs and found ``no statistical difference between the quality of daily inspections.'' UPRR explains that the relief ``will improve overall safety by reducing additional walking, getting [on and off] equipment, as well as improving the overall inspection quality by cross[-]training employees in multiple aspects of multiple interconnected mechanical systems.'' A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications concerning the petition, is available for review online at www.regulations.gov. 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 and a public hearing, they should notify FRA, in writing, before the end of the comment period and specify the basis for their request. Communications received by November 2, 2026 will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be considered if practicable. Privacy Act Anyone can search the electronic form of any written communications and comments received into any of FRA's 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.). Under 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public to 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 https://www.transportation.gov/privacy. See also https:/ /www.regulations.gov/ [[Page 56282]] privacy-notice for the privacy notice of regulations.gov. Issued in Washington, DC. John Karl Alexy, Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer. [FR Doc. 2026-17869 Filed 8-31-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-06-P