Notice of Petition for Extension of Waiver of Compliance

<NOTICE> DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION <SUBAGY>Federal Railroad Administration</SUBAGY> <DEPDOC>[Docket Number FRA-2016-0034]</DEPDOC> <SUBJECT>Notice of Petition for Extension of Waiver of Compliance</SUBJECT> <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD> Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation (DOT). <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD> Notice. <SUM> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD> This document provides the public notice that Portland & Western Railroad, Inc. (PNWR) petitioned FRA for an extension of relief from certain regulations concerning inspection of track with concrete ties. </SUM> <DATES> <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD> FRA must receive comments on the petition by October 24, 2025. FRA will consider comments received after that date to the extent practicable. </DATES> <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD> <E T="03">Comments:</E> Comments related to this docket may be submitted by going to <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov</E> and following the online instructions for submitting comments. <E T="03">Instructions:</E> All submissions must include the agency name and docket number. All comments received will be posted without change to <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov;</E> this includes any personal information. Please see the Privacy Act heading in the <E T="02">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION</E> section of this document for Privacy Act information related to any submitted comments or materials. <E T="03">Docket:</E> For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov</E> and follow the online instructions for accessing the docket. <FURINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD> Daniel Baker, Railroad Safety Specialist, FRA Operating Practices Division, telephone: 202-308-1440, email: <E T="03">daniel.baker@dot.gov</E> . </FURINF> <SUPLINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD> Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this document provides the public notice that by letter dated August 7, 2025 PNWR petitioned FRA for an extension of a waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR part 213 (Track Safety Standards). FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2016-0034. PNWR requests extended relief from 49 CFR 213.234, <E T="03">Automated inspection of track constructed with concrete crossties,</E> which requires railroads to conduct automated inspections to identify rail set deterioration. In lieu of the regulation's requirements, PNWR seeks to continue the practices of the current waiver, including annual training to employees on identifying the signs of and handling rail seat deterioration; bi-annual on-foot track inspections; and annual light and heavy hi-rail geometry vehicle inspections. PNWR requests to continue using this relief on 20.3 miles of track constructed with concrete ties on the Oregon Electric subdivision on which DMU commuter trains operate. A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications concerning the petition, is available for review online at <E T="03">www.regulations.gov</E> . 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 October 24, 2025 will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be considered if practicable. <HD SOURCE="HD1">Privacy Act</HD> 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 <E T="03">www.regulations.gov,</E> as described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at <E T="03">https://www.transportation.gov/privacy</E> . See also <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov/privacy-notice</E> for the privacy notice of <E T="03">regulations.gov</E> . <SIG> Issued in Washington, DC. <NAME>John Karl Alexy,</NAME> Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer. </SIG> </SUPLINF> <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2025-18477 Filed 9-23-25; 8:45 am]</FRDOC> </NOTICE>