FRA Notice: RBMN Petition for Waiver on Rail Car Stenciling and Reflectorization

Content

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

This document provides the public notice that Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad (RBMN) petitioned FRA for relief
from certain regulations concerning stenciling and reflectorization of rail cars.

DATES:

FRA must receive comments on the petition by April 6, 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:

Michael Barron, Railroad Safety Specialist, FRA Motive Power & Equipment Division, telephone: 202-493-1367, email: Michael.Barron@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this document provides the public notice that by letters received
July 7, 2025 and January 21, 2026, RBMN petitioned FRA for a special approval pursuant to 49 CFR part 215 (Railroad Freight
Car Safety Standards), and a waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations contained
in part 215, Subpart D (Stenciling) and part 224 (Reflectorization of Rail Freight Rolling Stock). The relevant Docket Number
is FRA-2025-0324.

Specifically, RBMN requests a special approval pursuant to § 215.203, Restricted cars, in this docket for caboose RBMN 478044, which is more than 50 years from the date of original construction. RBMN also seeks
relief from § 215.303, Stenciling of restricted cars, and part 224. In support of its request, RBMN explains that the car has a “sound body” and will not be interchanged with another
railroad.

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 April 6, 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/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. 2026-04367 Filed 3-4-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-06-P

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