# Notice of Petition for Extension of Waiver of Compliance
**AGENCY:**
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation (DOT).
**ACTION:**
Notice.
**SUMMARY:**
This document provides the public notice that the Association of American Railroads (AAR) petitioned FRA for an extension of relief from certain regulations concerning air brake system maintenance intervals.
**DATES:**
FRA must receive comments on the petition by March 16, 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:**
Steven Zuiderveen, Railroad Safety Specialist, FRA Motive Power & Equipment Division, telephone: 202-493-6337, 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 December 19, 2025 AAR petitioned FRA for an extension of 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-2005-21613.
AAR requests extended relief from 49 CFR 229.29, *Air brake system calibration, maintenance, and testing,* applicable to New York Air Brake CCB-1, CCB-2, and CCB-26; Wabtec Railway Electronics EPIC-3102D2 and EPIC-2; and FastBrake electronic air brake systems, for the extension of time intervals for level two and level three locomotive air brake system maintenance. In its petition, AAR states that the waiver should be extended “given its longstanding and successful history” and based on its safety record. AAR notes that FRA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on July 1, 2025 to codify the provisions of this waiver, but AAR is petitioning for extended relief as the final rule has not yet been published. [^1] In addition, AAR requests that FRA grant a unified extension to all AAR member railroads that are currently participating in this waiver.
[^1]*https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/07/01/2025-12168/amendments-to-brake-system-maintenance-and-inspection-requirements.*
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 March 16, 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.