[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 4 (Monday, January 7, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 979-980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-00095]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA-2010-0056]
Petition for Positive Train Control Safety Plan Approval and
System Certification of the Electronic Train Management System
In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR), this document provides the public notice that by a document
dated November 5, 2012, BNSF Railway (BNSF) has petitioned the Federal
Railroad Administration (FRA) for Positive Train Control (PTC) Safety
Plan (PTCSP) approval and system certification of the Electronic Train
Management System (ETMS) as required by 49 U.S.C. 20157(h) and in
accordance with 49 CFR 236.1015(a). FRA assigned the petition Docket
Number FRA-2010-0056.
Applicant: Mr. David J. Galassi, Assistant Vice President-Network
Control Systems, BNSF Railway, P.O. Box 961034, Fort Worth, TX 76161.
BNSF seeks PTCSP approval and system certification of ETMS Version
7.0, for use over the entire BNSF railroad network. ETMS Version 7.0 is
a non-vital processor-based train control system safety overlay
designed to protect against the consequences of train-to-train
collisions, enforce compliance with civil and temporary speed limits,
provide for the safety of
[[Page 980]]
roadway workers operating within the limits of their authority, and to
protect against the movement of trains through switches not properly
lined for the intended movement.
ETMS Version 7.0 is the technical successor to earlier versions of
ETMS, approved by FRA under the provisions of 49 CFR Part 236, Subpart
H-Standards for Processor-Based Signal and Train Control Systems
(Docket Number FRA-2006-23687). BNSF asserts that the PTCSP contains
the information required by 49 CFR 236.1015(d) and that the PTCSP:
1. Demonstrates that ETMS Version 7.0 reliably executes the
functions set forth in 49 CFR 236.1005.
2. Demonstrates that the use of ETMS Version 7.0 obtains at least
an 80-percent reduction of the risk associated with accidents
preventable by the functions set forth in 49 CFR 236.1005, when all
effects of the change associated with the PTC system are taken into
account.
BNSF believes that approval and certification of ETMS Version 7.0
will enhance railroad safety by allowing the deployment and use in
revenue service of ETMS to prevent or mitigate the consequences of a
loss of situational awareness by train crews, or other conditions, that
could otherwise result in catastrophic consequences to the train crew
and the general public.
A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications
concerning the petition, is available for review online at
www.regulations.gov and in person at the U.S. Department of
Transportation's (DOT) Docket Operations Facility, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., W12-140, Washington, DC 20590. The Docket Operations
Facility is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal Holidays.
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, they should notify FRA, in
writing, before the end of the comment period and specify the basis for
their request.
All communications concerning these proceedings should identify the
appropriate docket number and may be submitted by any of the following
methods:
Web site: http://www.regulations.gov/. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: Docket Operations Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., W12-140, Washington, DC
20590.
Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Room W12-140,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal Holidays.
Communications received by February 6, 2013 will be considered by
FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date
will be considered as far as practicable.
Anyone is able to search the electronic form of any written
communications and comments received into any of our dockets by the
name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment,
if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.).
You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal
Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages
19477-78), or online at http://www.dot.gov/privacy.html.
Issued in Washington, DC, on January 2, 2013.
Robert C. Lauby,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Regulatory and Legislative
Operations.
[FR Doc. 2013-00095 Filed 1-4-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P