[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 125 (Monday, June 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36862-36863]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-15232]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Notice of Application for Approval of Railroad Safety Program
Plans and Product Safety Plans
In accordance with Part 236 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations
and 49 U.S.C. 20502(a), this document provides the public notice that
by documents dated March 31, 2014, the railroads listed below have
petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for approval of
their Railroad Safety Program Plans (RSPP) and Product Safety Plans
(PSP) for the Railsoft TrackAccess system. FRA assigned the petitions
the following docket numbers:
Kettle Falls International Railway: FRA-2014-0049.
Georgia & Florida Railway: FRA-2014-0050.
Nebraska, Kansas & Colorado Railway: FRA-2014-0052.
Panhandle Northern Railroad: FRA-2014-0053.
Illinois Railway: FRA-2014-0051.
TrackAccess is a processor-based dispatch system developed for
operation in autonomous mode (without dispatcher intervention) for low-
density rail lines. The system provides a processor-based methodology
of requesting and issuing track authority to either qualified train
crewmembers or roadway workers. It does so while increasing railroad
productivity and significantly improving the safety of train
operations, roadway workers, and other railway equipment.
FRA is providing public notice that the railroads' RSPPs and
related documents have been placed in the dockets listed above and are
available for public inspection. FRA is not accepting public comment on
the RSPP documents; notice regarding these documents is provided for
information only.
FRA is accepting comments on the PSPs for each railroad, which are
posted in the dockets listed above for public inspection. The railroads
assert that their RSPPs and PSPs contain the same information and
analysis as the Alabama & Tennessee River Railway's (ATN) RSPP Revision
1, dated February 16, 2009, and the ATN PSP Revision 1, dated March 15,
2012. The ATN RSPP Revision 1 and the ATN PSP Revision 1 were
previously approved by FRA on January 28, 2014 (Docket FRA-2013-0088).
The PSPs provide descriptions of the TrackAccess system. The
railroads state that in the case of ATN, FRA found that the PSP
demonstrates that TrackAccess was designed in a highly safe manner and
was sufficiently tested to verify that fact. FRA approved the use of
TrackAccess in autonomous mode for ATN. The railroads assert that since
their RSPPs and PSPs contain the same programmatic and technical
information as the FRA-approved ATN RSPP Revision 1 and PSP Revision 1,
including autonomous TrackAccess operations, these railroads should
also be allowed to use TrackAccess in an autonomous mode.
Copies of the petitions, as well as any written communications
concerning the petitions, are 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 August 14, 2014 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
[[Page 36863]]
communications and comments received into any of our 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.).
See http://www.regulations.gov/#!privacyNotice for the privacy notice
of regulations.gov or interested parties may review DOT's complete
Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11,
2000 (65 FR 19477).
Issued in Washington, DC, on June 20, 2014.
Ron Hynes,
Director, Office of Safety Assurance and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2014-15232 Filed 6-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P