[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 99 (Wednesday, May 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23975-23977]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10643]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA-2016-0108]
Petition for Waiver of Compliance
Under part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this
document provides public notice that on April 26, 2017, the Union
Pacific Railroad Company (UP) petitioned the Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA) to modify an existing waiver of compliance from
certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations in 49 CFR
part 236. FRA assigned the petition docket number FRA-2016-0108.
UP seeks a modification to its existing waiver from compliance with
cab signal
[[Page 23976]]
system requirements found in 49 CFR 236.566, Locomotive of each train
operating in train stop, train control, or cab signal territory;
equipped. Specifically, UP requests that FRA add more lines to the
waiver. The lines listed in this request are those where UP will
install and operate Positive Train Control (PTC) in lieu of automatic
cab signal (ACS), Automatic Train Control (ATC), or Automatic Train
Stop (ATS) to support its plan for PTC implementation. The list of the
lines is in the table below:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cab signal
Subdivision system From MP From station To MP To station
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blair........................ ATC 326.2 East Missouri 329.5 Missouri
Valley, IA. Valley, IA.
Boone........................ ATC 202.2 Boone, IA....... 326.2 East Missouri
Valley, IA.
Clinton...................... ATC 2.1 Clinton, IA..... 202.2 Boone, IA.
Columbus..................... ACS 39.2 Fremont, NE..... 144.5 East Grand
Island, NE.
Evanston..................... ACS 817.3 Green River, WY. 977.5 Strawberry, UT.
Geneva....................... ATC 0.8 Halsted, IL..... 138.9 Clinton, IA.
Harvard...................... ATS 0.9 Erie, IL........ 63.0 Harvard, IL.
Hiawatha..................... ACS 43.1 Hiawatha, KS.... 143.0 Upland, KS.
Joliet....................... ACS 72.8 Dwight, IL...... 92.5 Pontiac, IL.
Kansas....................... ACS 72.9 Menoken, KS..... 143.0 Upland, KS.
Kearney...................... ACS 144.5 East Grand 282.0 Platte River,
Island, NE. NE.
Kenosha...................... ACS \1\ 30.2 Lake Bluff, IL.. 52.8 Hold Signal 53
(Kenosha), WI.
Kenosha...................... ATS 2.7 CY (Clybourn), 52.8 Hold Signal 53
IL. (Kenosha), WI.
Laramie...................... ACS 510.8 Cheyenne, WY.... 682.8 Rawlins, WY.
Laramie...................... ACS 519.1 Borie, WY....... C519.7 West Speer, WY.
Marysville................... ACS 143.0 Upland, KS...... 146.7 McLaughlin, KS.
Marysville................... ACS 149.0 West Marysville, 288.4 Gibbon, NE.
KS.
North Platte Terminal........ ACS 282.0 Platte River, NE 283.4 Bryan Ave., NE.
North Platte Terminal........ ACS 291.0 Birdwood, NE.... 291.9 Hinman, NE.
Omaha........................ ATC 329.1 Missouri Valley, 348.5 North Council
IA. Bluffs, IA.
Omaha........................ ACS 7.5 Omaha 57th 39.2 Fremont, NE.
Street, NE.
Rawlins...................... ACS 682.8 Rawlins, WY..... 815.1 Green River,
WY.
Sidney....................... ACS 291.9 Hinman, NE...... 509.3 Cheyenne, WY.
South Morrill................ ACS 300.4 O'Fallons, NE... 157.0 Pelton, NE.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In its original petition, UP noted its Positive Train Control
Implementation Plan identifies its ultimate goal of supplanting cab
signals with PTC technology. Justification for relief was provided in
that petition, as well as in supplements to that petition added to the
waiver docket. UP also indicated its intent to petition for relief on
the balance of its cab signal territories, all of which are slated for
the implementation of PTC.
The relief requested would only apply within the UP subdivisions
listed on which a PTC system is installed and operative; the PTC system
is successfully initialized; and a locomotive engineer trained and
qualified in the operation of PTC is present for the operation of the
train with ACS, ATC, or ATS cut out. The PTC system to be utilized is
UP's implementation of the Interoperable Electronic Train Management
System.
If the PTC system fails and/or is cut-out en route as a result of
same, the train crew will cut-in the ACS, ATC, or ATS onboard system,
perform a departure test, and if successful, continue the trip under
ACS, ATC, or ATS operation. If the ACS, ATC, or ATS onboard system cut-
in and/or departure tests are not completed successfully, the train
will continue to operate under the provisions of 49 CFR 236.567,
Restrictions imposed when device fails and/or is cut out en route.
UP notes that the ACS, ATC, or ATS and PTC systems are not
integrated on the locomotive and its concurrent use would be
potentially confusing and distracting to the train crew due to
differences in the content of its displays, audible and visual alerts
provided, and required acknowledgement protocols.
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 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 parties
desire 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 June 23, 2017 will be considered by FRA
before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be
considered if practicable.
Anyone can 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 document, if
submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). In
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public
to better 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
[[Page 23977]]
https://www.transportation.gov/privacy. See also https://www.regulations.gov/privacyNotice for the privacy notice of
regulations.gov.
Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-10643 Filed 5-23-17; 8:45 am]
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