[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 9, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 51362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25224]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

49 CFR Parts 209, 234, and 236

[Docket No. FRA-2001-10160]
RIN 2130-AA94


Standards for Development and Use of Processor-Based Signal and 
Train Control Systems

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: By notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published on August 
10, 2001 (66 FR 42352) FRA proposed new regulations governing the 
development and use of processor-based signal and train control 
systems. In that notice, FRA established a deadline for the submission 
of written comments of October 9, 2001. Due to the need to ensure that 
all interested parties have a sufficient amount of time to fully 
develop their comments and because several requests for additional time 
to submit written comments have been received by FRA, this document 
announces an extension of the deadline for the submission of written 
comments.

DATES: Written comments must be received by November 8, 2001. Comments 
received after that date will be considered to the extent possible 
without incurring additional expenses or delay.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the Docket Clerk, Docket 
Management System, U.S. Department of Transportation Room PL 401, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. If you wish to receive 
confirmation of receipt of your written comments, please include a 
self-addressed, stamped postcard.
    The docket management system is located on the Plaza level of the 
Nassif Building at the Department of Transportation at the above 
address. You can review public dockets there between the hours of 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. You 
can also review comments on-line at the DOT Docket Management System 
web site at http://dms.dot.gov.
    You may submit comments electronically by accessing the Docket 
Management System web site at http://dms.dot.gov and following the 
instructions for submitting a document electronically.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William H. Goodman, Staff Director, 
Railroad Signal Program, Office of Safety, FRA, 1120 Vermont Avenue, 
NW., Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: 202-493-6325); Grady C. Cothen, 
Jr., Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards, FRA, 1120 
Vermont Avenue, NW., Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: 
202-493-6302); Cynthia B. Walters, Office of Chief Counsel, FRA 1120 
Vermont Avenue, NW., Mail Stop 10, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: 
202-493-6064); or David T. Matsuda, Office of Chief Counsel, FRA, 1120 
Vermont Avenue, NW., Mail Stop 10, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: 
202-493-6046).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Recently, a few interested parties notified 
FRA of the need for additional time in which to prepare their written 
comments. Due to the novelty of this rulemaking, FRA does not wish to 
inhibit the ability of any party to fully develop its comments and 
seeks to provide sufficient time for all interested parties to gather 
necessary information. Therefore, as FRA is inclined to extend the 
period for the submission of written comments for certain interested 
parties, FRA is compelled to provide the same extension to all 
commenters. Consequently, FRA believes it is in the best interest of 
all parties involved to extend the period for the submission of written 
comments in this proceeding to November 8, 2001. It should be noted 
that FRA does not expect anyone to seek any further extension of the 
comment period in this proceeding and will consider comments submitted 
after November 8, 2001, only to the extent possible without causing 
additional expense or delay.
    The proposed rulemaking is based upon a recommendation from the 
Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC). A meeting of the Positive 
Train Control Working Group from this committee is planned for December 
4-6, 2001, in San Antonio, TX. For further information, please see the 
RSAC web site at http://rsac.fra.dot.gov/.

    Issued in Washington, DC on October 2, 2001.
George A. Gavalla,
Associate Administrator for Safety.
[FR Doc. 01-25224 Filed 10-5-01; 8:45 am]
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