[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 139 (Wednesday, July 22, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 36152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-17391]
[[Page 36152]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
49 CFR Parts 229, 234, 235, and 236
[Docket No. FRA-2008-0132, Notice No. 2]
RIN 2130-AC03
Positive Train Control Systems
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of public hearing.
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SUMMARY: By notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published on July 21,
2009 ([CITE]), FRA proposed regulations implementing a requirement of
the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 that certain passenger and
freight railroads install positive train control systems. The proposal
includes required functionalities of the technology and the means by
which it would be certified. The proposal also describes the contents
of the positive train control implementation plans required by the
statute and contains the proposed process for submission of those plans
for review and approval by FRA. These proposed regulations could also
be voluntarily complied with by entities not mandated to install
positive train control systems. This document announces a public
hearing being conducted in connection with this proceeding.
DATES: A public hearing will be held on August 13, 2009, from 9 a.m. to
6 p.m. at the location listed below to provide interested parties the
opportunity to comment on the proposals contained in the NPRM.
ADDRESSES: (1) Public Hearing. A public hearing to provide interested
parties the opportunity to comment on the proposals contained in the
NPRM will be held at the Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 Thomas Circle, NW.,
Washington, DC 20005.
(2) Docket Clerk. Written notification of a party's intent to
provide oral testimony at the public hearing should identify the docket
number and should be submitted to the FRA Docket Clerk, Office of Chief
Counsel, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE.,
RCC-10, Stop 10, Washington, DC 20590 or fax to (202) 493-6068.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas McFarlin, Office of Safety
Assurance and Compliance, Staff Director, Signal & Train Control
Division, Federal Railroad Administration, Mail Stop 25, West Building
3rd Floor West, Room W35-332, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington,
DC 20590 (telephone: 202-493-6203); or Jason Schlosberg, Trial
Attorney, Office of Chief Counsel, RCC-10, Mail Stop 10, West Building
3rd Floor, Room W31-217, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC
20590 (telephone: 202-493-6032).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested parties are invited to present
oral statements and proffer information and views at the hearing. The
hearing will be informal and will be conducted by a representative
designated by FRA in accordance with FRA's Rules of Practice (49 CFR
211.25). The hearing will be non-adversarial proceedings; therefore,
there will be no cross examination of persons presenting statements or
proffering evidence. An FRA representative will make an opening
statement outlining the scope of the hearing. After all initial
statements have been completed, those persons wishing to make a brief
rebuttal will be given the opportunity to do so in the same order in
which the initial statements were made. Additional procedures, as
necessary for the conduct of the hearing, will be announced at the
hearing. The purpose of the hearing is to receive oral comments
regarding the specific provisions contained in the proposed rule. A
transcript of the discussions will be made part of the public docket in
this proceeding.
Public Participation Procedures. Any person wishing to participate
in the public hearing should notify the Docket Clerk by mail or at the
address or fax number provided in the ADDRESSES section at least five
working days prior to the date of the hearing and submit three copies
of the oral statement that he or she intends to make at the proceeding.
The notification should identify the party the person represents, the
particular subject(s) the person plans to address, and the time
requested. The notification should also provide the Docket Clerk with
the participant's mailing address and other contact information. FRA
reserves the right to limit participation in the hearings of persons
who fail to provide such notification. FRA reserves the right to limit
the duration of presentations if necessary to afford all persons with
the opportunity to speak.
Issued in Washington, DC, on July 17, 2009.
Jo Strang,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety/Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-17391 Filed 7-21-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P