[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 243 (Monday, December 21, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67950-67951]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-30279]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR), notice is hereby given that the Federal Railroad Administration 
(FRA) has received a request for a waiver of compliance from certain 
requirements of its safety standards. The individual petition is 
described below, including the party seeking relief, the regulatory 
provisions involved, the nature of the relief being requested, and the 
petitioner's arguments in favor of relief from the requirements of 
Title 49 CFR part 236, as detailed below.

Union Pacific Railroad Company

[Docket Number FRA-2009-0116]

    The Union Pacific Railroad seeks relief from the requirements of 
the Rules, Standards and Instructions, Title 49 CFR Part 236, Section 
236.377 Approach Locking, 236.378 Time Locking, 236.379 Route Locking, 
236.380 Indication Locking and 236.381 Traffic Locking, regarding 
performance of locking test at intervals not to exceed 2 years, on 
processor-based systems to the extent that only the following be 
required every 4 years after initial testing or program change:

--Verification of the Cyclic Redundancy Check/Check Sum/Universal 
Control Number of the existing location specific application logic to 
the previously tested version (baseline testing).
--Testing the appropriate interconnection to signaling hardware and 
equipment outside of the processor (switch indication, track circuits 
and indications, searchlight

[[Page 67951]]

and color-light signal indications, approach locking (if external) to 
verify correct and intended inputs and outputs from the processor are 
maintained.

Alternative locking test descriptions and procedures would be 
documented in Carriers Signal Maintenance Standards.
    Applicant's justification for relief: The 2-year testing interval 
at microprocessor controlled signal locations places an unnecessary 
burden on the carrier and provides no real safety benefit as the 
application program logic once installed does not change.
    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 (e.g., Waiver Petition Docket Number FRA-
2009-0116) 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 within 45 days of the date of this notice 
will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments 
received after that date will be considered as far as practicable. All 
written communications concerning these proceedings are available for 
examination during regular business hours (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) at the above 
facility. All documents in the public docket are also available for 
inspection and copying on the Internet at the docket facility's Web 
site at http://www.regulations.gov.
    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 document (or signing the 
document, 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 (65 FR 19477) or at 
http://www.dot.gov/privacy.html.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 16, 2009.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program 
Development.
[FR Doc. E9-30279 Filed 12-18-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P