[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 180 (Friday, September 16, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 57796]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-23840]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2011-0052]


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR), this document provides the public notice that by a 
document dated August 25, 2011, Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) has 
submitted information to amend and clarify the scope of a June 14, 
2011, petition to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a 
waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal railroad 
safety regulations contained at 49 CFR part 236. FRA had assigned the 
petition Docket Number FRA-2011-0052 as published in Federal Register 
(Ref. Volume 76, No. 135, Thursday, July 14, 2011, Page 41556).
    NS seeks a waiver of compliance from the cab signal system 
requirements found in 49 CFR 236.566, Locomotive of each train 
operating in train stop, train control, or cab signal territory; 
equipped. Specifically, NS seeks relief to operate nonequipped engines 
used in switching and transfer service, with or without cars such as 
work trains, wreck trains, ballast cleaners to and from work, and 
engines and rail diesel cars moving to and from shops, in the following 
locations with all movements at restricted speeds not exceeding 15 mph.
    1. Operations on the Pittsburgh Line, Harrisburg Division, from CP 
Cannon at MP-PT 118.9 near Duncannon, PA, to CP Harrisburg at MP-PT 
105.1 near Harrisburg, PA.
    2. Operations on the Pittsburgh Line, Pittsburgh Division, from CP 
Cannon at MP-PT 118.9 near Duncannon, PA, to CP Solomon at MP-PT 352.5 
near Pittsburgh, PA, with an absolute block to be established in 
advance of each movement of foreign trains and engines between CP Bloom 
at MP-PT 351.6 near Pittsburgh, PA, and CP Solomon.
    3. Operations on the Fort Wayne Line, Pittsburgh Division, from CP 
Rochester at MP-PC 29.5, near East Rochester, PA, to CP Alliance at MP-
PC 83.2., with an absolute block to be established in advance of each 
nonequipped movement.
    4. Operations on the Conemaugh Line, Pittsburgh Division, from CP 
Conpit at MP-LC 0.0, near Bolivar, PA, to CP Kiski at MP-LC 47.8, near 
Freeport, PA, with an absolute block to be established in advance of 
each nonequipped movement.
    NS argues that relief is in the public interest. The waiver of 49 
CFR 236.566 requirements in these areas is important to maintaining 
efficient rail operations in the region. Exemptions have been 
previously granted for the operation of nonequipped locomotives in cab 
signal system territory at nearby locations and the relief requested in 
this application is a consistent extension of those currently granted 
exceptions.
    A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications 
concerning the petition, is available for review online at http://www.regulations.gov and in person at the U.S. Department of 
Transportation's Docket Operations Facility, 1200 New Jersey Ave., 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 October 31, 2011, 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 
communications and comments received into any of our dockets by the 
name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, 
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 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 
19477-78), or online at http://www.dot.gov/privacy.html.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 13, 2011.
Robert C. Lauby,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Regulatory and Legislative 
Operations.
[FR Doc. 2011-23840 Filed 9-15-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P