[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 188 (Friday, September 27, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59754-59755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23574]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2013-0088]


Notice of Application for Approval of Railroad Safety Program 
Plan and Product Safety Plan

    In accordance with Part 236 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations 
and 49 U.S.C. 20502(a), this document provides the public notice that 
by a document dated May 26, 2013, the Alabama and Tennessee River 
Railway (ATN) petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for 
approval of a Railroad Safety Program Plan (RSPP) and Product Safety 
Plan (PSP) for the Railsoft TrackAccess System. FRA assigned the 
petition Docket Number FRA-2013-0088.
    The TrackAccess System is a processor-based dispatch system 
developed to be operated in autonomous mode (without dispatcher 
intervention) for low-density rail lines. The system provides a 
processor-based methodology of requesting and issuing track authority 
to either qualified train crewmembers or roadway workers. It does so 
while increasing railroad productivity and significantly improving the 
safety of train operations, roadway workers, and other railway 
equipment. FRA is providing public notice that the ATN RSPP Version 1, 
dated April 12, 2013, and related documents have been placed in Docket 
Number FRA-2013-0088 and are available for public inspection. FRA is 
not accepting public comment on the RSPP documents; notice regarding 
these documents is provided for information only.
    FRA is accepting comments on the ATN PSP Version 1, dated July, 15, 
2013, which is available in Docket Number FRA-2013-0088 for public 
inspection. The ATN asserts that the ATN RSPP Version 1, dated April 
12, 2013, and the ATN PSP Version 1, dated July 15, 2013, contain the 
same information and analysis as the Marquette Rail RSPP Version 3.0, 
dated February 16, 2009, and the Marquette Rail PSP Version 4.0, dated 
March 15, 2012. The Marquette Rail RSPP Version 3.0 and the Marquette 
Rail PSP Version

[[Page 59755]]

4.0 were previously approved by FRA on the respective dates of May 15, 
2009 (Docket FRA-2009-0017), and February 9, 2013 (Docket FRA-2011-
0055).
    ATN's PSP provides descriptions of the TrackAccess System itself. 
ATN states that in the case of Marquette Rail, FRA found that the PSP 
demonstrates that the TrackAccess System was designed in a highly safe 
manner and was sufficiently tested to verify that fact. Based on this, 
FRA approved the use of the Railsoft TrackAccess System in autonomous 
mode for the Marquette Rail. ATN asserts that since ATN's RSPP Version 
1.0 and PSP Version 1.0 contain the same programmatic and technical 
information as the previously approved Marquette Rail RSPP Version 3.0 
and the Marquette Rail PSP Version 4.0, authorizing autonomous 
TrackAccess operations, the ATN should also be allowed to use 
TrackAccess in an autonomous mode.
    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 U.S. 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 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: 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 November 12, 2013 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 document, 
if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
See http://www.regulations.gov/#!privacyNotice for the privacy notice 
of regulations.gov or interested parties may review DOT's complete 
Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 
2000 (65 FR 19477).

Robert C. Lauby,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Regulatory and Legislative 
Operations.
[FR Doc. 2013-23574 Filed 9-26-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P