[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 210 (Monday, October 31, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 75478]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26146]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2010-0060]


Norfolk Southern Railway Company's Request for Positive Train 
Control Safety Plan Approval and System Certification

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), U.S. Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This document provides the public with notice that on August 
12, 2016 Norfolk Southern Railway Company (NS) submitted to FRA its 
Positive Train Control Safety Plan (PTCSP) Version 1.0, dated August 
12, 2016, on FRA's Secure Information Repository (SIR) site. NS asks 
FRA to approve its PTCSP and issue a Positive Train Control System 
Certification for NS's Interoperable Electronic Train Management System 
(I-ETMS), under 49 CFR part 236, subpart I.

DATES: FRA will consider communications received by November 30, 2016 
before taking final action on the PTCSP. FRA may consider comments 
received after that date if practicable.

ADDRESSES: All communications concerning this proceeding should 
identify Docket Number FRA 2010-0060 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 (DOT), 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Mark Hartong, Senior Scientific 
Technical Advisor, at (202) 493-1332 or [email protected]; or Mr. 
David Blackmore, Staff Director, Positive Train Control Division, at 
(312) 835-3903 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In its PTCSP, NS states the I-ETMS system it 
is implementing is designed as a vital overlay PTC system as defined in 
49 CFR 236.1015(e)(2). The PTCSP describes NS's I-ETMS implementation 
and the associated I-ETMS safety processes, safety analyses, and test, 
validation, and verification processes used during the development of 
I-ETMS. The PTCSP also contains NS's operational and support 
requirements and procedures.
    NS's PTCSP and the accompanying request for approval and system 
certification are available for review online at www.regulations.gov 
(Docket Number FRA-2010-0060) and in person at DOT's 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 may comment on the PTCSP by submitting written 
comments or data. During its review of the PTCSP, FRA will consider any 
comments or data submitted. However, FRA may elect not to respond to 
any particular comment and, under 49 CFR 236.1009(d)(3), FRA maintains 
the authority to approve or disapprove the PTCSP at its sole 
discretion. FRA does not anticipate scheduling a public hearing 
regarding NS's PTCSP because the circumstances do not appear to warrant 
a hearing. If any interested party desires an opportunity for oral 
comment, the party should notify FRA in writing before the end of the 
comment period and specify the basis for his or her request.

Privacy Act Notice

    Anyone can 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.). 
Under 49 CFR 211.3, FRA solicits comments from the public to better 
inform its decisions. DOT posts these comments, without edit, including 
any personal information the commenter provides, to 
www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/
ALL-14 FDMS), which you can review at www.dot.gov/privacy. See https://www.regulations.gov/privacyNotice for the privacy notice of 
regulations.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 25, 2016.
Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-26146 Filed 10-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P