[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 67 (Monday, April 10, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 17328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07012]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2015-0004]


Notice of Application for Approval of Discontinuance or 
Modification of a Railroad Signal System

    Under part 235 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 
and 49 U.S.C. 20502(a), this document provides the public notice that 
on February 10, 2017, CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSX) petitioned the 
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) seeking approval for the 
discontinuance or modification of a signal system. FRA assigned the 
petition Docket Number FRA-2015-0004.
    Applicant: CSX Transportation, Inc., Mr. Jody Cox, Chief Engineer 
Communications & Signals, 500 Water Street, Speed Code J-350, 
Jacksonville, FL 32202.
    On August 10, 2015, FRA granted conditional approval to CSX's block 
signal application under Docket Number FRA-2015-0004, which sought 
approval of the proposed discontinuance of an automatic block signal 
(ABS) system between control point (CP) Mitchell, milepost (MP) OOQ 
256.0 and CP NE Vernia, MP OOQ 314.6, on the Hoosier Subdivision, 
Louisville Division, at Mitchell, IN. The conditions of approval were:
    1. CSX may retire the signal system in place for a time period not 
to exceed 2 years from August 10, 2015.
    2. Traffic levels are to be tracked to identify any change.
    3. Distant approach signals to CP Mitchell and NE Vernia are to be 
installed.
    4. CSX must notify FRA's regional office when the signal system is 
retired in place.
    5. CSX may request permanent discontinuance of the signal system 6 
months prior to the expiration of the 2-year period.
    In the February 10, 2017, letter CSX requests permanent 
discontinuance of the signal system as defined in Condition 5 of FRA's 
August 10, 2015, conditional approval. CSX will comply with Conditions 
3 and 4 upon approval of a permanent discontinuance.
    The reason for the proposed discontinuance is that ABS is no longer 
needed due to traffic level reductions. The subdivision is being used 
for storage only. The Hoosier Subdivision has been out of service since 
the Surface Transportation Board approved the discontinuance of 
service, in April 2010. There has been no traffic in 2015 or 2016 over 
this segment. The ABS will be discontinued and replaced with track 
warrant control D-505 rules.
    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 parties 
desire an opportunity for oral comment and a public hearing, 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 May 25, 2017 will be considered by FRA 
before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be 
considered if practicable.
    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 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public to better 
inform its processes. 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 can be reviewed at https://www.transportation.gov/privacy. See also https://www.regulations.gov/privacyNotice for the 
privacy notice of regulations.gov.

Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-07012 Filed 4-7-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P