[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 178 (Friday, September 15, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43449-43450]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-19598]


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 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2010-0073]


Portland & Western Railroad'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 notifies the public that Portland & Western 
Railroad (PNWR) submitted to FRA its Positive Train Control Safety Plan 
(PTCSP) (Version 1.5, dated July 21, 2017) for its Westside Express 
Service and a copy of that PTCSP is available for public review and 
comment. PNWR asks FRA to approve its PTCSP and issue a Positive Train 
Control System Certification for PNWR's Enhanced Automatic Train 
Control (E-ATC), under the appropriate regulations.

DATES: FRA will consider comments received by October 16, 2017, 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-2010-0073 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.

[[Page 43450]]


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, PNWR asserts that its E-ATC 
system is designed as a vital overlay positive train control (PTC) 
system as defined in 49 CFR 236.1015(e)(2). The PTCSP describes PNWR's 
E-ATC implementation and the associated E-ATC safety processes, safety 
analyses, and test, validation, and verification processes used during 
the development of E-ATC. The PTCSP also contains PNWR's operational 
and support requirements and procedures.
    PNWR's PTCSP and the accompanying request for approval and system 
certification are available for review online at http://www.regulations.gov (Docket Number FRA-2010-0073) 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 are invited to 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 PNWR'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 can be reviewed at https://www.transportation.gov/privacy. See https://www.regulations.gov/privacyNotice for the privacy 
notice of regulations.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 8, 2017.
Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-19598 Filed 9-14-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P