[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 183 (Monday, September 21, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 59371]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20752]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2018-0091]


Program Modification Approval: BNSF Railway Company

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

ACTION: Notice of approval of modification.

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SUMMARY: FRA is issuing this notice to explain its rationale for 
granting a modification to the previously-approved BNSF Railway Company 
(BNSF) Test Program designed to test track inspection technologies 
(i.e., an autonomous track geometry measurement system) and new 
operational approaches to track inspections. The previously-approved 
Test Program included a limited, temporary suspension of a substantive 
FRA rule that is necessary to facilitate the conduct of the Test 
Program.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yu-Jiang Zhang, Staff Director, Track 
and Structures Division, Office of Railroad Safety, FRA, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, telephone (202) 493-6460 or 
email [email protected]; Aaron Moore, Attorney, Office of Chief 
Counsel, FRA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, 
telephone (202) 493-7009 or email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 26, 2018, FRA approved BNSF's 
Test Program and, subject to certain conditions designed to ensure 
safety, suspended the requirements of 49 CFR 213.233(c) as necessary to 
carry out the Test Program. For more information about the previously-
approved Test Program, please see docket number FRA-2018-0091 at 
www.regulations.gov.
    On August 19, 2020, BNSF petitioned FRA to modify Phase IV of the 
BNSF Test Program to reduce the required automated inspections from 
twice monthly to ``varying intervals up to a maximum of four weeks 
between inspections.'' No other revisions were requested.
    After review and analysis of BNSF's request, FRA approved BNSF's 
request and modified the Test Program to create a new Phase V. A copy 
of FRA's letter approving BNSF's request is available in docket number 
FRA-2018-0091 at www.regulations.gov. FRA's letter approving BNSF's 
request states that all Phase IV metrics and requirements will apply to 
Phase V. BNSF must also continue to meet the conditions outlined in 
FRA's September 26, 2018, and October 24, 2018 letters, available in 
docket number FRA-2018-0091 at www.regulations.gov, and notify FRA of 
the proposed start date of Phase V.
    As explained in its approval letter, FRA finds, considering the 
data received from the Test Program so far, the addition of Phase V is 
necessary for FRA to further evaluate potential optimal combinations of 
visual and automated inspections.

John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-20752 Filed 9-18-20; 8:45 am]
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