[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 148 (Thursday, August 5, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42976-42977]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16741]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2020-0013]


Petition for Approval Extension: CSX Transportation

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

ACTION: Notice of petition for an extension of approval of track 
inspection test program.

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SUMMARY: This document provides the public notice that on July 27, 
2021, CSX Transportation (CSX) petitioned the Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA) to extend an existing temporary suspension of some 
visual track inspections to allow for a continuation of a previously 
approved Test Program designed to test track inspection technologies 
(i.e., an autonomous track geometry measurement system) and new 
operational approaches to track inspections (i.e., combinations of 
autonomous inspection and traditional visual inspections).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yu-Jiang Zhang, Staff Director, Track 
and Structures Division, at (202) 493-6460

[[Page 42977]]

or [email protected]; or Aaron Moore, Attorney, Office of the Chief 
Counsel, at (202) 493-7009 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 3, 2020, FRA conditionally approved 
the Test Program and CSX's petition under 49 CFR 211.51 to suspend 
213.233(c) as applied to operations under the Test Program. A copy of 
the Test Program, FRA's conditional approval of the Test Program, and a 
previously published Federal Register notice explaining FRA's rationale 
for approving the Test Program and related suspension are available for 
review in the docket.\1\
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    \1\ https://www.regulations.gov/document/FRA-2020-0013-0002 
(Test Program); https://www.regulations.gov/document/FRA-2020-0013-0001 (FRA's approval decision); https://www.regulations.gov/document/FRA-2020-0013-0004 (FRA's published notice of approval).
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    As approved, the Test Program included three separate phases over 
18 months as outlined in Exhibit C of the Program.\2\ CSX began the 
Test Program on March 16, 2020, and it is currently set to expire on 
September 15, 2021.
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    \2\ https://www.regulations.gov/document/FRA-2020-0013-0002.
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    CSX is requesting to extend the Test Program until April 1, 2022. 
CSX states that the Test Program has taken longer than anticipated due 
to delays automating CSX's data analysis and reporting as well as 
complications from the COVID-19 pandemic. In support of its request, 
CSX states that it will continue to comply with all other conditions 
and requirements of FRA's March 3, 2020, approval letter.
    A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications 
concerning the petition, if any, are available for review online at 
www.regulations.gov.
    Interested parties are invited to participate in these proceedings 
by submitting written views, data, or comments.
    All communications concerning these proceedings should identify the 
appropriate docket number and may be submitted by any of the following 
methods:
     Website: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments.
    Communications received by September 7, 2021 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/privacy-notice for the privacy notice of regulations.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-16741 Filed 8-4-21; 8:45 am]
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