[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 195 (Wednesday, October 13, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 56998]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-22260]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2009-0116]


Petition for Extension of Waiver of Compliance

    Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this 
document provides the public notice that on September 15, 2021, Union 
Pacific Railroad (UP) petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration 
(FRA) for an extension of a waiver of compliance from certain 
provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations contained at 49 
CFR part 236 (Rules, Standards, and Instructions Governing the 
Installation, Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair of Signal and Train 
Control Systems, Devices, and Appliances). The relevant FRA Docket 
Number is FRA-2009-0116.
    Specifically, UP requested an extension of relief from Sec.  
236.377, Approach locking; Sec.  236.378, Time locking; Sec.  236.379, 
Route locking; Sec.  236.380, Indication locking; and Sec.  236.281, 
Traffic locking, to extend the periodic testing schedules from ``at 
least once every 2 years'' to ``at least once every 4 years'' after 
initial testing has been performed. The relief applies at interlocking 
control points and other signal locations controlled by solid-state 
microprocessor-based equipment. UP states that the two-year testing 
interval places an unnecessary burden on the carrier and provides no 
real safety benefit as the application program logic does not change 
once installed.
    A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications 
concerning the petition, is available for review online at 
www.regulations.gov.
    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 party 
desires 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 at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
    Communications received by November 29, 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), the U.S. 
Department of Transportation (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. 2021-22260 Filed 10-12-21; 8:45 am]
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