
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 12 (Thursday, January 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2774-2775]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-1003]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2003-15754]


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

    In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations, this document provides the public notice that by a 
document dated December 16, 2011, the Reading, Blue Mountain and 
Northern Railroad (RBMN) has petitioned the Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA) seeking approval for the discontinuance or 
modification of a signal system. FRA has reopened and assigned the 
application Docket Number FRA-2003-15754.
    Applicant: Reading, Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad, Mr. 
Jonathan Barket, AVP, Communications & Signals, 1 Railroad Boulevard, 
Port Clinton, Pennsylvania 19549.
    RBMN seeks approval of the proposed discontinuance of the automatic 
block signal (ABS) system on Track 1 on the main line and Lehighton 
Branch, Lehigh Division, between Milepost (MP) 119.3, Lehighton, and MP 
130.6, Independence, PA.
    The reason given for the proposed change is that the signal system 
has been out of service since being damaged by weather in December 
2003. RBMN applied, in Docket Number FRA-2003-15754, for an extension 
to the time allowed to repair the signal system after the damage. The 
application was denied due to not being filed correctly. At the time, 
there was another railroad operating in the application area and the 
application was not submitted as a joint application. RBMN did not 
resubmit a joint application as requested in FRA's decision letter 
denying the application. In the ensuing years, operations have changed, 
with RBMN being the sole operator on the trackage involved. RBMN 
records indicate that the ABS has been out of service since before the 
August 1996 acquisition of this section of railroad. Since the 
acquisition, RBMN states they have operated this section by means of 
Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Committee (NORAC) Form D permits. 
FRA records continue to show the area being operated under NORAC Rule 
251. Therefore RBMN requests to discontinue the ABS.
    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

[[Page 2775]]

New Jersey Ave. 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 party 
desires an opportunity for oral comment, 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 March 5, 2012 will be considered by FRA 
before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be 
considered as far as practicable.
    Anyone is able to 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 comment, 
if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 
Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 
19477-78), or online at http://www.dot.gov/privacy.html.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 12, 2012.
Ron Hynes,
Acting Deputy Associate Administrator for Regulatory and Legislative 
Operations.
[FR Doc. 2012-1003 Filed 1-18-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


