
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 143 (Thursday, July 27, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 35052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15789]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2016-0058]


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

    Under part 235 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 
and 49 U.S.C. 20502(a), this provides the public notice that on June 
30, 2017, Watco Companies LLC (Watco) petitioned the Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA) seeking reconsideration of a decision regarding 
the discontinuance or modification of a signal system. FRA assigned the 
petition Docket Number FRA-2016-0058.
    Applicant: Watco Companies LLC, Anthony Cox, VP of Engineering, 315 
E. 3rd St., Pittsburg, KS 66762.
    Watco is the owner-operator of the Grand Elk Railroad LLC (GDLK), 
which operates on track that is currently leased from Norfolk Southern 
Railway Company (NS). Watco requests reconsideration under 49 CFR 
235.13(a) of FRA's denial of its application to discontinue and remove 
the traffic control system (TCS) from mile post (MP) 33.00 at Park, in 
Grand Rapids, MI to MP 1.4 at the end of GDLK, in Elkhart, IN. FRA 
issued its decision letter denying the application on November 29, 
2016, and issued a second letter to clarify the basis of its decision 
on January 10, 2017.
    Based on new facts and new evidence, Watco is seeking 
reconsideration of its application on behalf of GDLK. Watco asserts 
that FRA's Railroad Safety Board (Board) based its denial on erroneous 
information. Watco believes the hazardous materials (hazmat) 
information provided in the field report considered by the Board was 
out of date or incorrect.
    Watco owns and operates 20 railroads on 3570 miles of main line 
that is track warrant controlled (TWC) and Watco states that of those 
railroads, 5 safely transport more hazmat than GDLK. GDLK conducts 
ultrasonic rail and geometry testing twice per year over the entire 
railroad. GDLK operates to the north of subject trackage from milepost 
33 to milepost 102.3 a mix of TWC and yard limits (YL). There are two 
manual interlockings on the north section of track using TWC as an 
acceptable method of operation. TWC is the method of operation used by 
all dispatched Watco railroads, including parts of the GDLK. Watco 
states that the discontinuance of the TCS section and converting it to 
TWC maintains the consistency of dispatching and standardization of 
training for the GDLK, and will provide a higher level of safety 
through simplified operations by having one method of controlled 
operation rather than the two it has now. Watco further states that 
this consistency and standardization of dispatching and training will 
enhance the safety of GDLK operations.
    A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications 
concerning the petition, is available for review online at 
www.regulatons.gov and in person at the U.S. Department of 
Transportation'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 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 parties 
desire 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 September 11, 2017 will be considered by 
FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date 
will be considered as far as 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.). In 
accordance with 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/privacyNotice for the 
privacy notice of regulations.gov.

Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-15789 Filed 7-26-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


