[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 18, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 69453]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-27250]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2019-0105]


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    Under part 211 of title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR), this provides the public notice that by letter received December 
10, 2019, Kansas City Southern (KCS) petitioned the Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA) for a waiver of compliance from certain provisions 
of the Federal railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR part 
236. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2019-0105.
    Specifically, KCS seeks relief from the 2-year periodic testing 
requirements in Sec.  236.377, Approach locking; Sec.  236.378, Time 
locking; Sec.  236.379, Route locking; Sec.  236.380, Indication 
locking; and Sec.  236.381, Traffic locking. KCS also requests relief 
from the 1-year periodic testing period of Sec.  236.109, Time 
releases, timing relays, and timing devices, on all vital 
microprocessor-based systems.
    KCS proposes to verify and test signal locking systems controlled 
by microprocessor-based equipment by use of alternative procedures 
every 4 years after initial baseline testing or program change as 
follows:
     Verification of the Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC)/Check 
Sum/Universal Control Number (UNC) of an existing location's 
application logic to the baseline tested version.
     Comparison and verification of all input/output 
arrangement, vital timer durations, and vital program settings between 
the existing location and prints/records pertaining to the baseline 
tested version.
     Re-establishment of the baseline tested version via full 
compliance with 49 CFR part 236 when a discrepancy is caused/found 
between the existing and baseline versions.
     Incorporate recording of alternative method into KCS's 
test record-keeping system.
    KCS states its current record-keeping system has all the 
information and requirements for baseline tests. Furthermore, the 
existing test records fulfil all the requirements for baseline test 
record keeping. Given this, KCS desires to use these test records as 
the existing baseline versions. Subsequent alternative tests would be 
recorded as such within KCS's record-keeping system.
    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 Department of Transportation's 
Docket Operations Facility, 1200 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:
     Website: 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 Ave. SE, W12-140, Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Room W12-140, 
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal Holidays.
    Communications received by February 3, 2020 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 www.dot.gov/privacy. See also 
http://www.regulations.gov/#!privacyNotice for the privacy notice of 
regulations.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2019-27250 Filed 12-17-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


