[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 98 (Monday, May 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30048-30049]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12293]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2012-0041]

Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR), this document provides the public notice that by a document
dated April 4, 2012, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Metro-
North Commuter Railroad (MNCW) has 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-2012-0041.
    MNCW seeks relief from the 2-year periodic testing requirements of
the rules, standards, and instructions found at 49 CFR Sections
236.377, Approach locking; 236.378, Time locking; 236.379, Route
locking; 236.380, Indication locking; and 236.381, Traffic locking on
vital microprocessor-based systems. MNCW 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:

     Verify the cyclic redundancy check/checksum/universal
control number of the existing location's specific application logic to
the previously tested version that is maintained in MNCW's Software
Management Control Plan per requirements of 49 CFR 236.18.
     Test associated hardware connections outside the processor
to verify that inputs from switch indication, searchlight signal (where
provided), track indication, or other vital inputs to the processor
yield the intended output to switches or other devices intended to be
locked in the field.
     Analyze and compare results of each 4-year alternative
test with the results of the baseline testing performed at the
location, and submit results to FRA. MNCW submitted a list with their
petition of 28 signal locations currently in service and subject to the
relief being requested.
    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 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 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:<PHONE_NUMBER>.
     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 July 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 May 10, 2012.
Ron Hynes,
Acting Deputy Associate Administrator for Regulatory and Legislative
Operations.
[FR Doc. 2012-12293 Filed 5-18-12; 8:45 am]
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