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 § 236.377, Approach locking ; § 236.378, Time locking ; § 236.379, Route locking ; § 236.380, Indication locking ; and § 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 .