2010-682. Petition for Waiver of Compliance

In accordance with part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), notice is hereby given that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) received a request for a waiver of compliance with certain requirements of its safety standards. The individual petition is described below, including the party seeking relief, the regulatory provisions involved, the nature of the relief being requested, and the petitioner's arguments in favor of relief from the requirements of 49 CFR Part 236 as detailed below.

CSX Transportation, Inc.

The CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT) seeks relief from the requirements of the Rules, Standards and Instructions, Title 49 CFR Part 236, Section 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. CSXT 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:

• Verifying the Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC)/Check Sum/Universal Control Number (UNC) of the existing location's specific application logic to the previously tested version.
• Testing the appropriate interconnection to the associated signaling hardware equipment outside of the processor (switch indication, track indication, searchlight signal indication, approach locking (if external)) to verify correct and intended inputs to and outputs from the processor are maintained.
• Analyze and compare the results of the 4-year alternative testing with the results of the baseline testing performed at the location and submit the results to FRA.

Applicant's justification for relief: Many of CSXT's interlockings, control points, and other locations are controlled by solid-state vital microprocessor-based systems. These systems utilize programmed logic equations in lieu of relays or other mechanical components for control of both vital and non-vital functions. The logic does not change once a microprocessor-based system has been tested and locking tests are documented on installation.

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 (e.g., Waiver Petition Docket Number FRA-2009-0120) 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].
• 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 within 45 days of the date of this notice will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be considered as far as practicable. All written communications concerning these proceedings are available for examination during regular business hours (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) at the above facility. All documents in the public docket are also available for inspection and copying on the Internet at the docket facility's Web site at http://www.regulations.gov.

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 document (or signing the document, 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 (65 FR 19477) or at http://www.dot.gov/​privacy.html.

Issued in Washington, DC on January 11, 2010.

Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,

Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program Development.