00-30527. Notice of Application for Approval of Discontinuance or Modification of a Railroad Signal System or Relief From Requirements

Pursuant to Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 235 and 49 U.S.C. 20502(a), the following railroads have petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) seeking approval for the discontinuance or modification of the signal system or relief from the requirements of 49 CFR Part 236 as detailed below.

Docket No. FRA-2000-8036

Applicant: CSX Transportation, Mr. E.G. Peterson, Assistant Chief Engineer, Signal Design and Construction, 4901 Belfort Road, Suite 130 (S/C J-370), Jacksonville, Florida 32256.

CSX Transportation requests reconsideration of BS-AP-No. 3462, seeking approval of the proposed discontinuance and removal of the automatic block signal system, on the single main track and sidings, between Howell, milepost OOH-323.5 and Mount Vernon, milepost OOH-344.9, Indiana, St. Louis Subdivision, Nashville Service Lane. The proposed method of operation will be by a Direct Traffic Control Block system, and will provide for the installation of inoperative approach signals at Howell and the Mt. Vernon rail crossing at grade.

The reason given for the proposed changes is to eliminate facilities no longer needed in present day operations. The recent acquisition of portions of Conrail and its effects on this segment of trackage has reduced traffic from eight to four trains daily since the original application was submitted in January 1998, and traffic is not expected to increase in the future.

Any interested party desiring to protest the granting of an application shall set forth specifically the grounds upon which the protest is made, and contain a concise statement of the interest of the protestant in the proceeding. Additionally, one copy of the protest shall be furnished to the applicant at the address listed above.

All communications concerning this proceeding should be identified by the docket number and must be submitted to the Docket Clerk, DOT Central Docket Management Facility, Room PI-401, Washington, DC 20590-0001. Communications received within 45 days of the date of this notice will be considered by the 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 DOT Central Docket Management Facility, Room PI-401 Plaza Level), 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. 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://dms.dot.gov.

FRA expects to be able to determine these matters without an oral hearing. However, if a specific request for an oral hearing is accompanied by a showing that the party is unable to adequately present his or her position by written statements, an application may be set for public hearing.

Issued in Washington, DC on November 27, 2000.

Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,

Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program Development.