2011-3396. Reporting Requirements for Positive Train Control Expenses and Investments

AGENCY:

Surface Transportation Board, DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of intent to institute a rulemaking proceeding.

SUMMARY:

In a decision served on February 10, 2011, the Board granted a petition by the Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) to institute a rulemaking proceeding to explore whether the Board should require Class I railroads to report separately how much each railroad is spending on the development, installation, and maintenance of Positive Train Control, a federally mandated safety system that will automatically stop or slow a train before an accident can occur. Several parties filed comments in reply to UP's petition. The Board will address the arguments and issues raised in those filings in a subsequent decision. The Board's decision makes no determination on the merits of UP's specific proposal.

DATES:

The Board's decision became effective on February 10, 2011. The Board will establish further procedures for public comment in a subsequent decision.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Valerie Quinn, [phone]. Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) for the hearing impaired, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Additional information is contained in the Board's February 10, 2011, decision, which is available on our Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov. Copies of the decision may be purchased by contacting the Board's Office of Public Assistance, Governmental Affairs, and Compliance at [phone]. Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through FIRS at [phone].

This action will not significantly affect either the quality of the human environment or the conservation of energy resources.

Decided: February 10, 2011.

By the Board, Chairman Elliott, Vice Chairman Nottinham, and Commissioner Mulvey.

Jeffrey Herzig,

Clearance Clerk.