2011-17681. Petition for Waiver of Compliance

In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this document provides the public notice that by a document dated June 14, 2011, the Norfolk Southern Railway Corporation (NS) 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-2011-0052.

NS seeks a waiver from compliance with cab signal system requirements found in 49 CFR 236.566 Locomotive of each train operating in train stop, train control, or cab signal territory; equipped. Specifically, NS seeks relief to operate non-equipped locomotives in the following locations:

• Operations on the Pittsburgh Line, Harrisburg Division from control point (CP) Cannon at milepost (MP)-PT 118.9 near Duncannon, Pennsylvania to CP Harrisburg at MP-PT 105.1 near Harrisburg, PA.
• Operations on the Pittsburgh Line, Pittsburgh Division from CP Cannon at MP-PT 118.9 near Duncannon, PA to CP Solomon at MP-PT 352.5 near Pittsburgh, PA, with the condition that an absolute block be established in advance of each movement of foreign trains and engines between CP Bloom at MP-PT 351.6 near Pittsburg, PA and CP Solomon.
• Operations on the Fort Wayne Line, Pittsburgh Division from CP Rochester at MP-PC 29.5, near East Rochester, PA to CP Alliance at MP-PC 83.2.
• Operations on the Conemaugh Line, Pittsburgh Division from CP Conpit at MP-LC 0.0, near Bolivar, PA to CP Kiski at MP-LC 47.8, near Freeport, PA.

A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications concerning the petition, is available for review online at http://www.regulations.gov and in person at the Department of Transportation's Docket Operations Facility, 1200 New Jersey Ave., 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].
• 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 August 29, 2011 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 July 7, 2011.

Robert C. Lauby,

Deputy Associate Administrator for Regulatory & Legislative Operations.