E7-15133. Notice of Application for Approval of Discontinuance or Modification of a Railroad Signal System or Relief From the Requirements of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 236

Pursuant to Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 235 and 49 U.S.C. 20502(a), the following railroad has 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.

Applicant: CSX Transportation, Incorporated, Mr. C.M. King, Chief Engineer, Communications and Signals, 500 Water Street, SC J-350, Jacksonville, Florida 32202.

CSX Transportation, Incorporated (CSX) seeks approval of the proposed modification of an interlocking, discontinuance and removal of traffic control system signals, and the conversion of power-operated switches to hand-throw operation, from Gladstone (Milepost CAB-119.2) to Clifton Forge, Virginia (Milepost CAB-229.4), on the Huntington Division, James River Subdivision. The #168L Signal on #1 Main Track will be discontinued and removed. The interlocking at Lynchburg (Milepost CAB-146.1) was originally configured of two tracks crossing one track at-grade and two turnouts; the crossings at-grade, along with the turnout off of #2 Main Track have been removed. The #165 power-operated switch off #1 Main Track will be converted to hand-throw operation, and the governing signals will be discontinued and removed. The #116L and #116R controlled signals at major Milepost CAB-167.3 will be discontinued and removed. The #109 power-operated switch off of #1 Main Track at Balcony Falls (Milepost CAB-175.0) will be converted to hand-throw operation, and the governing signals will be discontinued and removed. The #107 power-operated switch off of #1 Main Track at K Cabin (Milepost CAB-175.3) will be converted to hand-throw operation and the governing signals will be discontinued and removed. The #68R and #66L controlled signals at WAS Springwood (Milepost CAB-198.9) will be discontinued and removed. The #58L and #58R controlled signals at Lyle (Milepost CAB-202.3) will be discontinued and removed. The electric lock switch off of single main track at Milepost CAB-212.93 will be converted to a no clear location and the electric lock mechanism will be removed.

Pole line elimination and the installation of a microprocessor-based signal system are the reasons given for the proposed changes. Furthermore, CSX contends that present-day operations do not warrant retaining the power-operated switches and controlled signals.

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

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.

All communications concerning this proceeding should be identified by Docket Number FRA-2007-28575 and may be submitted by one of the following methods:

• Web site: http://dms.dot.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the DOT electronic site;
• Fax: [phone];
• Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; or
• Hand Delivery: Room W12-140 of the U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, 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://dms.dot.gov.

FRA wishes to inform all potential commenters that anyone is able to search the electronic form of all 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 you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Issued in Washington, DC on July 30, 2007.

Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,

Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program Development.