E9-22596. 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: Canadian National Railway, Southern Region, Mr. Mark Ryon, Senior Manager Signal and Communications, 17641 South Ashland Avenue, Homewood, Illinois 60430.

The Canadian National Railway (CN) seeks approval of the proposed discontinuance and removal of the traffic control system (TCS) from Milepost (MP) 8.7 to MP 11.8, on the Elsdon Subdivision, Chicago, Illinois, to include the control signals and the conversion of the power-operated switch to hand-operation at Elsdon control point, MP 8.7. TCS is to be replaced with the extension of CN Rule 520 from MP 8.7 to MP11.8. The application includes the removal of the signals No. 1, 2, 3, and 4 at the railroad-at-grade crossing on the connection track. Railroad-at-grade signals to be replaced with gate and stop signs on connection track to govern movement over the diamond.

Nine signals, including automatic signals No. 102 and 103, are to be removed and the power-operated switch is to be converted to hand-operation. The power-operated switch provides for movement from the main track to the connection track.

The reason given for the proposed changes is that there have been no train movements on the connection track in over 5 years with any plans for future use.

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-2009-0080 and may be submitted by one of the following methods:

• Web site: http://www.regulations.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://www.regulations.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).

Issued in Washington, DC on September 14, 2009.

Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,

Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program Development.