61550 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 19, 2004 / Notices 

Projects To Impose and Use: Airport 

Improvement Program matching funds 

for: Equipment purchase AIP-35 (Snow 

Brooms, Skidsteer, Command Vehicle, 

Chemical Truck); Departure Area 

Security Improvements (AIP-36); 

Security Upgrades and Equipment 

Phase 2 (AIP-38); Rehabiliate Airport 

Main Entrance Road; Expand Terminal 

Building—Feasibility Study/Planning; 

Construct Taxiway Extensions C1, W2; 

Acquire Airside Vehicles & Equipment; 

Construct Delta-1 Ramp Expansion; 

Acquire Security Vehicle, and 

Rehabilitate West GA Area Paving. Full 

project funding for: Purchase of snow 

removal support vehicle (unit 4) and 

Purchase Land for Airport Expansion. 

Impose-Only Project: Wildlife Hazard 

Management Plan Implementation, 

Phase 1. 

Class or classes of air carriers which 

the public agency has requested not be 

required to collect PFCs: None. 

Any person may inspect the 

application in person at the FAA office 

listed above under FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT and at the FAA 

regional Airports office located at: 222 

W 7th Avenue, Anchorage, AK. 

In addition, any person may, upon 

request, inspect the application, notice 

and other documents germane to the 

application in person at Juneau 

International Airport, 1873 Shell 

Simmons Drive, Juneau, AK.

Issued in Anchorage, Alaska, on October 6, 

2004. 

Byron K. Huffman, 

Manager, Airports Division, Alaskan Region.

[FR Doc. 04–23383 Filed 10–18–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–M

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration 

[Docket No. FRA–2000–7257; Notice No. 33] 

Railroad Safety Advisory Committee 

(RSAC); Working Group Activity 

Update

AGENCY: Federal Railroad 

Administration (FRA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Announcement of Railroad 

Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC) 

Working Group Activities. 

SUMMARY: The FRA is updating its 

announcement of RSAC’s working 

group activities to reflect its current 

status. For additional details on 

completed activities see prior working 

group activity notices (68 FR 25677).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Patricia Butera, RSAC Coordinator, 

FRA, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW., 

Mailstop 25, Washington, DC 20590, 

(202) 493–6212 or Grady Cothen, Acting 

Associate Administrator for Safety, 

FRA, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW., 

Mailstop 25, Washington, DC 20590, 

(202) 493–6302.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

notice serves to update FRA’s last 

announcement of working group 

activities and status reports of May 3, 

2004, (69 FR 24219). The 24th full 

Committee meeting was held September 

22, 2004. 

Since its first meeting in April of 

1996, the RSAC has accepted eighteen 

tasks. Status for each of the tasks is 

provided below: 

Open Tasks 

Task 96–4—Reviewing the 

appropriateness of the agency’s current 

policy regarding the applicability of 

existing and proposed regulations to 

tourist, excursion, scenic, and historic 

railroads. This Task was accepted on 

April 2, 1996, and a Working Group was 

established. The Working Group 

monitored the steam locomotive 

regulations task. Planned future 

activities involve the review of other 

regulations for possible adaptation to 

the safety needs of tourist and historic 

railroads. Contact: Grady Cothen (202) 

493–6302. 

Task 97–1—Developing 

crashworthiness specifications to 

promote the integrity of the locomotive 

cab in accidents resulting from 

collisions. This Task was accepted on 

June 24, 1997. On April 14, 2004, RSAC 

reached consensus on the Notice of 

Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). The 

NPRM is pending review within the 

Executive Branch. The NPRM is a new 

standard to increase the 

crashworthiness of conventional wideand narrow-nose locomotives and 

codifies requirements for monocoque 

locomotives. Contact: Charles Bielitz 

(202) 493–6314. 

Task 97–2—Evaluating the extent to 

which environmental, sanitary, and 

other working conditions in locomotive 

cabs affect the crew’s health and the safe 

operation of locomotives, proposing 

standards where appropriate. This Task 

was accepted June 24, 1997. 

(Sanitation) (Completed) 

(Noise exposure) On June 27, 2003, 

the full RSAC gave consensus by ballot 

on the NPRM. The NPRM was 

published in the Federal Register on 

June 23, 2004. The comment period 

ended September 21, 2004. The FRA is 

reviewing the comments. 

(Cab Temperature) (Completed)

Note: Additional related topics such as 

vibration may be considered by the Working 

Group in the future. Contact: Jeffrey Horn 

(202) 493–6283.

Task 97–3—Developing event 

recorder data survivability standards. 

This Task was accepted on June 24, 

1997. On November 12, 2003, the RSAC 

gave consensus by ballot on the NPRM. 

The NPRM was published on June 30, 

2004. A public hearing was held 

September 30, and the comment period 

was extended until October 11. Contact: 

Edward Pritchard (202) 493–6247. 

Task 97–4 and Task 97–5—Defining 

Positive Train Control (PTC) 

functionalities, describing available 

technologies, evaluating costs and 

benefits of potential systems, and 

considering implementation 

opportunities and challenges, including 

demonstration and deployment. 

Task 97–6—Revising various 

regulations to address the safety 

implications of processor-based signal 

and train control technologies, 

including communications-based 

operating systems. These three tasks 

were accepted on September 30, 1997, 

and assigned to a single Working Group. 

(Report to the Administrator) A Data 

and Implementation Task Force, formed 

to address issues such as assessment of 

costs and benefits and technical 

readiness, completed a report on the 

future of PTC systems. The report was 

accepted as RSAC’s Report to the 

Administrator at the September 8, 1999, 

meeting. The FRA enclosed the report 

with a letter to Congress signed May 17, 

2000.

(Regulatory development) The 

Standards Task Force, formed to 

develop PTC standards, assisted in 

developing draft recommendations for 

performance-based standards for 

processor-based signal and train control 

systems. The NPRM was approved by 

consensus at the full RSAC meeting 

held on September 14, 2000. The NPRM 

was published in the Federal Register

on August 10, 2001. A meeting of the 

Working Group was held December 4–

6, 2001, in San Antonio, Texas, to 

formulate recommendations for 

resolution of issues raised in the public 

comments. Agreement was reached on 

most issues raised in the comments. A 

meeting was held May 14–15, 2002, in 

Colorado Springs, Colorado, at which 

the Working Group approved creation of 

teams to further explore the ‘‘base case’’

issue. Briefing of the full RSAC on the 

‘‘base case’’ issue was completed on 

May 29, 2002, and consultations 

continued within the working group. 

The full Working Group met October 

22–23, 2002, and again March 4–6, 

2003. Resolution of the remaining issues 

was considered by the Working Group 

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 19, 2004 / Notices 61551

at the July 8–9, 2003, meeting. The 

Working Group achieved consensus on 

recommendations for resolution of a 

portion of the issues in the proceeding. 

The full Committee considered the 

Working Group recommendations by 

mail ballots scheduled for return on 

August 14, 2003; however, a majority of 

the members voting did not concur. 

FRA has proceeded with preparation of 

a final rule, which is currently being 

reviewed in the Executive Branch. 

Task 00–1—Determining the need to 

amend regulations protecting persons 

who work on, under, or between rolling 

equipment and persons applying, 

removing or inspecting rear end 

marking devices (Blue Signal 

Protection). The Working Group held its 

first meeting on October 16–18, 2000, 

and six subsequent meetings have also 

been held. The Working Group 

significantly narrowed the issues, but 

did not reach full consensus on 

recommendations for regulatory action. 

The Administrator announced at the full 

RSAC meeting on December 2, 2003, 

that the task is withdrawn and the issue 

may be pursued at a later date. Contact: 

Doug Taylor (202) 493–6255. 

Task 03–01–Passenger Safety. This 

task was accepted May 20, 2003, and a 

Working Group was established. Prior to 

embarking on substantive discussions of 

a specific task, the Working Group set 

forth in writing a specific description of 

the task. The Working Group will report 

any planned activity to the full 

Committee at each scheduled full RSAC 

meeting, including milestones for 

completion of projects and progress 

toward completion. At the first meeting 

held September 9–10, 2003, a 

consolidated list of issues was 

completed. At the second meeting held 

November 6–7, 2003, five task groups 

were established: crashworthiness/

glazing; emergency preparedness; 

mechanical-general issues; mechanicalsafety appliances; and track/vehicle 

interaction. The task groups met and 

reported on activities for Working 

Group consideration at the third 

meeting held May 11–12, 2004. The task 

groups continue to meet and will report 

on its activities at the fourth Working 

Group meeting scheduled for October 

26–27, 2004. 

Completed Tasks: 

Task 96–1—(Completed) Revising the 

Freight Power Brake Regulations. 

Task 96–2—(Completed) Reviewing 

and recommending revisions to the 

Track Safety Standards (49 CFR Part 

213). 

Task 96–3—(Completed) Reviewing 

and recommending revisions to the 

Radio Standards and Procedures (49 

CFR Part 220). 

Task 96–5—(Completed) Reviewing 

and recommending revisions to Steam 

Locomotive Inspection Standards (49 

CFR Part 230). 

Task 96–6—(Completed) Reviewing 

and recommending revisions to 

miscellaneous aspects of the regulations 

addressing Locomotive Engineer 

Certification (49 CFR Part 240). 

Task 96–7—(Completed) Developing 

Roadway Maintenance Machines (OnTrack Equipment) Safety Standards. 

Task 96–8—(Completed) This 

Planning Task evaluated the need for 

action responsive to recommendations 

contained in a report to Congress 

entitled, Locomotive Crashworthiness & 

Working Conditions.

Task 97–7—(Completed) Determining 

damages qualifying an event as a 

reportable train accident. 

Task 01–1—(Completed) Developing 

conformity of FRA’s regulations for 

accident/incident reporting (49 CFR Part 

225) to revised regulations of the 

Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration (OSHA), U.S. 

Department of Labor, and to make 

appropriate revisions to the FRA Guide 

for Preparing Accident/Incident Reports

(Reporting Guide). 

Please refer to the notice published in 

the Federal Register on March 11, 1996, 

(61 FR 9740) for more information about 

the RSAC.

Issued in Washington, DC, on October 12, 

2004. 

Grady C. Cothen, 

Acting Associate Administrator for Safety.

[FR Doc. 04–23384 Filed 10–18–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–06–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration 

Petition for Waiver of Compliance 

In accordance with Part 211 of Title 

49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), 

notice is hereby given that the Federal 

Railroad Administration (FRA) received 

a request for a waiver of compliance 

with certain requirements of its safety 

standards. The individual petition is 

described below, including the party 

seeking relief, the regulatory provisions 

involved, the nature of the relief being 

requested, and the petitioner’s 

arguments in favor of relief. 

Union Pacific Railroad Company 

[Waiver Petition Docket Number FRA–2004–

18896] 

The Union Pacific Railroad Company 

(UPRR) seeks a waiver of compliance 

with the Locomotive Safety Standards, 

49 CFR 229.49(a)(1) and with the Brake 

System Safety Standards 49 CFR 

232.103(o)(2), as they pertain to main 

reservoir safety valve setting and 

minimal deferential between brake pipe 

and main reservoir air pressure on 

UPRR locomotives. The railroad states 

in their request that their locomotive 

safety valves are set at 150 (one hundred 

fifty) pounds-per-square-inch (psi) and 

the maximum working pressure of 125 

psi (one hundred twenty-five) creating a 

25 (twenty-five) psi differential. 

Locomotive safety standards (49 CFR 

229.46(a)(1) requires that the main 

reservoir system of each locomotive 

shall be equipped with at least one 

safety valve that shall prevent an 

accumulation of pressure of more than 

15 pounds per square inch above the 

maximum working air pressure and 

Brake System Safety Standards (49 CFR 

232.103(o)(2)) requires minimum 

differential 15 psi between brake pipe 

and main reservoir air pressures, with 

brake valve in running position. UPRR 

adjusted its fleet of locomotives 

maximum working air pressure from 

135 psi to125 psi in the late 1970’s as 

a method to conserve fuel. The 150 psi 

safety valve setting was maintained so 

that UPRR locomotives remained 

compatible when operated in consist 

with foreign locomotives. UPRR has 

operated their locomotives with the 125 

psi maximum working air pressure for 

over twenty-five years and reports no 

adverse effect. 

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 (FRA–2004–

18896) and must be submitted to the 

Docket Clerk, DOT Docket Management 

Facility, Room PL–401 (Plaza Level), 

400 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 

20590. 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