[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 4 (Monday, January 7, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 979-980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-00095]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket Number FRA-2010-0056]


Petition for Positive Train Control Safety Plan Approval and 
System Certification of the Electronic Train Management System

    In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR), this document provides the public notice that by a document 
dated November 5, 2012, BNSF Railway (BNSF) has petitioned the Federal 
Railroad Administration (FRA) for Positive Train Control (PTC) Safety 
Plan (PTCSP) approval and system certification of the Electronic Train 
Management System (ETMS) as required by 49 U.S.C. 20157(h) and in 
accordance with 49 CFR 236.1015(a). FRA assigned the petition Docket 
Number FRA-2010-0056.
    Applicant: Mr. David J. Galassi, Assistant Vice President-Network 
Control Systems, BNSF Railway, P.O. Box 961034, Fort Worth, TX 76161.
    BNSF seeks PTCSP approval and system certification of ETMS Version 
7.0, for use over the entire BNSF railroad network. ETMS Version 7.0 is 
a non-vital processor-based train control system safety overlay 
designed to protect against the consequences of train-to-train 
collisions, enforce compliance with civil and temporary speed limits, 
provide for the safety of

[[Page 980]]

roadway workers operating within the limits of their authority, and to 
protect against the movement of trains through switches not properly 
lined for the intended movement.
    ETMS Version 7.0 is the technical successor to earlier versions of 
ETMS, approved by FRA under the provisions of 49 CFR Part 236, Subpart 
H-Standards for Processor-Based Signal and Train Control Systems 
(Docket Number FRA-2006-23687). BNSF asserts that the PTCSP contains 
the information required by 49 CFR 236.1015(d) and that the PTCSP:
    1. Demonstrates that ETMS Version 7.0 reliably executes the 
functions set forth in 49 CFR 236.1005.
    2. Demonstrates that the use of ETMS Version 7.0 obtains at least 
an 80-percent reduction of the risk associated with accidents 
preventable by the functions set forth in 49 CFR 236.1005, when all 
effects of the change associated with the PTC system are taken into 
account.
    BNSF believes that approval and certification of ETMS Version 7.0 
will enhance railroad safety by allowing the deployment and use in 
revenue service of ETMS to prevent or mitigate the consequences of a 
loss of situational awareness by train crews, or other conditions, that 
could otherwise result in catastrophic consequences to the train crew 
and the general public.
    A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications 
concerning the petition, is available for review online at 
www.regulations.gov and in person at the U.S. Department of 
Transportation's (DOT) Docket Operations Facility, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue 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:
    <bullet> Web site: http://www.regulations.gov/. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail: Docket Operations Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., W12-140, Washington, DC 
20590.
    <bullet> 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 February 6, 2013 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 January 2, 2013.
Robert C. Lauby,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Regulatory and Legislative 
Operations.
[FR Doc. 2013-00095 Filed 1-4-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P