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###### Department of Transportation

###### Federal Railroad Administration 

          - [Docket No. FRA-2000-7931]

Pursuant to Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 235 and 49 U.S.C. 20502(a), the following railroads have 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:*                     Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad Company, Mr. C.H. Allen, General Manager 2721—161st Street, Hammond, Indiana 46323-1099.                

The Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad Company seeks approval of the proposed modification of the signal system at State Line Interlocking, in Hammond, Indiana. The proposed changes are associated with the elimination of State Line Tower, a 100-year-old mechanical interlocking, and consist of splitting of the existing interlocking into two separate, remote-controlled, state of the art, microprocessor-based, interlockings. The proposal also includes removal of Switch No. 171 from interlocking limits, and its conversion to hand operation. 

The reasons given for the proposed changes are the low usage of Switch No. 171, and to increase efficiency of train operations in the area. 

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

                    All communications concerning this proceeding should be identified by the docket number and must be submitted to the Docket Clerk, DOT Central Docket Management Facility, Room PI-401, Washington, D.C. 20590-0001. Communications received within 45 days of the date of this notice will be considered by the 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 (9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.) at DOT Central Docket Management Facility, Room PI-401 (Plaza Level), 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. 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 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. 

Issued in Washington, D.C. on October 12, 2000. 

Grady C. Cothen, Jr., 

Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program Development.

[FR Doc. 00-26814 Filed 10-18-00; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910-06-P