Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 140 /Wednesday, July 22, 1998 / Notices 39357

operation will be at restricted speed to

a point where absolute block can be

established in advance of the train.

Where absolute block is established in

advance of the train, the train may

proceed at speeds not to exceed 79 mph.

e. Missing transponder. If a

transponder is not detected where the

equipment expected to find the next

transponder, the train must not exceed

125 mph (NEC-South End) or 110 mph

(NEC-North End) until the next valid

transponder is encountered. The 125/

110 mph speed restriction will be

enforced by the system and ‘‘—’’ will be

displayed to indicate that the civil

speed is unknown. The audible alarm

for civil speeds will sound and must be

acknowledged. Speed restrictions

previously entered into the system,

whether temporary or permanent, will

be displayed at the proper time and

continue to be enforced. If the missing

transponder is a positive stop

enforcement transponder at the distant

signal to an interlocking, then the

system will treat the missing

transponder as if it were present and a

stop will be required. Since the previous

transponder will have transmitted the

distance to the stop location, the stop

shall be enforced unless a cab signal is

received that indicates the interlocking

signal is displaying an aspect more

favorable than ‘‘Stop,’’ ‘‘Stop &

Proceed,’’ and ‘‘Restricting.’’ The 125/

110 mph speed restriction will also be

enforced regardless of whether the cab

signal aspect is being received.

7. When it becomes necessary to cut

out the cab signal/ATC system, ACSES,

or both, these systems shall be

considered inoperative until the engine

has been repaired, tested and found to

be functioning properly. Repairs shall

be made before dispatching the unit on

any subsequent trip.

8. Other requirements applicable to

the system are as follows:

a. Aspects in the cab shall have only

one indication and one name, and will

be shown in such a way as to be

understood by the engine crew. These

aspects shall be shown by lights and/or

illuminated letters or numbers.

b. Entrances to the main line can be

protected by electrically locked derails

if the speed limit is 15 mph or less. A

transponder set shall cut in ACSES prior

to movement through the derail and

onto the main line. If the speed limit is

greater than 15 mph, a positive stop will

be required. At entrances from a

signaled track, ACSES shall be cut in

prior to the distant signal and a positive

stop enforced at the home signal.

c. An on-board event recorder shall

record, in addition to the required

functions of § 229.5(g) [of FRA’s

Railroad Locomotive Safety Standards

(49 CFR Part 229)], the time at which

each transponder is encountered, the

information associated with that

transponder, and each use of the

positive stop override. These functions

may be incorporated within the onboard computer, or as a stand alone

device, but shall continue to record

speeds and related cab signal/ATC data,

even if ACSES has failed and/or is cut

out. The event recorder shall meet all

requirements of § 229.135.

9. The following maximum speeds

apply on the NEC in territory subject to

this order:

a. In ACSES territory where all trains

operating on high-speed tracks, adjacent

track where the maximum authorized

speed exceeds 20 mph, and tracks

providing access to high-speed tracks

are equipped with cab signal/ATC and

ACSES, qualified and ACSES-equipped

trainsets otherwise so authorized may

operate at maximum speeds not

exceeding 150 mph. The maximum

speed over any highway-rail crossing

shall not exceed 80 mph where only

conventional warning systems are in

place. Train speeds shall not exceed 95

mph over any highway-rail crossing

where arrangements approved by the

Associate Administrator for Safety

incorporating four-quadrant gates and

presence detection are provided and

tied into the signal system, such that a

train will be brought to a stop should

the crossing be determined to be

occupied following descent of the gates.

Amtrak shall submit for approval of the

Associate Administrator for Safety plans

for site-specific improvements with

timetables for each of the 13 NEC

crossings remaining on the NEC-North

End by January 1, 1999.

b. In ACSES territory on the NECSouth End, where access to any highspeed track is prevented by switches

locked in the normal position and a

parallel route to the high-speed track is

provided at crossovers from adjacent

tracks, and where no junctions

providing direct access exist, qualified

and ACSES-equipped trainsets

otherwise so authorized may operate to

a maximum speed not exceeding 135

mph on such track; and provisions of

this order requiring other tracks and

trains to be equipped with ACSES do

not apply.

10. Schedule and acceptance

requirements.

a. This order is effective August 21,

1998.

b. Not later than 45 days following

publication of this order, Amtrak shall

deliver to the Associate Administrator

for Safety, FRA, a final program and

timetable for completion of prequalification tests, availability of onboard equipment from Amtrak’s vendor,

staging of installation of on-board

equipment for which Amtrak takes

responsibility, and testing of all wayside

and on-board equipment prior to cut-in.

c. Contingent upon FRA’s acceptance

of the final program and timetable, and

FRA’s acceptance of the results of prequalification and pre-service tests,

compliance with requirements of this

order for use of ACSES on the NECNorth End is required on and after

October 1, 1999.

d. Amtrak may commence operations

under paragraph 9(b) of this order

utilizing equipment qualified under 49

CFR Part 213, as revised, following

FRA’s approval of the elements of the

final program, timetable and test results

pertinent to the subject territory and

operations.

Issued in Washington, D.C. on July 10,

1998.

Jolene M. Molitoris,

Federal Railroad Administrator.

[FR Doc. 98–19431 Filed 7–21–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–06–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration

Safety Performance Standards and

Research and Development Programs

Meetings

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of NHTSA Industry

Meeting.

SUMMARY: This notice announces a

public meeting at which NHTSA will

answer questions from the public and

the automobile industry regarding the

agency’s vehicle regulatory program.

DATES: The Agency’s regular, quarterly

public meeting relating to its vehicle

regulatory program will be held on

September 17, 1998, beginning at 9:45

a.m. and ending at approximately 12:30

p.m., at the Tysons Westpark Hotel,

McLean, VA. Questions relating to the

vehicle regulatory program must be

submitted in writing with a diskette

(Wordperfect) by Tuesday, September 1,

1998, to the address shown below or by

e-mail. If sufficient time is available,

questions received after September 1

may be answered at the meeting. The

individual, group or company

submitting a question(s) does not have

to be present for the question(s) to be

answered. A consolidated list of the

questions submitted by September 1,

1998, and the issues to be discussed,
39358 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 140 /Wednesday, July 22, 1998 / Notices

will be posted on NHTSA’s web site

(www.nhtsa.dot.gov) by Thursday,

September 10, 1998, and will be

available at the meeting. The next

NHTSA vehicle regulatory program

meeting will take place on Thursday,

December 17, 1998 at the Clarion Hotel,

Romulus, MI.

ADDRESSES: Questions for the September

17, NHTSA Technical Industry Meeting,

relating to the agency’s vehicle

regulatory program, should be

submitted to Delia Lopez, NPS–01,

National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration, Room 5401, 400

Seventh Street, NW., Washington, DC

20590, Fax Number 202–366–4329, email dlopez@nhtsa.dot.gov. The meeting

will be held at the Tysons Westpark

Hotel, 8401 Westpark Drive, McLean,

VA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Delia Lopez, (202) 366–1810.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NHTSA

holds a regular, quarterly meeting to

answer questions from the public and

the regulated industries regarding the

agency’s vehicle regulatory program.

Questions on aspects of the agency’s

research and development activities that

relate directly to ongoing regulatory

actions should be submitted, as in the

past, to the agency’s Safety Performance

Standards Office. The purpose of this

meeting is to focus on those phases of

NHTSA activities which are technical,

interpretative or procedural in nature.

Transcripts of these meetings will be

available for public inspection in the

DOT Docket in Washington, DC, within

four weeks after the meeting. Copies of

the transcript will then be available at

ten cents a page (length has varied from

100 to 150 pages), upon request to DOT

Docket, Room PL–401, 400 Seventh

Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. The

DOT Docket is open to the public from

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Questions to be

answered at the quarterly meeting

should be organized by categories to

help us process the questions into an

agenda form more efficiently. Sample

format:

I. Rulemaking

A. Crash avoidance

B. Crashworthiness

C. Other Rulemakings

II. Consumer Information

III. Miscellaneous

NHTSA will provide auxiliary aids to

participants as necessary. Any person

desiring assistance of ‘‘auxiliary aids’’

(e.g., sign-language interpreter,

telecommunications devices for deaf

persons (TDDs), readers, taped texts,

brailled materials, or large print

materials and/or a magnifying device),

please contact Delia Lopez on (202)

366–1810, by COB September 1, 1998.

Issued: July 17, 1998.

L. Robert Shelton,

Associate Administrator for Safety

Performance Standards.

[FR Doc. 98–19501 Filed 7–21–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–M

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA–98–4026]

Decision That Nonconforming 1989–

1991 Chevrolet Suburban MultiPurpose Passenger Vehicles are

Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of decision by NHTSA

that nonconforming 1989–1991

Chevrolet Suburban multi-purpose

passenger vehicles (MPVs) are eligible

for importation.

SUMMARY: This notice announces the

decision by NHTSA that 1989–1991

Chevrolet Suburban MPVs not originally

manufactured to comply with all

applicable Federal motor vehicle safety

standards are eligible for importation

into the United States because they are

substantially similar to vehicles

originally manufactured for sale in the

United States and certified by their

manufacturer as complying with the

safety standards (U.S.-certified 1989–

1991 Chevrolet Suburban MPVs), and

they are capable of being readily altered

to conform to the standards.

DATE: This decision is effective July 22,

1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle

Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202–366–

5306).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Under 49 U.S.C. § 30141(a)(1)(A), a

motor vehicle that was not originally

manufactured to conform to all

applicable Federal motor vehicle safety

standards shall be refused admission

into the United States unless NHTSA

has decided that the motor vehicle is

substantially similar to a motor vehicle

originally manufactured for importation

into and sale in the United States,

certified under 49 U.S.C. § 30115, and of

the same model year as the model of the

motor vehicle to be compared, and is

capable of being readily altered to

conform to all applicable Federal motor

vehicle safety standards.

Petitions for eligibility decisions may

be submitted by either manufacturers or

importers who have registered with

NHTSA pursuant to 49 CFR Part 592. As

specified in 49 CFR 593.7, NHTSA

publishes notice in the Federal Register

of each petition that it receives, and

affords interested persons an

opportunity to comment on the petition.

At the close of the comment period,

NHTSA decides, on the basis of the

petition and any comments that it has

received, whether the vehicle is eligible

for importation. The agency then

publishes this decision in the Federal

Register.

Champagne Imports, Inc. of Lansdale,

Pennsylvania (Registered Importer R–

90–009) petitioned NHTSA to decide

whether 1989–1991 Chevrolet Suburban

MPVs are eligible for importation into

the United States. NHTSA published

notice of the petition on February 18,

1998 (62 FR 8251) to afford an

opportunity for public comment. The

reader is referred to that notice for a

thorough description of the petition. No

comments were received in response to

the notice. Based on its review of the

information submitted by the petitioner,

NHTSA has decided to grant the

petition.

Vehicle Eligibility Number for Subject

Vehicles

The importer of a vehicle admissible

under any final decision must indicate

on the form HS–7 accompanying entry

the appropriate vehicle eligibility

number indicating that the vehicle is

eligible for entry. VSP–242 is the

vehicle eligibility number assigned to

vehicles admissible under this decision.

Final Decision

Accordingly, on the basis of the

foregoing, NHTSA hereby decides that

1989–1991 Chevrolet Suburban MPVs

not originally manufactured to comply

with all applicable Federal motor

vehicle safety standards are

substantially similar to 1989–1991

Chevrolet Suburban MPVs originally

manufactured for sale in the United

States and certified under 49 U.S.C.

§ 30115, and are capable of being readily

altered to conform to all applicable

Federal motor vehicle safety standards.

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A) and

(b)(1); 49 CFR 593.8; delegations of authority

at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.

Issued on: July 16, 1998.

Marilynne Jacobs,

Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.

[FR Doc. 98–19481 Filed 7–21–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–P