Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 23 / Wednesday, February 5, 2025 / Notices 9053 

1The AVs do not couple but rather receive 

commands to move together. 

2See Petition Exhibit C, ‘‘Testing will take place 

between mileposts 503 and 577.8 on the [GC] and 

mileposts 577.8 and 663 on the [HOG], which are 

two Class III freight railroads that connect directly 

in Vidalia, GA.’’ 

Issued in Washington, DC, on January 27, 

2025. 

Shelly Beauchamp, 

Manager, Advanced Systems Design Service 

Team, NAS Modernization Group, AJW–121, 

Operations Support Directorate, Technical 

Operations, Air Traffic Organization, Federal 

Aviation Administration. 

[FR Doc. 2025–02224 Filed 2–4–25; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Railroad Administration 

[Docket No. FRA–2023–0066] 

Program Approval: Georgia Central 

Railway, L.P. and Heart of Georgia 

Railroad, Inc. 

AGENCY: Federal Railroad 

Administration (FRA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of approval. 

SUMMARY: FRA is issuing this notice to 

approve a petition from Georgia Central 

Railway, L.P. (GC) and Heart of Georgia 

Railroad, Inc. (HOG) (collectively, 

Petitioners), subsidiaries of Genesee and 

Wyoming (G&W), for a Test Program 

designed to test self-propelled, zeroemission, battery-electric rail vehicles 

and their associated computer and 

telemetry technology systems, and to 

evaluate the effectiveness of the system 

and new operational approaches to rail 

vehicle technology in the short-haul 

movement of containers. The approval 

grants limited, temporary suspension of 

certain FRA rules necessary to facilitate 

the conduct of the Test Program, 

including an exemption for certain 

safety appliance laws (collectively, 

Impacted FRA Safety Standards). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Matthew Brewer, Staff Director, FRA 

Engineering and Technology Division, 

Office of Railroad Safety at (509) 994– 

1978 or email: matthew.brewer@dot.gov; 

or Michael Masci, Senior Attorney 

Adviser, Office of the Chief Counsel, 

telephone: (202) 302–7117 or email: 

michael.masci@dot.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

Petitioners’ submission (available in 

docket FRA–2023–0066 at 

www.regulations.gov) explains that the 

proposed Test Program involves a 

system of novel, self-propelled, zeroemission, battery-electric rail vehicles 

and their associated computer and 

telemetry technology systems, 

manufactured by Parallel Systems, Inc. 

The vehicle concept consists of a single 

intermodal container carried by two 

autonomous rail vehicles (AVs). Each 

rail AV is propelled by a battery and 

traction motor and has the necessary 

sensors, radios, and computers to be 

independent. Through hand-held 

controls or via the dispatch center, the 

AVs receive instructions to move either 

individually (e.g., 2 AVs with one 

container) or with a group of AVs to 

operate in a platoon.1 Petitioners note 

that following testing of the AVs’ 

braking system and other components at 

a test site owned by MxV Rail, the 

Program, if approved, would take place 

in seven phases on a 160-mile segment 

of track in central Georgia,2 to 

progressively test and aim to prove the 

technology and collect data to support 

the safety case. 

Petitioners state that the goal of the 

technology is to provide smaller freight 

railroads an opportunity to 

meaningfully compete in the short-haul 

transportation of containers, and the 

technology would provide public 

benefits for the environment, the 

economy, the national highway system, 

and communities disproportionately 

impacted by highway movement of 

containers. Petitioners contend that 

‘‘safety is an overriding focus of the 

proposed Program,’’ and Petitioners 

have developed, and will adhere to, a 

Pilot Test Safety Plan (Safety Plan), 

Exhibit C of the submission, to ensure 

safety during testing. Petitioners explain 

the ‘‘Safety Plan includes protocols for 

hazard analysis, control, and 

verification of controls which will be 

reviewed by six technical working 

groups who will consider the risks 

associated with each phase and the 

necessary actions to mitigate each risk.’’ 

Petitioners provide that the Program, 

detailed in Exhibit B of the submission, 

‘‘is based on seven phases of tightly 

structured and closely monitored field 

testing.’’ The Program would use the 

‘‘results of testing performed during 

each phase’’ ‘‘to evaluate the safety of 

the proceeding phase.’’ The Program 

would collect ‘‘data and service history’’ 

and then ‘‘evaluate changes in the 

design of the System, its components, 

and the relevant operating procedures in 

support of further testing before any 

proposed use of the System outside of 

the Program.’’ The Program includes a 

structured sequence of test phases to 

‘‘allow collection and evaluation of the 

operating data in progressively more 

complex operating conditions.’’ 

Petitioners emphasize that the priority 

‘‘of each phase of the Program is to 

assure safety of railroad employees, 

other persons and property, and the 

general public along the railroad lines 

that will be used for the Program.’’ 

Petitioners state that the Program is 

‘‘designed to evaluate the effectiveness 

of the system and new operational 

approaches to rail vehicle technology in 

the short-haul movement of containers.’’ 

As described in Exhibit B of the 

submission, the Program will gather 

‘‘quantitative and qualitative data’’ in 

each phase and evaluate the reliability, 

compatibility, and cost of operation, 

along with a safety analysis. 

Additionally, phase-specific testing 

objectives are identified in the 

submission (e.g., to determine if 

conditions at the test track affect 

controllability of the vehicle, as well as 

identify any sources of variation 

between phases). 

The testing is planned in seven 

phases, with defined success criteria 

that must be achieved prior to FRA 

approval to move to the next test phase: 

• Phase 1—Verification of Vehicle 

Communications, Traction and Braking: 

Criteria to move to the next phase 

include successful validation of all 

vehicle controls and validation of all 

field test procedures, communication, 

and safety protocols. 

• Phase 2—Testing Over a Longer 

Distance and More Diverse Territory: 

Criteria to move to the next phase 

include successful validation of all 

vehicle controls throughout the longer 

distances and more diverse territory, 

control of the vehicle is fully validated, 

and confirmation of shunting at a grade 

crossing. 

• Phase 3—Validation of Remote 

Capability of Vehicle With Direct 

Supervision: Criteria to move to the next 

phase include successful validation of 

all vehicle controls over the broader 

environment, validation of remote 

monitoring and video links, including 

back-up when communications fail, and 

shunting validation over the territory. 

• Phase 4—Testing and Data 

Gathering With Extended Remote 

Operations: Criteria to move to the next 

phase include final validation of all 

vehicle controls, validation of remote 

monitoring and video links, including 

back-up when there is a 

communications failure, and shunting 

validation over the territory. 

• Phase 5—Vehicle Upgrades To 

Enhance Reliability and Performance 

(Based on Previous Phases): Criteria to 

move to the next phase include revalidation of all vehicle controls, revalidation of remote monitoring and 

video links, including back-up when 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
9054 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 23 / Wednesday, February 5, 2025 / Notices 

3 49 CFR part 218, Operating Practices: §§ 218.55 

through 59. 

49 CFR part 229, Locomotive Safety Standards: 

§§ 229.9(a)(3), 229.13, 229.15(a)(10), 229.29, 229.47, 

229.53, 229.55(b), 229.71, 229.115(a) and (c), 

229.117, 229.119, 229.127, 229.131(a), 229.137, 

229.139, 229.141, 229.201 through 206, 229.301 

through 319. 

49 CFR part 231, Railroad Safety Appliance 

Standards: §§ 231.6(a), 231.6(d), 231.6(e). 

49 CFR part 232, Brake System Safety Standards 

for Freight and Other Non-Passenger Trains and 

Equipment: §§ 232.103(f), (g), (j), (k), (l), (m), (n), 

(o), 232.205–212, 232.215, 232.303, 232.305, 

232.503, 232.505. 

49 CFR part 236—Rules, Standards, and 

Instructions Governing the Installation, Inspection, 

Maintenance and Repair of Signal and Train 

Control Systems, Devices, and Appliances, 

§ 236.913. 

49 CFR parts 240 and 242—Qualification and 

Certification of Engineers and Conductors: 

§§ 240.103 and 242.103. 

49 U.S.C. 20302. 

4 In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 20306, FRA may 

exempt Petitioners from the statutory requirements 

in 49 U.S.C. 20302 based on evidence received and 

findings developed at a hearing demonstrating that 

the statutory requirements ‘‘preclude the 

development or implementation of more efficient 

railroad transportation equipment or other 

transportation innovations under existing law’’ or 

an ‘‘agreement between national railroad labor 

representatives and the developer of the new 

equipment or technology.’’ See 49 U.S.C. 20306(a), 

(b)(2). 

5Per 49 CFR 211.51. 

6Conditions 1 through 23 are incorporated from 

FRA’s decision letter. 7 49 CFR parts 214, 218, 240, 242, and 243. 

communications fail, and shunting revalidation over the territory with the 

upgraded vehicle. 

• Phase 6—Concurrent Operations of 

Vehicle With Conventional Train 

Service: Criteria to move to the next 

phase include all vehicle controls and 

functionality are reliable, intermixed 

operations are validated, remote 

monitoring and video links are reliable, 

and shunting is validated. 

• Phase 7—Traverse Entire Route 

WithMultiple Vehicles (Platooning): At 

the completion of Phase 7, the vehicle 

controls and functionality will be 

reliable, intermixed operations 

validated, platooning operations 

validated, remote monitoring and video 

links reliable, and shunting validated. 

FRA conducted a public hearing on 

March 12, 2024, to provide the public 

an opportunity to provide oral comment 

on the petition. Additionally, as 

explained in Petitioners’ submission, 

Petitioners have performed outreach to 

local, State, and federal government 

representatives, and local authorities in 

Georgia. 

Evaluation of Petition 

After review and analysis of 

Petitioners’ submission and public 

comments, FRA approves temporary, 

limited suspension of compliance with 

Impacted FRA Safety Standards 3 4 in 

connection with the Test Program, 

subject to certain conditions designed to 

ensure safety.5

FRA finds that the temporary, limited 

suspension of Impacted FRA Safety 

Standards is necessary to the conduct of 

the approved Test Program, which is 

specifically designed to test selfpropelled, zero-emission, batteryelectric rail vehicles and their 

associated computer and telemetry 

technology systems and evaluate the 

effectiveness of the system and new 

operational approaches to rail vehicle 

technology in the short-haul movement 

of containers. Many of the suspensions 

are necessary because the newly 

designed equipment does not have 

certain conventional mechanical 

elements to which the regulations 

apply. For example, the vehicle does not 

have a cab and does not couple to other 

equipment. Similarly, there is no need 

for hand holds, ladders, or other safety 

appliances, because the vehicle is 

autonomous. FRA acknowledges the 

Petitioners have installed some safety 

appliances for use during maintenance 

and in the event of failure recovery of 

the vehicle. Suspension of the 

prohibition against tampering with 

safety devices is also necessary to 

perform the testing. For these tests, 

other safety mitigations are in place to 

ensure the safety of the employees and 

public. 

Furthermore, FRA also finds that the 

scope and application of the 

suspensions, as applied to the Test 

Program, are limited to that necessary to 

conduct the Test Program. Each of the 

seven phases would take place in a 

limited, clearly defined area as 

described in the Test Program. 

Ultimately, the entire Test Program is 

limited to a 160-mile segment of track 

in central Georgia. 

Finally, FRA’s temporary, limited 

suspension of compliance with 

Impacted FRA Safety Standards is 

conditioned on the observance of the 

following conditions (incorporated here, 

as listed in FRA’s decision letter dated 

January 15, 2025) 6 to ensure safety: 

1. Petitioners must provide to FRA the 

projected scheduled testing for each 

phase outlined in their submission. FRA 

subject matter experts (SMEs) will use 

this information to plan and conduct 

site visits to monitor testing for 

compliance with the conditions 

outlined in this notice and for 

observation. 

2. During each pilot phase readiness 

review, a multi-disciplinary team 

consisting of GC and HOG 

representatives (including operating and 

maintenance staff), Parallel Systems, 

and FRA, will review the results of each 

phase of testing and evaluate the 

readiness and safety of transitioning to 

the next test phase. Documentation 

must be provided at the completion of 

each phase to verify and validate that 

the criteria and metrics are met. Prior to 

Phase 1, GC and HOG representatives 

(including operating and maintenance 

staff), Parallel Systems, and FRA will 

hold a safety design review to discuss in 

detail the specific safety features that 

are designed into the system to ensure 

safety, including brake system design, 

electrical storage/regenerative braking, 

and emergency stop procedures. Only 

upon FRA’s written approval will 

Petitioners be able to continue with the 

next phase of testing. 

3. The testing must be restricted to the 

territory and mileposts documented in 

the Petitioners’ submission, in dark 

territory under track warrant control. 

4. Only railroad or designated 

representatives trained and qualified on 

Federal safety rules 7 and railroad safety 

rules will operate the equipment. 

5. All mechanical inspections must be 

performed by a qualified inspector. 

6. All grade crossings must be flagged 

for all phases where crossings are 

present. 

7. Equipment must be inspected daily 

prior to use and each control console 

must be equipped with a digital banner 

indicating the equipment is safe to 

operate, or if there is a defective 

component, the banner must indicate 

the defect and prevent operation until 

the defect is repaired. Each control 

console must also have an accurate 

speed display. 

8. Each vehicle must have an 

appropriate direction of movement 

indicator light on the end of the vehicle 

that faces the direction of travel. The 

trailing end of the vehicle must have a 

rear end marker identifying the rear of 

the vehicle. 

9. Each vehicle must be equipped 

with an operable audible warning 

device (bells/whistle/alarm) that sounds 

at the required decibel level (see 49 CFR 

229.129(a)) prior to vehicle movement 

or over grade crossings. 

10. Each vehicle must be equipped 

with a manual safety bus cut out switch 

located in a safe accessible position not 

on the ends of the vehicle, as well as 

having electronic remote safety stop 

capability on each control device as a 

first option to ensure personnel are out 

of harm’s way when initiating an 

emergency stop. 

11. Documentation must include clear 

instructions on how to test, inspect, 

maintain, and operate the brake system 


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Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 23 / Wednesday, February 5, 2025 / Notices 9055 

and what to do in the event of a brake 

failure. 

12. Documentation must clearly 

define procedures to ensure the vehicle 

does not move (roll back or forward) 

when initiating a movement, including 

performing a standing braking test. 

13. Brake calibration/inspection/ 

maintenance processes must be clearly 

outlined and adhered to for the duration 

of the test. 

14. Communications loss criteria 

between the vehicle and operator must 

be documented on the FRA Form 

6180.49A (blue card). Length of 

communications loss before an 

automatic brake application must be 

documented prior to operation. 

15. Test Program must address 

electronic safety features during the 

handoff between traction and braking. 

The Program must identify failsafe stop/ 

emergency procedures in the event of a 

failure, outlining the electronics logic 

on how to enforce an emergency stop 

when there is a fault. 

16. Test Program must provide a 

complete description of the braking 

technology process, including how 

energy stored in the batteries is 

managed to prevent overcharge from 

regenerative braking. 

17. Petitioners must provide 

emergency response training for all 

emergency responders who might be 

called to respond in the event of an 

emergency. 

18. Although these vehicles do not 

couple, there must be a provision for a 

rescue coupler or alternate process to 

provide a safe way to move the vehicle 

in the event of a system failure or 

emergency. 

19. Petitioners must produce and 

provide FRA with a monthly test report 

in a common electronic format 

reviewable by FRA (such as in an Excel 

file). The report will contain 

information pertaining to the test area to 

include vehicle identification, date of 

each test, geographic (milepost) limits of 

the test, issues identified, anomalies and 

proposed solutions. 

20. Prior to advancing beyond Phase 

2 and in accordance with Condition 2, 

petitioners must provide FRA with 

specific documentation explaining how 

safety-critical products were developed, 

how the equipment is inspected, a 

concept of operations, maintenance 

schedule and a thorough testing plan 

indicating what constitutes a pass or 

fail. Petitioners must also describe how 

personnel working with safety-critical 

products will be trained to perform 

functions of the Program safely. 

Petitioners must provide FRA with an 

updated Railroad Safety Program Plan 

and Product Safety Plan and obtain FRA 

approval before any Phase 3 testing 

begins. 

21. All personnel involved in the 

process outlined in this approval must 

be informed of the content and be aware 

of the conditions prior to participation 

in the process. Petitioners must make 

readily available at every test segment 

location a copy of the waiver decision 

letter and the test program and any 

amendments prior to participation in 

the test. 

22. As this technology and operating 

approach does not involve a locomotive 

cab where facilities would normally be 

located, the Petitioners must make 

available lavatory facilities for operating 

and test crews. 

23. End handholds and uncoupling 

levers are not applicable to this 

equipment because it does not couple. 

Based on evidence during the March 

2024 hearing, FRA exempts Petitioners 

from the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 

20302 for purposes of testing this new 

technology. The purpose of the statute 

is to protect employees who are between 

traditional rail equipment lacing air 

hoses and coupling equipment, but, 

because this novel equipment being 

tested does not couple or have air hoses, 

the risk has been engineered out. 

Conclusion 

This test program is approved. Based 

on the consideration and analysis of 

data gathered during the Program, or 

upon Petitioners’ written request, FRA 

may modify or rescind the approval. 

Issued in Washington, DC. 

Kyle David Fields, 

Chief Counsel. 

[FR Doc. 2025–02252 Filed 2–4–25; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–06–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 

Office of the Comptroller of the 

Currency 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities: Information Collection 

Renewal; Submission for OMB Review; 

Company-Run Annual Stress Test 

Reporting Template and 

Documentation for Covered 

Institutions With Total Consolidated 

Assets of $250 Billion or More Under 

the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and 

Consumer Protection Act 

AGENCY: Office of the Comptroller of the 

Currency (OCC), Treasury. 

ACTION: Notice and request for comment. 

SUMMARY: The OCC, as part of its 

continuing effort to reduce paperwork 

and respondent burden, invites 

comment on a continuing information 

collection, as required by the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). In 

accordance with the requirements of the 

PRA, the OCC may not conduct or 

sponsor, and the respondent is not 

required to respond to, an information 

collection unless it displays a currently 

valid Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) control number. The OCC is 

soliciting comment concerning a 

revision to its information collection 

titled, ‘‘Company-Run Annual Stress 

Test Reporting Template and 

Documentation for Covered Institutions 

with Total Consolidated Assets of $250 

Billion or More under the Dodd-Frank 

Wall Street Reform and Consumer 

Protection Act.’’ The OCC also is giving 

notice that it has sent the collection to 

OMB for review. 

DATES: Comments must be received by 

March 7, 2025. 

ADDRESSES: Commenters are encouraged 

to submit comments by email, if 

possible. You may submit comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Email: prainfo@occ.treas.gov. 

• Mail: Chief Counsel’s Office, 

Attention: Comment Processing, Office 

of the Comptroller of the Currency, 

Attention: 1557–0319, 400 7th Street 

SW, Suite 3E–218, Washington, DC 

20219. 

• Hand Delivery/Courier: 400 7th 

Street SW, Suite 3E–218, Washington, 

DC 20219. 

• Fax: (571) 293–4835. 

Instructions: You must include 

‘‘OCC’’ as the agency name and ‘‘1557– 

0319’’ in your comment. In general, the 

OCC will publish comments on 

www.reginfo.gov without change, 

including any business or personal 

information provided, such as name and 

address information, email addresses, or 

phone numbers. Comments received, 

including attachments and other 

supporting materials, are part of the 

public record and subject to public 

disclosure. Do not include any 

information in your comment or 

supporting materials that you consider 

confidential or inappropriate for public 

disclosure. 

Written comments and 

recommendations for the proposed 

information collection should also be 

sent within 30 days of publication of 

this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/ 

do/PRAMain. You can find this 

information collection by selecting 

‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open 

for Public Comments’’ or by using the 

search function. 

You may review comments and other 

related materials that pertain to this 

information collection following the 


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