[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 17, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12811-12812]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-5754]
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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) has 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 from the requirements of 49
CFR part 236, as detailed below.
Norfolk Southern Corporation
[Docket Number FRA-2010-0011]
The Norfolk Southern Corporation (NS) seeks relief from the
requirements of the Rules, Standards, and Instructions, Title 49 CFR
236.377 Approach Locking, 236.378 Time Locking, 236.379 Route Locking,
236.380 Indication Locking, and 236.381 Traffic Locking, regarding
performance of locking test at intervals not to exceed 2 years, on
processor-based solid-state systems to the extent that only the
following be required every 4 years after initial testing or program
change:
1. Performing appropriate test on equipment external to the solid-
state interlocking at the interlocking site to verify integrity of this
equipment, including verifying the integrity of underground cable
connecting the solid-state interlocking to the external equipment.
Equipment that would be verified to the processor inputs would include
power switch control and indication, track circuit indication, signal
aspect control, and if used, searchlight signal control and indication.
2. Verifying that the executive and application software has not
changed since the previous locking test was made. This verification
includes verifying accuracy of the check sum and CRC values of all
programmable elements used in the solid-state interlocking equipment at
the interlocking, as well as verifying the correct version and revision
levels of the software being used. This verification is done by
comparing the parameters found on all programmable elements at the
location with those parameters found in the Software Management System
(SMS) for the location.
3. Verifying the run time of variable run time elements employed at
the solid-state interlocking and ensuring that the run times of these
are in accordance with timings specified on the design plans.
Applicant's justification for relief: NS feels that tests being
performed on a 2-year interval provide no real safety benefit since the
equipment operates using programmed logic that once installed does not
change. FRA's Subpart H rule-making has resulted in the invoking of a
strict software change and revision control process for application and
executive software of solid-state systems, with the underlying premise
of this rule-making being that safety is maintained when software
revision levels and software changes are controlled and managed. NS
believes that architectural features inherent to solid-state
interlockings permit them to consistently deliver enhanced safety as
compared to their relay-based counterparts. The dual microprocessor
design of these systems where identical processes are executed in
parallel and where these systems are able to continuously monitor
operational status as well as status of ancillary components enables
solid-state systems to deliver an overall superior level of safety as
compared to relay-based counterparts. NS believes that these attributes
have contributed to the solid-state's successful delivery of an
unparalleled track record in the areas of safety and reliability. NS
currently employs 650 solid-state interlocking systems, many of which
have been in service approaching 25 years. In the years since first
deployed, there have been no recorded instances of these systems
experiencing unsafe-side failure attributed to undetected system
hardware or executive software malfunction.
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 (e.g., Waiver Petition Docket Number FRA-
2010-0011) and may be submitted by any of the following methods:
Web site: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: Docket Operations Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200
[[Page 12812]]
New Jersey Avenue, SE., W12-140, Washington, DC 20590.
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 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
inspection and copying on the Internet at the docket facility's Web
site at http://www.regulations.gov.
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 document (or signing the
document, 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 (65 FR 19477) or at
http://www.dot.gov/privacy.html.
Issued in Washington, DC, on March 10, 2010.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program
Development.
[FR Doc. 2010-5754 Filed 3-16-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P