Northwestern Pacific Railroad Co.; Notice of Partial Relief from Emergency Order No. 21, 27171-27172 [2011-11272]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 90 / Tuesday, May 10, 2011 / Notices
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review DOT’s complete Privacy Act
Statement in the Federal Register
published on April 11, 2000 (Volume
65, Number 70; Pages 19477–78).
Issued in Washington, DC on May 4, 2011.
Robert C. Lauby,
Deputy Associate Administrator for
Regulatory & Legislative Operations.
[FR Doc. 2011–11281 Filed 5–9–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[FRA Emergency Order No. 21, Notice No.
4]
Northwestern Pacific Railroad Co.;
Notice of Partial Relief from
Emergency Order No. 21
Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of partial relief.
AGENCY:
In response to a November 11,
2010, petition, this notice provides
partial relief for the Northwestern
Pacific Railroad Co. (NWP Co.) from the
limitations of FRA Emergency Order No.
21. The relief allows the NWP Co. to reopen to rail traffic approximately 61.1
miles of trackage owned by Sonoma
Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) 1
extending between (1) a point
designated as Brazos Junction, milepost
(MP) B49.8 and the Ignacio Wye, MP 5–
25.8 and (2) a point designated as MP
62.9 near Windsor, California.
Emergency Order No. 21 remains in
effect between MP 62.9 near Windsor,
California and MP 295.5 at Arcata,
California, except for the partial relief
from Emergency Order No. 21 that FRA
granted in Emergency Order No. 21,
Notice 2, for approximately 1.5 miles of
track and certain yard track in Willits,
California.
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
Authority
Authority to enforce Federal railroad
safety laws has been delegated by the
Secretary of Transportation to the
Administrator of FRA. See 49 U.S.C.
103; 49 CFR 1.49. FRA is authorized to
issue emergency orders where an unsafe
condition or practice ‘‘causes an
emergency situation involving a hazard
1 On January 1, 2003, SMART was formed as an
entity that was formally comprised of the Golden
Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District,
Marin County, and the Northwestern Railroad
Authority.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:02 May 09, 2011
Jkt 223001
of death, personal injury or significant
harm to the environment. * * *’’ 49
U.S.C. 20104(a). These orders may
impose such ‘‘restrictions and
prohibitions * * * that may be
necessary to abate the situation.’’ Id.
Likewise, FRA is authorized to grant
relief from an emergency order when
the agency deems that the unsafe
condition or practice that gave rise to
the emergency order no longer exists.
Background on Emergency Order No.
21
On November 25, 1998, FRA issued
Emergency Order No. 21, Notice No. 1
addressed to ‘‘the Northwestern Pacific
Railroad,’’ requiring it to—
discontinue operation by anyone of trains on
[that railroad’s] rail line from mile post 295.5
at Arcata, California to mile post 63.4
between Schellville, California and Napa
Junction, California until the [railroad]
inspects and properly repairs its track and
grade crossing signals, and it trains its
employees how to properly maintain the
safety of its track and grade crossing signals.
63 FR 67976 (Dec. 9, 1998). The only
exception to the prohibition on train
operations over that rail line was for
‘‘the operation of work trains for the
specific and sole purpose of effecting
repairs on the railroad.’’ 63 FR 67978.
On May 28, 1999, FRA granted the
petition of the Northwestern Pacific
Railway Company, LLC (NWPY) 2 for
partial relief from Emergency Order No.
21 for approximately 1.5 miles of track
owned by the North Coast Railroad
Authority (NCRA) 3 near Willits,
California, including trackage between
the junction of the California Western
Railroad and the Willits Depot, as well
as Tracks 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, 709, and
711 in Willits Yard. Emergency Order
No. 21, Notice No. 2, 64 FR 30557 (June
8, 1999).
On February 1, 2001, FRA granted
NWPY’s petition for partial relief from
Emergency Order No. 21 for
approximately 40.8 miles of track,
owned by Northwestern Pacific Railroad
Authority, a joint powers agency
representing the Golden Gate Bridge,
Highway and Transportation District,
the County of Marin, and NCRA,
between MP 49.8S (formerly designated
2 In Emergency Order 21, Notices No. 1–3,
Northwestern Pacific Railway Company, LLC was
referred to as ‘‘Northwestern Pacific Railroad’’ and
‘‘NWP’’; however, the correct name of the railroad
was ‘‘Northwestern Pacific Railway Company, LLC,’’
and was more commonly referred to as ‘‘NWPY’’ in
the railroad industry.
3 The North Coast Railroad Authority is ‘‘a
California public agency formed pursuant to
California Government Code Section 93000 et seq.,’’
that ‘‘owns and operates that portion of the NWP
between Healdsburg, mile post 68, and Arcata.’’ 64
FR 30557.
PO 00000
Frm 00171
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
27171
as MP 63.4, near Lombard, California)
and MP 43.0, near Petaluma, California.
Emergency Order No. 21, Notice No. 3,
66 FR 9625 (Feb. 8, 2001).4 NWPY
ceased operations in September 2001.
Standard for Obtaining Full Relief
From Emergency Order No. 21
In order to gain full relief from
Emergency Order No. 21, NWP Co. must
take the following actions, which were
specified in that order:
(1) Properly repair and inspect all grade
crossing signals and certify to the FRA
Administrator that all necessary repairs and
inspections have been performed and that all
required tests are up-to-date.
(2) Adopt a set of grade crossing signal
standards and instructions acceptable by
FRA. * * *
(3) Update, correct and/or redraw circuit
plans for each the grade crossing signal
system to meet compliance with 49 CFR
234.201 and 234.203. A list of locations of
the updated, corrected or redrawn circuit
plans shall be submitted to the Regional
Administrator for Region 7.
(4) Provide proper and adequate test
equipment for signal maintainers.
(5) Repair all track not subject to
Emergency Order No. 14 to Class 1 track
standards as detailed in 49 CFR part 213.
[Note: Emergency Order No. 14 already
requires the Northwestern Pacific Railroad to
repair all track subject to that order to class
1 track standards for the hauling of
passengers and all hazardous materials.
Otherwise, the railroad may designate the
track still subject to that order as excepted.]
(6) Clear all vegetation from drainage
facilities and away from signs and signals
and track bed so that the track meets the
requirements of 49 CFR 213.37.
(7) Furnish FRA with a 12-month track
maintenance plan.* * *
(8) Establish a program of employee
training on the Federal Track Standards to
ensure that employees performing
inspection, maintenance, and restoration
work are qualified in accordance with 49
CFR 213.7. * * *
(9) Certify in writing that each individual
conducting track inspections has sufficient
knowledge, skills, and ability to successfully
conduct the types of inspections that will be
performed by that individual. Records of that
certification are to be maintained by the
railroad.
(10) Obtain written approval from the FRA
Administrator that all of the requirements of
this Emergency Order have been met and
properly performed. * * *
63 FR 67978–67979.
Emergency Order No. 21, Notice No. 1,
allows for partial relief for designated
portions of the trackage subject to the
Emergency Order. The railroad is first
required to meet all of the system-wide
requirements, as listed in Items 2, 4, 7, 8, and
9, above. The railroad may then obtain from
4 The November 11, 2010, request by NWP Co.
and the NCRA for partial relief includes the track
for which relief was granted on February 1, 2001.
E:\FR\FM\10MYN1.SGM
10MYN1
27172
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 90 / Tuesday, May 10, 2011 / Notices
FRA partial relief for any portion of the line
for which all of the requirements of the
Emergency Order are met. 63 FR 67979.
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
November 11, 2010, Request for Partial
Relief From Emergency Order No. 21
By letter dated November 11, 2010, in
accordance with the terms of Emergency
Order No. 21, Notice No. 1, NWP Co. and the
NCRA 5 formally requested that FRA grant
partial relief from the Emergency Order for
the SMART-owned rail line between (1) a
point designated as Brazos Junction, milepost
MP B49.8 and the Ignacio Wye, MP 5–25.8
and (2) a point designated as MP 62.9 near
Windsor, California.
In this letter, NWP Co and NCRA,
represented to FRA that it has met all of the
system-wide requirements of Emergency
Order No. 21, namely—
• NWP Co. has adopted a set of grade
crossing signal standards and instructions
that is acceptable to FRA;
• NWP Co. has entered into a contract with
Summit Signal, Inc., a signal maintenance
company, for the maintenance of NWP Co.
signals. NWP Co. has provided proper and
adequate test equipment for all signal
maintainers;
• NWP Co. has furnished to FRA a 12month track maintenance plan that includes
all of the necessary information required by
Emergency Order No. 21;
• NWP Co. has furnished to FRA a copy
of the employee training program on the
Federal Track Safety Standards;
• NWP Co. has certified, in writing, that
each individual conducting track inspections
has sufficient knowledge, skills, and ability
to successfully conduct the types of
inspections that will be performed by that
individual.
FRA has verified these representations and
determined that NWP Co. is in compliance at
this time with the system-wide requirements;
therefore, NWP Co. is eligible to request
partial relief for the designated segment
between (1) Brazos Junction, milepost MP
B49.8 and the Ignacio Wye, MP 5–25.8 and
(2) MP 62.9 near Windsor, California. FRA
will monitor the railroad to determine
whether it continues to comply with these
system-wide requirements.
During the week of January 3, 2011, FRA
inspected the track for which the NWP Co.
has requested relief from Emergency Order
No. 21 in its November 11, 2010, letter. The
track inspection revealed certain FRA Class
1 defective conditions, which were reviewed
and discussed with representatives of NWP
Co. the same week. A follow-up inspection
was conducted on January 6, 2011, and FRA
determined that NWP Co. had corrected the
defective track conditions that were
identified on the main track and siding.
During the week of January 3, 2011, FRA
also inspected the grade crossing signal
5 North Coast Railroad Authority is the owner of
a perpetual, exclusive freight easement over the
trackage involved in the request. On September 13,
2006, NWP Co. was formed and entered into a lease
agreement with the NCRA as the sole operator of
all freight trains, work trains, and passenger
excursion trains over the line. NWP Co. is also
designated as the company that will manage and
maintain freight railroad operations over the NCRA
and SMART properties.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:02 May 09, 2011
Jkt 223001
systems on the track for which NWP Co.
requested relief from Emergency Order No.
21 and found that not all necessary repairs,
inspections, and tests had been performed.
During the week of January 31, 2011, FRA
conducted a follow-up inspection and
determined that NWP Co. had corrected the
defective grade crossing signal systems
conditions and that all grade crossing signal
systems on the track segment for which NWP
Co. is seeking relief are in compliance with
FRA regulations.
Grant of Partial Relief
In light of the foregoing, I grant NWP Co.
partial relief from Emergency Order No. 21.
The segment of track owned by SMART
extending between (1) a point designated as
Brazos Junction, milepost MP B49.8 and the
Ignacio Wye, MP 5–25.8 and (2) a point
designated as MP 62.9 near Windsor,
California, may open immediately to rail
traffic. The issuance of this notice of partial
relief does not preclude imposition of
another emergency order governing the
segment of track should conditions of the
track or rail operations deteriorate to the
extent that I believe they pose an imminent
and unacceptable threat to public safety.
Issued in Washington, DC, on May 4, 2011.
Joseph C. Szabo,
Administrator, Federal Railroad
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011–11272 Filed 5–5–11; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
[FTA Docket No. 2011–0029]
Notice of Request for the
Reinstatement of an Information
Collection
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ACTION:
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PO 00000
Frm 00172
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E:\FR\FM\10MYN1.SGM
10MYN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 10, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27171-27172]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-11272]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[FRA Emergency Order No. 21, Notice No. 4]
Northwestern Pacific Railroad Co.; Notice of Partial Relief from
Emergency Order No. 21
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of partial relief.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In response to a November 11, 2010, petition, this notice
provides partial relief for the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Co. (NWP
Co.) from the limitations of FRA Emergency Order No. 21. The relief
allows the NWP Co. to re-open to rail traffic approximately 61.1 miles
of trackage owned by Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) \1\
extending between (1) a point designated as Brazos Junction, milepost
(MP) B49.8 and the Ignacio Wye, MP 5-25.8 and (2) a point designated as
MP 62.9 near Windsor, California. Emergency Order No. 21 remains in
effect between MP 62.9 near Windsor, California and MP 295.5 at Arcata,
California, except for the partial relief from Emergency Order No. 21
that FRA granted in Emergency Order No. 21, Notice 2, for approximately
1.5 miles of track and certain yard track in Willits, California.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ On January 1, 2003, SMART was formed as an entity that was
formally comprised of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and
Transportation District, Marin County, and the Northwestern Railroad
Authority.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Authority
Authority to enforce Federal railroad safety laws has been
delegated by the Secretary of Transportation to the Administrator of
FRA. See 49 U.S.C. 103; 49 CFR 1.49. FRA is authorized to issue
emergency orders where an unsafe condition or practice ``causes an
emergency situation involving a hazard of death, personal injury or
significant harm to the environment. * * *'' 49 U.S.C. 20104(a). These
orders may impose such ``restrictions and prohibitions * * * that may
be necessary to abate the situation.'' Id. Likewise, FRA is authorized
to grant relief from an emergency order when the agency deems that the
unsafe condition or practice that gave rise to the emergency order no
longer exists.
Background on Emergency Order No. 21
On November 25, 1998, FRA issued Emergency Order No. 21, Notice No.
1 addressed to ``the Northwestern Pacific Railroad,'' requiring it to--
discontinue operation by anyone of trains on [that railroad's] rail
line from mile post 295.5 at Arcata, California to mile post 63.4
between Schellville, California and Napa Junction, California until
the [railroad] inspects and properly repairs its track and grade
crossing signals, and it trains its employees how to properly
maintain the safety of its track and grade crossing signals.
63 FR 67976 (Dec. 9, 1998). The only exception to the prohibition on
train operations over that rail line was for ``the operation of work
trains for the specific and sole purpose of effecting repairs on the
railroad.'' 63 FR 67978.
On May 28, 1999, FRA granted the petition of the Northwestern
Pacific Railway Company, LLC (NWPY) \2\ for partial relief from
Emergency Order No. 21 for approximately 1.5 miles of track owned by
the North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA) \3\ near Willits, California,
including trackage between the junction of the California Western
Railroad and the Willits Depot, as well as Tracks 20, 24, 25, 26, 27,
709, and 711 in Willits Yard. Emergency Order No. 21, Notice No. 2, 64
FR 30557 (June 8, 1999).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ In Emergency Order 21, Notices No. 1-3, Northwestern Pacific
Railway Company, LLC was referred to as ``Northwestern Pacific
Railroad'' and ``NWP''; however, the correct name of the railroad
was ``Northwestern Pacific Railway Company, LLC,'' and was more
commonly referred to as ``NWPY'' in the railroad industry.
\3\ The North Coast Railroad Authority is ``a California public
agency formed pursuant to California Government Code Section 93000
et seq.,'' that ``owns and operates that portion of the NWP between
Healdsburg, mile post 68, and Arcata.'' 64 FR 30557.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
On February 1, 2001, FRA granted NWPY's petition for partial relief
from Emergency Order No. 21 for approximately 40.8 miles of track,
owned by Northwestern Pacific Railroad Authority, a joint powers agency
representing the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation
District, the County of Marin, and NCRA, between MP 49.8S (formerly
designated as MP 63.4, near Lombard, California) and MP 43.0, near
Petaluma, California. Emergency Order No. 21, Notice No. 3, 66 FR 9625
(Feb. 8, 2001).\4\ NWPY ceased operations in September 2001.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ The November 11, 2010, request by NWP Co. and the NCRA for
partial relief includes the track for which relief was granted on
February 1, 2001.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standard for Obtaining Full Relief From Emergency Order No. 21
In order to gain full relief from Emergency Order No. 21, NWP Co.
must take the following actions, which were specified in that order:
(1) Properly repair and inspect all grade crossing signals and
certify to the FRA Administrator that all necessary repairs and
inspections have been performed and that all required tests are up-
to-date.
(2) Adopt a set of grade crossing signal standards and
instructions acceptable by FRA. * * *
(3) Update, correct and/or redraw circuit plans for each the
grade crossing signal system to meet compliance with 49 CFR 234.201
and 234.203. A list of locations of the updated, corrected or
redrawn circuit plans shall be submitted to the Regional
Administrator for Region 7.
(4) Provide proper and adequate test equipment for signal
maintainers.
(5) Repair all track not subject to Emergency Order No. 14 to
Class 1 track standards as detailed in 49 CFR part 213. [Note:
Emergency Order No. 14 already requires the Northwestern Pacific
Railroad to repair all track subject to that order to class 1 track
standards for the hauling of passengers and all hazardous materials.
Otherwise, the railroad may designate the track still subject to
that order as excepted.]
(6) Clear all vegetation from drainage facilities and away from
signs and signals and track bed so that the track meets the
requirements of 49 CFR 213.37.
(7) Furnish FRA with a 12-month track maintenance plan.* * *
(8) Establish a program of employee training on the Federal
Track Standards to ensure that employees performing inspection,
maintenance, and restoration work are qualified in accordance with
49 CFR 213.7. * * *
(9) Certify in writing that each individual conducting track
inspections has sufficient knowledge, skills, and ability to
successfully conduct the types of inspections that will be performed
by that individual. Records of that certification are to be
maintained by the railroad.
(10) Obtain written approval from the FRA Administrator that all
of the requirements of this Emergency Order have been met and
properly performed. * * *
63 FR 67978-67979.
Emergency Order No. 21, Notice No. 1, allows for partial relief
for designated portions of the trackage subject to the Emergency
Order. The railroad is first required to meet all of the system-wide
requirements, as listed in Items 2, 4, 7, 8, and 9, above. The
railroad may then obtain from
[[Page 27172]]
FRA partial relief for any portion of the line for which all of the
requirements of the Emergency Order are met. 63 FR 67979.
November 11, 2010, Request for Partial Relief From Emergency Order No.
21
By letter dated November 11, 2010, in accordance with the terms
of Emergency Order No. 21, Notice No. 1, NWP Co. and the NCRA \5\
formally requested that FRA grant partial relief from the Emergency
Order for the SMART-owned rail line between (1) a point designated
as Brazos Junction, milepost MP B49.8 and the Ignacio Wye, MP 5-25.8
and (2) a point designated as MP 62.9 near Windsor, California.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ North Coast Railroad Authority is the owner of a perpetual,
exclusive freight easement over the trackage involved in the
request. On September 13, 2006, NWP Co. was formed and entered into
a lease agreement with the NCRA as the sole operator of all freight
trains, work trains, and passenger excursion trains over the line.
NWP Co. is also designated as the company that will manage and
maintain freight railroad operations over the NCRA and SMART
properties.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In this letter, NWP Co and NCRA, represented to FRA that it has
met all of the system-wide requirements of Emergency Order No. 21,
namely--
NWP Co. has adopted a set of grade crossing signal
standards and instructions that is acceptable to FRA;
NWP Co. has entered into a contract with Summit Signal,
Inc., a signal maintenance company, for the maintenance of NWP Co.
signals. NWP Co. has provided proper and adequate test equipment for
all signal maintainers;
NWP Co. has furnished to FRA a 12-month track
maintenance plan that includes all of the necessary information
required by Emergency Order No. 21;
NWP Co. has furnished to FRA a copy of the employee
training program on the Federal Track Safety Standards;
NWP Co. has certified, in writing, that each individual
conducting track inspections has sufficient knowledge, skills, and
ability to successfully conduct the types of inspections that will
be performed by that individual.
FRA has verified these representations and determined that NWP Co.
is in compliance at this time with the system-wide requirements;
therefore, NWP Co. is eligible to request partial relief for the
designated segment between (1) Brazos Junction, milepost MP B49.8
and the Ignacio Wye, MP 5-25.8 and (2) MP 62.9 near Windsor,
California. FRA will monitor the railroad to determine whether it
continues to comply with these system-wide requirements.
During the week of January 3, 2011, FRA inspected the track for
which the NWP Co. has requested relief from Emergency Order No. 21
in its November 11, 2010, letter. The track inspection revealed
certain FRA Class 1 defective conditions, which were reviewed and
discussed with representatives of NWP Co. the same week. A follow-up
inspection was conducted on January 6, 2011, and FRA determined that
NWP Co. had corrected the defective track conditions that were
identified on the main track and siding.
During the week of January 3, 2011, FRA also inspected the grade
crossing signal systems on the track for which NWP Co. requested
relief from Emergency Order No. 21 and found that not all necessary
repairs, inspections, and tests had been performed. During the week
of January 31, 2011, FRA conducted a follow-up inspection and
determined that NWP Co. had corrected the defective grade crossing
signal systems conditions and that all grade crossing signal systems
on the track segment for which NWP Co. is seeking relief are in
compliance with FRA regulations.
Grant of Partial Relief
In light of the foregoing, I grant NWP Co. partial relief from
Emergency Order No. 21. The segment of track owned by SMART
extending between (1) a point designated as Brazos Junction,
milepost MP B49.8 and the Ignacio Wye, MP 5-25.8 and (2) a point
designated as MP 62.9 near Windsor, California, may open immediately
to rail traffic. The issuance of this notice of partial relief does
not preclude imposition of another emergency order governing the
segment of track should conditions of the track or rail operations
deteriorate to the extent that I believe they pose an imminent and
unacceptable threat to public safety.
Issued in Washington, DC, on May 4, 2011.
Joseph C. Szabo,
Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011-11272 Filed 5-5-11; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P