Railroad safety: Hearings,

[Federal Register: March 22, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 56)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 15298]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr22mr00-35]

[[Page 15298]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

49 CFR Parts 222 and 229

[Docket No. FRA-1999-6439, Notice No. 3; Docket No. FRA-1999-6440]

RIN 2130-AA71

Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of public hearings.

SUMMARY: On January 13, 2000 (65 FR 2230), FRA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway- Rail Grade Crossings (Docket No. FRA-1999-6439). On the same date FRA released a Draft Environmental Assessment (DEIS) (Docket No. FRA-1999- 6440) pertaining to the proposals contained in the NPRM. In both documents, FRA stated that public hearings would be held in a number of locations throughout the country. On February 15, 2000 (65 FR 7483), FRA published in the Federal Register a document regarding hearings to be held, combined hearings on the NPRM and DEIS to be held in: Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles, California; Pendleton, Oregon; Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; and Salem, Massachusetts. FRA stated that a further document will be published and posted on FRA's web site (http:/ /fra.dot.gov) regarding hearings to be held in the remaining locations listed in the NPRM: Berea, Ohio; South Bend, Indiana; and Chicago, Illinois. This document provides information pertaining to those hearings as well as repeating the information contained in the original hearing document. At this time, although hearing dates have been established, specific hearing sites in Chicago, South Bend, and Berea have not been finalized. When final site arrangements have been made, FRA will publish a document in the Federal Register and post the additional information on its web site.

DATES: Public Hearings: Public hearings will be held in: 1. Washington, D.C. on March 6, 2000, beginning at 9 a.m.; 2. Los Angeles area, California on March 15, 2000, beginning at 9 a.m.; 3. Pendleton, Oregon on March 17, 2000, beginning at 9 a.m.; 4. Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on March 28, 2000, beginning at 9 a.m.; 5. Salem, Massachusetts on April 3, 2000, beginning at 9 a.m.; 6. South Bend, Indiana on April 10, 2000, beginning at 9 a.m.; 7. Chicago, Illinois area on--April 25, 2000, times to be determined,

April 26, 2000, times to be determined,

April 27, 2000; times to be determined; and 8. Berea, Ohio on May 1, 2000, times to be determined.

Please see Supplementary Information below for further information concerning participation in the public hearings.

ADDRESSES: Public Hearings: Public hearings will be held at the following locations:

1. Washington DC: Federal Aviation Administration Auditorium, Third Floor, Federal Office Building 10A, 800 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20591; 2. Los Angeles area: Doubletree Hotel, Catalina II Room, 3050 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92626; 3. Pendleton, Oregon: City Council Chambers, Pendleton City Hall, 500 Southwest Dorian Avenue, Pendleton, OR 97801; 4. Ft. Lauderdale, Florida: Doubletree Oceanfront Hotel, 440 Seabreeze Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316; 5. Salem, Massachusetts: National Park Service Visitor Center-- Auditorium, 2 New Liberty Street, Salem, MA 01970; 6. South Bend, Indiana: Specific location to be determined; 7. Chicago, Illinois: Specific locations to be determined; and 8. Berea, Ohio: Specific location to be determined.

FRA Docket Clerk: Docket Clerk, Office of Chief Counsel, Mail Stop 10, FRA, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20590. E-mail address for the FRA Docket Clerk is renee.bridgers@fra.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Ries, Office of Safety, FRA, 1120 Vermont Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590 (telephone: 202-493-6299); or Mark Tessler, Office of Chief Counsel, FRA, 1120 Vermont Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590 (telephone: 202-493-6038).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Any person wishing to provide testimony at one of the public hearings should notify FRA's Docket Clerk at the address above at least three working days prior to the date of the hearing. The notification should also provide either a telephone number or e-mail address at which the person may be contacted. If a participant will be representing an organization, please indicate the name of the organization.

FRA will attempt to accommodate all persons wishing to provide testimony, however depending on the number of people wishing to participate, FRA may find it necessary to limit the length of oral comments to accommodate as many people as possible. Participants may wish to submit a complete written statement for inclusion in the record, while orally summarizing the points made in that statement.

Issued in Washington, D.C. on March 10, 2000. Michael T. Haley, Deputy Chief Counsel, Federal Railroad Administration.

[FR Doc. 00-6445Filed3-21-00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-06-P