81 FR 56574 - Competitive Passenger Rail Service Pilot Program

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 162 (August 22, 2016)

Page Range		56574-56575
FR Document		2016-19910

On June 22, 2016, FRA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would implement a pilot program for competitive selection of eligible petitioners in lieu of Amtrak to operate not more than three long-distance routes operated by Amtrak. FRA is announcing a public hearing to provide interested persons an opportunity to provide oral comments on the proposal. FRA is also announcing an extension of the comment period for this proceeding to allow time for interested parties to submit written comments in response to views or information provided at the public hearing.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 162 (Monday, August 22, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 162 (Monday, August 22, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56574-56575]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19910]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

49 CFR Part 269

[Docket No. FRA-2016-0023, Notice No. 3]
RIN 2130-AC60


Competitive Passenger Rail Service Pilot Program

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public hearing and extension of 
comment period.

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SUMMARY: On June 22, 2016, FRA published a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NPRM) that would implement a pilot program for competitive 
selection of eligible petitioners in lieu of Amtrak to operate not more 
than three long-distance routes operated by Amtrak. FRA is announcing a 
public hearing to provide interested persons an opportunity to provide 
oral comments on the proposal. FRA is also announcing an extension of 
the comment period for this proceeding to allow time for interested 
parties to submit written comments in response to views or information 
provided at the public hearing.

DATES: A public hearing will be held on September 7, 2016, at 1:45 p.m. 
in Washington, DC. The comment period for the NPRM published on June 
22, 2016, (81 FR 40624) is open through August 22, 2016. Comments in 
response to views or information provided at the public hearing must be 
received by October 7, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Public Hearing. The public hearing will be held at the U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Conference 
Center Room 7, Washington, DC 20590.
    Comments. You may submit comments identified by Docket Number FRA-
2016-0023 by any of the following methods:
     Online: Comments should be filed at the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal, http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 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.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name, docket 
name, and docket number or Regulatory Identification Number (RIN) for 
this rulemaking (RIN 2130-AC60). FRA will post all comments received 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading in the 
``Supplementary Information'' section of this document for Privacy Act 
information about any submitted petitions, comments, or materials.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov at any time or to 
the U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West 
Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal Holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brandon White, Office of Railroad 
Policy and Development, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, (202) 493-1327, 
[email protected], or Zeb Schorr, Office of Chief Counsel, Federal 
Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 
20590, (202) 493-6072.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested parties are invited to present 
oral statements and to offer information and views at the hearing. The 
hearing will be informal and will be conducted by a representative FRA 
designates under FRA's Rules of Practice (49 CFR 211.25). The hearing 
will be a non-adversarial proceeding. Therefore, there will be no cross 
examination of persons presenting statements or offering evidence. An 
FRA representative will make an opening statement outlining the scope 
of the hearing. After all initial statements are completed those 
persons wishing to make a brief rebuttal will be given the opportunity 
to do so in the same order the initial statements were made. FRA will 
announce additional procedures necessary to conduct the hearing, at the 
hearing. The purpose of this hearing is to receive oral comments in 
response to an NPRM for a competitive passenger rail service pilot 
program. FRA will add a transcript of the discussions to the public 
docket in this proceeding.
    Public Participation Procedures. Any person wishing to make a 
statement at the hearing should notify Mr. White by telephone, email, 
or in writing, at least 5 working days before the date of the hearing 
and submit three copies of the

[[Page 56575]]

oral statement he or she intends to make at the proceeding. The 
notification should identify the party the person represents, the 
particular subject(s) the person plans to address, and the time 
requested. The notification should also provide the participant's 
mailing address and other contact information. FRA reserves the right 
to limit participation in the hearing of persons who fail to provide 
such notification. FRA also reserves the right to limit the duration of 
presentations if necessary to afford all persons with the opportunity 
to speak. For information on facilities or services for persons with 
disabilities, or to request special assistance at the hearing, contact 
FRA Program Analyst, Mr. Kenton Kilgore, by telephone, email, or in 
writing, at least at least 5 working days before the date of the 
hearing. Mr. Kilgore can be reached at Federal Railroad Administration, 
Office of Railroad Safety, Mail Stop 25, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC 20590; (202) 493-6286; or [email protected].
    Extension of Comment Period. The comment period for the NPRM is 
currently open through August 22, 2016. To accommodate the public 
hearing and afford interested parties the opportunity to submit 
comments in response to views or information provided at the public 
hearing, FRA will extend the comment period. FRA must receive comments 
in response to views or information provided at the public hearing by 
October 7, 2016.

Privacy Act

    Anyone can search the electronic form of any written communications 
and comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the 
individual submitting the comment (or signing the document, if 
submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
See http://www.regulations.gov/#!privacyNotice for the privacy notice 
of www.regulations.gov. Interested parties may also review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477). Under 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits 
comments from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT 
posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information 
the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the 
system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 16, 2016.
Jamie Rennert,
Office Director, Office of Program Delivery.
[FR Doc. 2016-19910 Filed 8-19-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P

56574 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 162 / Monday, August 22, 2016 / Proposed Rules

V. Paperwork Reduction Act DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Instructions: All submissions must
This rule does not include a reporting include the agency name, docket name,
or information collection requirement. Federal Railroad Administration and docket number or Regulatory
Therefore, USAID has determined that Identification Number (RIN) for this
this rule does not impose any new or 49 CFR Part 269 rulemaking (RIN 2130–AC60). FRA will
revised reporting or disclosure [Docket No. FRA–2016–0023, Notice No. 3] post all comments received without
requirements that would be considered change to http://www.regulations.gov,
RIN 2130–AC60 including any personal information
collections of information requiring
Office of Management and Budget provided. Please see the Privacy Act
Competitive Passenger Rail Service heading in the ‘‘Supplementary
approval under the Paperwork Pilot Program
Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. Information’’ section of this document
AGENCY: Federal Railroad for Privacy Act information about any
List of Subjects in 48 CFR Part 752 Administration (FRA), U.S. Department submitted petitions, comments, or
Government procurement. of Transportation (DOT). materials.
For the reasons discussed in the ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public Docket: For access to the docket to
preamble, USAID amends 48 CFR hearing and extension of comment read background documents or
Chapter 7 as set forth below: period. comments received, go to http://
■ 1. The authority citation for 48 CFR
www.regulations.gov at any time or to
Chapter 7 part 752 continues to read as SUMMARY: On June 22, 2016, FRA the U.S. Department of Transportation,
follows: published a Notice of Proposed Docket Operations, M–30, West
Rulemaking (NPRM) that would Building, Ground Floor, Room W12–
Authority: Sec. 621, Pub. L. 87–195, 75 implement a pilot program for 140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Stat. 445 (22 U.S.C. 2381), as amended; E.O.
competitive selection of eligible Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m.
12163, Sept. 29, 1979, 44 FR 56673; and 3
CFR 1979 Comp., p. 435. petitioners in lieu of Amtrak to operate and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
not more than three long-distance routes except Federal Holidays.
SUBCHAPTER H—CLAUSES AND FORMS operated by Amtrak. FRA is announcing FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
PART 752—SOLICITATION a public hearing to provide interested Brandon White, Office of Railroad
PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT persons an opportunity to provide oral Policy and Development, Federal
CLAUSES comments on the proposal. FRA is also Railroad Administration, 1200 New
announcing an extension of the Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC
■ 2. Add Section 752.7038 to read as comment period for this proceeding to 20590, (202) 493–1327, Brandon.White@
follows: allow time for interested parties to dot.gov, or Zeb Schorr, Office of Chief
submit written comments in response to Counsel, Federal Railroad
§ 752.7038 Nondiscrimination against End-
Users of Supplies or Services.
views or information provided at the Administration, 1200 New Jersey
public hearing. Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590,
The following clause must be inserted
DATES: A public hearing will be held on (202) 493–6072.
in section I of all solicitations and
resulting contracts. September 7, 2016, at 1:45 p.m. in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested
Washington, DC. The comment period parties are invited to present oral
Nondiscrimination Against End-Users for the NPRM published on June 22, statements and to offer information and
of Supplies or Services (Date) 2016, (81 FR 40624) is open through views at the hearing. The hearing will
(a) USAID policy requires that the August 22, 2016. Comments in response be informal and will be conducted by a
contractor not discriminate against any end- to views or information provided at the representative FRA designates under
user of the contract supplies or services (i.e., public hearing must be received by FRA’s Rules of Practice (49 CFR 211.25).
the beneficiaries of the supplies or services) October 7, 2016. The hearing will be a non-adversarial
in implementation of this award, such as, but ADDRESSES: Public Hearing. The public proceeding. Therefore, there will be no
not limited to, by withholding, adversely cross examination of persons presenting
impacting, or denying equitable access to the
hearing will be held at the U.S.
supplies or services (benefits) provided Department of Transportation, 1200 statements or offering evidence. An FRA
through this contract on the basis of any New Jersey Avenue SE., Conference representative will make an opening
factor not expressly stated in the award. This Center Room 7, Washington, DC 20590. statement outlining the scope of the
may include, for example, race, color, Comments. You may submit hearing. After all initial statements are
religion, sex (including gender identity, comments identified by Docket Number completed those persons wishing to
sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national FRA–2016–0023 by any of the following make a brief rebuttal will be given the
origin, disability, age, genetic information, methods: opportunity to do so in the same order
marital status, parental status, political • Online: Comments should be filed the initial statements were made. FRA
affiliation, or veteran’s status. Nothing in this
clause is intended to limit the ability of a at the Federal eRulemaking Portal, will announce additional procedures
contractor to target activities toward the http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the necessary to conduct the hearing, at the
assistance needs of certain populations as online instructions for submitting hearing. The purpose of this hearing is
defined in the contract. comments. to receive oral comments in response to
(b) The Contractor must insert this clause, • Fax: 202–493–2251. an NPRM for a competitive passenger
including this paragraph, in all subcontracts • Mail: Docket Management Facility, rail service pilot program. FRA will add
under this contract. U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 a transcript of the discussions to the
Lhorne on DSK30JT082PROD with PROPOSALS

(End of clause) New Jersey Avenue SE., W12–140, public docket in this proceeding.
Washington, DC 20590. Public Participation Procedures. Any
Dated: August 8, 2016. • Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey person wishing to make a statement at
Sunil Xavier, Avenue SE., Room W12–140, the hearing should notify Mr. White by
Acting Chief Acquisition Officer. Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. telephone, email, or in writing, at least
[FR Doc. 2016–19716 Filed 8–19–16; 8:45 am] and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 5 working days before the date of the
BILLING CODE 6116–01–P except Federal Holidays. hearing and submit three copies of the

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Document Created: 2018-02-09 11:37:52
Document Modified: 2018-02-09 11:37:52

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Proposed Rules
Action		Proposed rule; notice of public hearing and extension of comment period.
Dates		A public hearing will be held on September 7, 2016, at 1:45 p.m. in Washington, DC. The comment period for the NPRM published on June 22, 2016, (81 FR 40624) is open through August 22, 2016. Comments in response to views or information provided at the public hearing must be received by October 7, 2016.
Contact		Brandon White, Office of Railroad Policy and Development, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, (202) 493-1327, [email protected], or Zeb Schorr, Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, (202) 493-6072.
FR Citation		81 FR 56574
RIN Number		2130-AC60

81 FR 56574 - Competitive Passenger Rail Service Pilot Program

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONFederal Railroad Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 162 (August 22, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration