[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 175 (Wednesday, September 10, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 47720]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-23867]
[[Page 47720]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[FRA Docket Number H-97-6]
Petition for Waiver of Compliance
In accordance with Title 49 CFR 211.9 and 211.41, notice is hereby
given that the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) has petitioned the Federal
Railroad Administration (FRA) for exemption from or waiver of
compliance with a requirement of its safety standards. The petition is
described below, including the regulatory provisions involved, and the
nature of the relief being requested.
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 of
their request.
All communications concerning these proceedings should identify the
appropriate waiver petition docket number (e.g., Waiver Petition Docket
Number H-97-6) and must be submitted in triplicate to the Docket Clerk,
Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Railroad Administration, Nassif
Building, 400 Seventh Street S.W., Mail Stop 10, Washington, D.C.
20590.
Communications received within 45 days of the date of publication
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. to
5 p.m.) in Room 7051, 1120 Vermont Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
The UP requests a waiver of compliance with certain provisions of
FRA Safety Regulations (Hours of Service of Railroad Employees). The
waiver requested seeks relief from 49 CFR 228.9(a)(1) for the UP to
utilize a computerized system of recording hours of duty data. Section
228.9(a)(1) requires that records maintained under Sec. 228 be signed
by the employee whose time is being recorded, or in the case of train
and engine crews, signed by the ranking crewmember. The UP seeks to
establish a computerized system of recording hours of duty information
which would not comply with the above requirements for a ``signature''
of the employee or ranking crewmember. The UP proposes that each
employee will have his or her own personal identification number
``PIN'' which will remain confidential to the employee. When accessing
the computer for input of the hours of service record, required by
Sec. 228.11, the ``PIN'' will not appear on the computer screen when
the employee enters his or her number. The ``PIN'' is proposed to
satisfy the signature requirements of the ``Hours of Service of
Railroad Employees.'' The railroad maintains that the change is in the
best interests of all parties, in that, it will reduce unnecessary
paperwork and the costs associated therein while providing the
railroad, its employees and the FRA with a superior level of
information on a more timely basis than is currently available.
Issued in Washington, D.C. on September 2, 1997.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program
Development.
[FR Doc. 97-23867 Filed 9-9-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-M
