[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