[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 244 (Friday, December 19, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 66714]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33178]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Petition for a Waiver of Compliance

    In accordance with Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 
Secs. 211.9 and 211.41, notice is hereby given that the Federal 
Railroad Administration (FRA) has received a request for a waiver of 
compliance with certain requirements of the Federal railroad safety 
regulations. The individuals petition is described below, including the 
party seeking relief, the regulatory provisions involved, the nature of 
the relief being sought and the petitioner's arguments in favor of 
relief.

Northeast Illinois Railroad Corporation

[FRA Waiver Petition No. WPS 97-10]

    Northeast Illinois Railroad Corporation, (``Metra,'') seeks a 
permanent waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal 
Roadway Worker Protection Standards, Subpart C of 49 CFR, part 214.
    Metra requests relief of 49 CFR 214.337 to the extent that lone 
workers would be permitted to use individual train detection as a 
method of on-track safety while operating powered snow blowers on and 
near the tracks at station platforms and related crosswalks.
    In support of the petition, Metra states that:
    ``Snowfalls which begin prior to or during the rush hours require 
extensive lone worker participation utilizing powered snow blowers to 
make the platforms and crosswalks safe for our customers * * *
    During the times when lone workers utilize I.T.D. (Individual train 
detection) as their form of protection with powers tools being used the 
following procedure is required:
    1. Will conduct a statement of on track safety. Will contact the 
train dispatcher and determine if any unscheduled trains are in the 
area.
    2. Will determine that scheduled trains are on time.
    3. When blowing snow from the platform within the 4 foot envelope 
will face the direction a train will approach from and keep a vigilant 
lookout for such trains.
    4. Will blow snow from crosswalks only when safe to do so.
    FRA should look at the safety risks to passengers as platforms 
where snow removal is not completed within the envelope of danger due 
to the constraints placed on lone workers when using power tools.''
    Interested parties are invited to participate in this proceedings 
by submitting written views, data, or comments. FRA does not anticipate 
scheduling a public hearing in connection with this proceeding 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 for 
their request.
    All communications concerning these proceedings should identify the 
appropriate docket number (e.g., Waiver Petition Docket Number WPS-97-
10) and must be submitted in triplicate to the Docket Clerk, Office of 
Chief Counsel, FRA, Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., 
Washington, D.C. 20590. Communications received within 30 days of the 
date of this notice will be considered as far as practicable. All 
written communications concerning this proceeding are available for 
examination during regular business hours (9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.) at 
FRA's temporary docket room located at 1120 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Room 
7051, Washington, D.C. 20005.

    Issued in Washington, D.C. on December 15, 1997.
Grady C. Cothen,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program 
Development.
[FR Doc. 97-33178 Filed 12-18-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-M