[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]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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