Subject of Possible Rule Making: Remote control locomotive (RCL) operations. Rules related to public and employee safety, and the protection of property from damage associated with RCL operations may be adopted. The possible need for amendments to existing commission rules related to RCL operations may also be considered. Docket No. TR-021465.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 80.01.040 General, 80.04.160 Utility, 81.04.160 Transportation.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The Washington State Legislative Board of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) petitioned the commission to adopt rules relating to RCL operations. The BLE contends that existing commission rules are inadequate because they do not address RCL safety issues, and that federal safety guidelines are inadequate because they are voluntary. The commission directed this rule making to consider the subjects addressed by the BLE's petition. Rules may improve public and employee safety, and protect property from damage associated with RCL operations.

     Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: RCL operations are regulated, in part, by the FRA. Further, the FRA has promulgated voluntary safety guidelines for RCL operations. The commission will consider whether it is preempted to any degree by federal law from adopting rules and whether federal safety guidelines provide sufficient public protection. FRA staff will be invited to participate in the rule-making process.

     Process for Developing New Rule:      Agency study; and the commission will hold public workshops and request written comments on the topics of the rule making to assist in deciding whether state rules would be lawful, whether state rules are needed, and what language should express any such rules.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting the Secretary at Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, P.O. Box 47250, 1300 South Evergreen Park Drive, S.W., Olympia, WA, 98504-7250 or by phone (360) 664-1160, facsimile (360) 586-2260, or e-mail records@wutc.wa.gov.

     Interested persons may file written comments by February 27, 2003.

     A stakeholder workshop will be held on Wednesday, March 19, 2003, in Room 206, at the commission's headquarters beginning at 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

     Please refer to Docket No. TR-021465 on all correspondence.

     WRITTEN COMMENTS AND STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOP: Written comments may be submitted to the commission at the address given above and should be filed with the commission no later than Wednesday, February 27, 2003, for consideration at the March 19, 2003, stakeholder workshop.

     Electronic copies. The commission requests that comments be provided in electronic format to enhance public access, for ease of providing comments, to reduce the need for paper copies, and to facilitate quotations from the comments. Comments may be submitted by electronic mail to the commission's records center at records@wutc.wa.gov. Please include:

•     The docket number of this proceeding (TR-021465).

•     The commenting party's name.

•     The title and date of the comment or comments.

     An alternative method for submitting comments may be by mailing/delivering an electronic copy on a 3 1/2 inch, IBM-formatted, high-density disk, in .pdf Adobe Acrobat format or in Word 97 or later. Include all of the information requested above. The commission will post on the commission's website all comments that are provided in electronic format. The website is located at http://www.wutc.wa.gov/021465. If you are unable to file your comments electronically or to submit them on a disk, the commission will always accept a paper document.

     Opportunity for further comment is anticipated. Information about the schedule and other aspects of the rule making, including comments, will be posted on the commission's website as it becomes available. If you wish to receive further information on this rule making you may (1) call the commission's records center at (360) 664-1234, (2) e-mail the commission at <records@wutc.wa.gov> or (3) mail written comments to the address above to the attention of Carole J. Washburn, Secretary. When contacting the commission, please refer to Docket No. TR-021465 to ensure that you are placed on the appropriate service list. Questions may be addressed to Mike Rowswell, (360) 664-1265 or e-mail at <mrowswel@wutc.wa.gov>.

January 24, 2003

Carole J. Washburn

Secretary

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