PRINTER'S NO. 4174
No. 806 Session of 2004
INTRODUCED BY VEON, DeWEESE, BELARDI, BUXTON, DALEY, FABRIZIO,
GERGELY, JAMES, LYNCH, PIPPY, SCRIMENTI, WALKO, WOJNAROSKI,
GEORGE, HESS, LAUGHLIN, McGEEHAN, READSHAW, THOMAS,
WASHINGTON AND YOUNGBLOOD, JUNE 28, 2004
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, JUNE 28, 2004
A RESOLUTION
1 Requesting the Federal Railroad Administration and the
2 Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Rail Freight
3 Advisory Committee to conduct a comprehensive review of the
4 use of remote control locomotives, opposing the use of remote
5 control locomotives until the review has been completed and
6 requiring notification procedures when remote control
7 locomotives are used in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
8 WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of
9 Pennsylvania is concerned about the public safety impact of the
10 new remote control technology used by railroad companies in the
11 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and
12 WHEREAS, Remote control locomotives present a specific danger
13 to persons and property from collision, derailment and possible
14 release of hazardous materials; and
15 WHEREAS, This is not an opportune time to diminish Department
16 of Homeland Security initiatives by removing trained and
17 certified railroad personnel from locomotive operations in the
18 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and throughout the United States;
19 and
1 WHEREAS, Significant study has not been completed to
2 determine the safety of remote control locomotive operations;
3 and
4 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has considerable
5 railroad activity; therefore be it
6 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
7 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania request the Federal Railroad
8 Administration and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
9 Rail Freight Advisory Committee to conduct a comprehensive
10 review of the safety of remote control locomotives and develop
11 comprehensive regulations concerning the use of remote control
12 locomotives to ensure the well-being of the citizens of the
13 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and be it further
14 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives oppose the use of
15 remote control locomotives in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
16 until the review has been completed and emergency plans and
17 regulations are in place to protect public safety; and be it
18 further
19 RESOLVED, That all rail transportation companies notify the
20 Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania
21 Public Utility Commission when the practice of using remote
22 control locomotives begins in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;
23 and be it further
24 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
25 the Honorable Edward G. Rendell; the Pennsylvania congressional
26 delegation; the Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont
27 Avenue, 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20590; the Pennsylvania
28 Department of Transportation Rail Freight Advisory Committee,
29 400 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120; and the Pennsylvania
30 Public Utility Commission, P.O. Box 3265, Harrisburg, PA 17105.
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