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             California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue, Room 5301            San Francisco, CA 94102
CONTACT: Armando Rendon        June 24, 1997       CPUC-077
         415-703-1366

       CPUC WILL HOLD HEARING ON LOCAL RAILROAD SAFETY RULES

      The California Public Utilities Commission will hold a full
panel hearing to allow oral argument on proposed local railroad
safety and hazard site regulations on Thursday, July 3, at 9 a.m.
in the State Office Building auditorium, 505 Van Ness Avenue, San
Francisco.
      In particular, the Commission will be seeking input on
certain key issues: how to identify local safety-hazard sites,
the scope and nature of proposed ways to mitigate hazard
situations, how the proposed rules relate to federal laws, and
proposals on how to implement the laws.
      Formal parties in interest wishing to address the
Commission must notify the office of CPUC President, P. Gregory
Conlon, in writing by Noon, Wednesday, July 1.  A signup sheet
will be available at the hearing for persons wishing to speak
during a period for public comment toward the end of the session.
      The hearing agenda is attached.
                               ###

                  AGENDA FOR FULL PANEL HEARING
                          JULY 3, 1997

9:00 - 9:10 a.m.:  Introduction - President P. Gregory Conlon,
                                  Assigned Commissioner
                   Opening remarks from Commissioners

9:10 - 10:25 a.m.: Arguments on federal preemption and state-law
                   mandate
          Railroad interests - 20 minutes
          Staff of CPUC Rail Safety/ Carriers Division - 15
                   minutes
          Other Parties - 10 minutes
          Rebuttal by railroad interests - 10 minutes
          Questions and Answers from Commissioners - 20 minutes

10:35 - 11:45 a.m.: Arguments on the selection of local safety-
       hazard sites
          Staff of CPUC Rail Safety/ Carriers Division - 20
                   minutes
Railroad interests - 20 minutes
          Other Parties - 10 minutes
          Rebuttal by Staff of CPUC Rail Safety/ Carriers
Division - 10 minutes
          Questions and Answers from Commissioners - 10 minutes

12:45 - 2:40 p.m.: Arguments on the Specific Safety Rules
                   Proposed
          Staff of CPUC Rail Safety/ Carriers Division - 25
                   minutes
          Railroad interests - 20 minutes
          Other parties - 15 minutes
          Rebuttal by Staff of CPUC Rail Safety/ Carriers
                   Division - 10 minutes
          Questions and Answers from Commissioners - 45 minutes

2:50 - 3:30 p.m.: Arguments on the Actual Implementation of
                   Proposed Rules
          Staff of CPUC Rail Safety/ Carriers Division - 15
                   minutes
          Railroad interests - 10 minutes
          Questions and Answers from Commissioners - 15 minutes

3:30 - 3:50 p.m.: Open Comments from the Public and Additional
                   Questions from Commissioners

3:50 - 4:00 p.m.: Closing remarks

                               ###