Minnesota Legislature
HF 2988
as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 02/11/2020 03:38pm
Current Version - as introduced
1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 2.31 2.32 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5
A bill for an act
relating to transportation; modifying requirements for railroad yard lighting;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 219.375.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 219.375, is amended to read:
219.375 RAILROAD YARD LIGHTING.
Subdivision 1.
Lighting status reports submitted by railroad common carriers.
By
January deleted text begin 15deleted text end new text begin 30new text end of each year, each Class I and Class II railroad common carrier that operates
one or more railroad yards in this state where, between sunset and sunrise, cars or locomotives
are deleted text begin frequentlydeleted text end switched, repaired, or inspected, or where trains are assembled deleted text begin anddeleted text end new text begin ornew text end
disassembled, deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin mustnew text end submit to the commissioner of transportation a plan that:
(1) identifies all railroad yards operated by the railroad where the described work is
frequently accomplished between sunset and sunrise;
(2) describes the nature and placement of lighting equipment currently in use in the yard
and the maintenance status and practices regarding this equipment;
(3) states whether the lighting meets or exceeds guidelines for illumination established
by the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association;
(4) describes whether existing lighting is installed and operated in a manner consistent
with energy conservation, glare reduction, minimization of light pollution, and preservation
of the natural night environment; and
(5) identifies plans and timelines to bring into compliance railroad yards that do not
utilize and maintain lighting equipment that meets or exceeds the standards and guidelines
under clauses (3) and (4), or states any reason why the standards and guidelines should not
apply.
Subd. 2.
Maintenance of lighting equipment.
Anew text begin Class I or Class IInew text end railroad common
carrier deleted text begin that is required to file a report under subdivision 1 shalldeleted text end new text begin mustnew text end maintain all railroad
yard lighting equipment in good working order and deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin focus lighting equipment on
switching lead or ladder switches. Class I and Class II carriers mustnew text end repair or replace any
malfunctioning equipment within 48 hours after the malfunction has been reported to the
carrier. Repairs must be made in compliance with, or to exceed the standards in, the
Minnesota Electrical Code and chapter 326B.
Subd. 3.
Lighting status reports deleted text begin submitted by worker representativedeleted text end .
By January
deleted text begin 15deleted text end new text begin 30new text end of each year,new text begin each railroad carrier that owns a railroad yard in Minnesota andnew text end the
union representative of the workers at each railroad yard deleted text begin required to submit a report under
subdivision 1 shalldeleted text end new text begin mustnew text end submitnew text begin their respective reportsnew text end to the commissioner of transportation
deleted text begin a reportdeleted text end that:
(1) deleted text begin describesdeleted text end new text begin describenew text end the nature and placement of lighting equipment currently in use
in the yard and maintenance status and practices regarding the equipment;
deleted text begin
(2) describes the level of maintenance of lighting equipment and the carrier's promptness
in responding to reports of lighting malfunction;
deleted text end
deleted text begin
(3) states whether the available lighting is adequate to provide safe working conditions
for crews working at night; and
deleted text end
new text begin
(2) describe the lighting necessary to improve worker safety, illuminate rolling stock,
and illuminate motive power mechanical inspections; and
new text end
deleted text begin (4) describesdeleted text end new text begin (3) describenew text end changes in the lighting equipment and its adequacy that have
occurred since the last previous worker representative report.
Subd. 5.
Required lighting.
By December 31, deleted text begin 2015deleted text end new text begin 2022new text end , a new text begin Class I or Class II new text end railroad
common carrier deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin mustnew text end establish lighting that meets the standards and guidelines under
subdivision 1, clauses (3) and (4), at each railroad yard where:
(1) between sunset and sunrise:
(i) locomotives, or railcars carrying placarded hazardous materials, are deleted text begin frequentlydeleted text end
switched, repaired, or inspected; or
(ii) trains with deleted text begin more than 25 tankerdeleted text end railcars carrying placarded hazardous materials are
assembled deleted text begin anddeleted text end new text begin ornew text end disassembled; deleted text begin anddeleted text end new text begin or
new text end
(2) the yard is located within two miles of a petroleum refinery deleted text begin having a crude oil
production capacity of 150,000 or more barrels per daydeleted text end new text begin and is the first yard after service to
a hazardous material manufacturing, loading, unloading, or storage facilitynew text end .