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The Cuyahoga County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) recently adopted a resolution that places a moratorium on locomotive remote controls (LRCs) and recommends that remotes be banned from switching operations involving hazardous materials, according to a Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers statement.


The resolution urges county legislators to consider the moratorium "until the safety and security issues raised by this technology have been thoroughly addressed and adequate regulations have been established."


LEPC recommends that Federal Railroad Administration work with the Department of Homeland Security to establish regulations governing LRCs. The regulations would address adequate crew size, prohibit the use of LRCs in switching operations involving hazardous cargo and establish training standards for LRC operators.


LEPC is the seventh local government agency to adopt a resolution concerning the safety of or banning LRCs, joining Baton Rouge and Shreveport, La., Detroit and Marysville, Mich., Boston and Cleveland, BLE said.