Thursday, February 17, 2000 (Washington, DC ) Federal Railroad Administrator Jolene M. Molitoris today announced details concerning hearings to be held in California, the District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Oregon on a proposed rulemaking and draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) on the use of locomotive train horns at highway-rail grade crossings.

These hearings will give the public an opportunity to provide oral presentations on the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) train horn notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) and DEIS. The information was in the Feb. 15, 2000, Federal Register.

All hearings will begin at 9 a.m. local time. FRA officials stressed that persons wishing to provide oral testimony at the public hearings should notify FRA's docket clerk at the following mailing address or e-mail address at least three working days before the hearing: Docket Clerk, Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Railroad Administration MS-10, 1120 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20590. The e-mail address for the FRA docket clerk only is renee.bridgers@fra.dot.gov

Dates for public hearings in Berea, Ohio; South Bend, Ind.; and Chicago will be announced later.