e3.log.empty()  # start with an empty log

    # Begin logging
    step = LogicalStep(e3, stepName)

    # Establish temporary and Permenant outputs
    sampleOf = step.declareGarbageFile('sampleOf_s' + reads, suffix='fastq')
    sampledStats = step.declareGarbageFile('sampledStats', suffix='txt')
    # The following 2 are bound together by the same nameKey:
    stepFile = step.declareTargetFile(
        'validateRep' + repNo, suffix='html')  # will become nonGalaxyOutput
    nonGalaxyOutput = e3.createOutFile('validateRep'+repNo,'nonGalaxyOutput', \
                                   '%s_s'+reads+'_fastqc/fastqc_report', ext='html' )

    # FAKING step.run()
    step._status = 'Running'
    step.declareLogFile()  # Ensures that the logical step dir and log exist
    step.log.out("--- Beginning '" + stepName + "' [" +
                 datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d %X (%A)") + '] ---')

    # For posterity
    e3.printPaths()

    # Outputs of sampling will be found in the named tmpDir dir,
    # NOTE: sampledStats could be /dev/null as it is not examined
    e3.log.out('\n# fastqStatsAndSubsample [unversioned]:')
    err = e3.runCmd('> some command', log=step.log)
    if err != 0:
        step.log.out('>>> Failure on some command.')
        step.fail()
    runningLog     = e3.declareLogFile()
    e3.log.empty()  # start with an empty log
    
    # Begin logging
    step = LogicalStep(e3,stepName)
    
    # Establish temporary and Permenant outputs  
    sampleOf     = step.declareGarbageFile('sampleOf_s' + reads, suffix='fastq')
    sampledStats = step.declareGarbageFile('sampledStats', suffix='txt')
    # The following 2 are bound together by the same nameKey:
    stepFile      = step.declareTargetFile('validateRep'+repNo, suffix='html') # will become nonGalaxyOutput
    nonGalaxyOutput = e3.createOutFile('validateRep'+repNo,'nonGalaxyOutput', \
                                   '%s_s'+reads+'_fastqc/fastqc_report', ext='html' )

    # FAKING step.run()
    step._status = 'Running'
    step.declareLogFile() # Ensures that the logical step dir and log exist
    step.log.out("--- Beginning '" + stepName + "' [" + 
               datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d %X (%A)")+ '] ---')

    # For posterity
    e3.printPaths()

    # Outputs of sampling will be found in the named tmpDir dir, 
    # NOTE: sampledStats could be /dev/null as it is not examined 
    e3.log.out('\n# fastqStatsAndSubsample [unversioned]:')
    err = e3.runCmd('> some command',log=step.log)
    if err != 0:
        step.log.out('>>> Failure on some command.')
        step.fail()