Surface Transportation Board 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3519 (PRA), the Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) gives notice that it has submitted a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension of approval with revision of a currently approved collection: Application to Open a Billing Account. The revision consists of a reduction in burden hours due to the agency's revised estimate of the number of annual respondents. The Board previously published a notice about this collection in the Federal Register on September 30, 2011, at 76 FR 60,964. That notice allowed for a 60-day public review and comment period. No comments were received. The application to open a billing account is described in detail below. Comments may now be submitted to OMB concerning: (1) The accuracy of the Board's burden estimates; (2) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; (3) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology, when appropriate; and (4) whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Board, including whether the collection has practical utility.

In response to a petition filed by Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) on April 27, 2011, the Board is instituting a declaratory order proceeding under 49 U.S.C. 721 and 5 U.S.C. 554(e). UP requests that the Board issue a declaratory order to resolve a controversy regarding the reasonableness of the indemnification provisions in UP's tariff relating to transportation of toxic by inhalation hazardous commodities (TIH). The Board seeks public comment on the issues raised in this case.

As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3519 (PRA), the Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) gives notice of its intent to seek from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the information collections required from those seeking licensing authority under 49 U.S.C. 10901-03 and consolidation authority under 11323-26. Under these Title 49 provisions, rail carriers and non-carriers are required to file an application with the Board, or seek an exemption (through petition or notice) from the full application process under Sec. 10502, before they may construct, acquire, or operate a line of railroad; abandon or discontinue operations over a line of railroad; or consolidate their interests through a merger or common-control arrangement. The relevant information collections are described in more detail below. Comments are requested concerning: (1) The accuracy of the Board's burden estimates; (2) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; (3) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology, when appropriate; and (4) whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Board, including whether the collection has practical utility. Submitted comments will be summarized and included in the Board's request for OMB approval.

The Board is granting an exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502 from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10901 for Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) to construct and operate an approximately 35-mile rail line connecting the Port MacKenzie District in south-central Alaska to a point on ARRC's existing main line near Houston, Alaska. The rail line would provide freight services between Port MacKenzie and the interior of Alaska and would support Port MacKenzie's continuing development as an intermodal and bulk material resources export and import facility. This exemption is subject to environmental mitigation conditions and the condition that ARRC build the route designated as environmentally preferable.

The Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) is issuing this policy statement to inform the public that, beginning on December 15, 2011, the Board will implement a grant stamp procedure for certain decisions issued by the Director of the Office of Proceedings (Director). The grant stamp will be used for decisions in uncontested, routine procedural matters delegated to the Director when no further explanation or discussion is necessary. This procedure is designed to better serve the public, to streamline Board processes, and to remove uncertainty.

Staff members of the Surface Transportation Board will hold a public meeting concerning the abandonment petition for exemption in the above-titled docket. The purpose of the meeting is to allow interested persons to comment on the petition for exemption.

On November 3, 2011, the Board served a decision announcing the 2010 revenue adequacy determinations for the Nation's Class I railroads. One carrier, Union Pacific Railroad Company, was found to be revenue adequate.

Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. (PRA) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 CFR 1320.10, the Surface Transportation Board has obtained an extension of OMB's approval for the information collection, required under 49 CFR 1114.30(d), 1121.3(d), 1150.33(h), 1150.43(h), and 1180.4(g)(4), of certain agreements that contains rail interchange commitments (OMB Control Number 2140-0016). Unless renewed, OMB approval expires on August 31, 2014. The display of a currently valid OMB control number for this collection is required by law. Under the PRA and 5 CFR 1320.8, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless the collection displays a currently valid OMB control number.

The Board grants an exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502 from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10901 for DesertXpress Enterprises, LLC and its subsidiary (DXE) to build and operate a 190- mile rail line between Victorville, Cal. and Las Vegas, Nev., in order to provide high-speed passenger rail service. This exemption is subject to environmental mitigation conditions and the condition that DXE build the route designated as environmentally preferable.

In response to a petition filed by CF Industries, Inc. (CF) on May 17, 2011, the Board is instituting a declaratory order proceeding under 49 U.S.C. 721 and 5 U.S.C. 554(e). CF requests that the Board declare invalid and unenforceable certain tariffs addressing the movement of Toxic-by-Inhalation Hazardous materials and Poison-by- Inhalation Hazardous materials (TIH/PIH) issued by 3 subsidiaries of RailAmerica, Inc. (RailAmerica): The Indiana & Ohio Railway Company, the Point Comfort and Northern Railway Company and the Michigan Shore Railroad, Inc. (collectively, the RailAmerica railroads). This proceeding will also develop the record with respect to a complaint filed by another shipper and several trade associations in Docket No. NOR 42129, which raises similar issues regarding the handling of TIH/ PIH by another RailAmerica subsidiary.\1\ The Board seeks public comment on the issues raised in both cases.