Rail Fuel Surcharges, 45900-45901 [E6-12982]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 154 / Thursday, August 10, 2006 / Notices
technology for the project. For this and
other reasons, the Final EIS included a
robust and detailed discussion and
evaluation of both SCV and ORV
technologies.
The applicant is now proposing in
this application amendment to change
the project to use SCV in the place of
ORV. Although SCV/SCR was fully
evaluated as a reasonable alternative in
sufficient detail to provide an in-depth
public interest review of that
alternative, the SCV/SCR system
described in the FEIS was a somewhat
generic system based on an existing
application of this technology at an
onshore LNG facility. The application
amendment contains the actual design
that would be used, and while very
similar to the more generic system
described in the FEIS, the expanded and
refined information regarding the SCV/
SCR warrants development of additional
environmental evaluation and review.
Following review and coordination of
the amendment between MARAD, the
Coast Guard, EPA, NOAA, and the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE),
MARAD and the Coast Guard have
determined that an Environmental
Assessment will provide the appropriate
level of NEPA review and analysis. The
decision is based upon a finding that the
proposed amendment: (i) Does not make
substantial changes in the proposed
action that are relevant to
environmental concerns; and, (ii) there
are no significant new circumstances or
information relevant to environmental
concerns and bearing on the proposed
action or its impacts. Therefore, our
evaluation confirms that the EA is an
appropriate document to satisfy the
DWPA and NEPA requirements in this
situation. This process, preparation of
an EA that describes the project changes
and focuses the evaluation on the
amendment, using and incorporating by
reference the recently published FEIS,
will meet the statutory requirements
and intent of NEPA and the DWPA by
providing a detailed environmental
assessment of the changes. The process
will allow ample opportunity for
meaningful public comment and
involvement. Our initial review of the
changes proposed in the application
amendment indicates a reduction in
impacts in several key resource areas
that were originally identified with the
ORV technology. In addition, a number
of comments from the public, and State
and Federal agencies discussed and
supported SCV as a preferred
alternative.
The Coast Guard will consider
comments on the application
amendment, the proposed changes
(including the level of significance of
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the changes), and on the determination
and process of using an EA for the
environmental evaluation. Following
completion and release of the EA, there
will be a second public notice and a 45
day public comment period where the
Coast Guard and MARAD will receive
comments on both the EA and the
amended application. Public hearings in
the adjacent coastal states will be held
approximately 2 weeks after release of
the EA. A 45 day comment period will
follow the public hearings during which
the Governors of the adjacent coastal
states may approve, disapprove or
remain silent on the application, and
the EPA Administrator will also be
afforded an opportunity to inform the
MARAD Administrator if the deepwater
port as proposed would not conform
with the applicable provisions of the
Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, or
the Marine Protection, Research and
Sanctuaries Act. Within 90 days of the
final public hearing, MARAD will issue
a record of decision (ROD) on the
application.
You can address any questions about
the proposed action or the EA process
to the Coast Guard project manager
identified in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
Request for Comments
We request public comments or other
relevant information on the application
amendment and/or the environmental
evaluation process described in this
notice. Please reference the application
amendment and the EIS that are
available on the docket. You can submit
material to the Docket Management
Facility during the public comment
period (see DATES). MARAD and the
Coast Guard will consider all comments
submitted during the public comment
periods. Although MARAD and the
Coast Guard have published a FEIS
providing a full and complete
evaluation of other aspects of the
application, and this EA will focus on
the application amendment, we will
accept and consider comments on any
aspect of the project or the process.
Submissions should include:
• Docket number USCG–2004–17696.
• Your name and address.
• Your reasons for making each
comment or for bringing information to
our attention.
Submit comments or material using
only one of the following methods:
• Electronic submission to DMS,
https://dms.dot.gov.
• Fax, mail, or hand delivery to the
Docket Management Facility (see
ADDRESSES). Faxed or hand delivered
submissions must be unbound, no larger
than 81⁄2 by 11 inches, and suitable for
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copying and electronic scanning. If you
mail your submission and want to know
when it reaches the Facility, include a
stamped, self-addressed postcard or
envelope. Regardless of the method
used for submitting comments or
material, submissions will be posted,
without change, to the DMS Web site
(https://dms.dot.gov), and will include
any personal information you provide.
Therefore, submitting this information
makes it public. You may wish to read
the Privacy Act notice that is available
on the DMS Web site, or the Department
of Transportation Privacy Act Statement
that appeared in the Federal Register on
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477).
You may view docket submissions at
the Docket Management Facility (see
ADDRESSES), or electronically on the
DMS Web site.
By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Dated: August 7, 2006.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. E6–13097 Filed 8–9–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–81–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board
[STB Ex Parte No. 661]
Rail Fuel Surcharges
AGENCY:
Surface Transportation Board,
DOT.
Notice of proposed
requiremetns regarding rail fuel
surcharges.
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Surface Transportation
Board has instituted a proceeding to
seek public comments on proposed
measures regarding railroad practices
involving fuel surcharges. These
changes are intended to address
concerns raised at the Board’s public
hearing on May 11, 2006, and in written
comments received in this proceeding.
DATES: Comments are due on September
25, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be
submitted either via the Board’s e-filing
format or in the traditional paper
format. Any person using e-filing should
comply with the instructions found on
the Board’s https://www.stb.dot.gov Web
site, at the ‘‘E–FILING’’ link. Any person
submitting a filing in the traditional
paper format should send an original
and 10 paper copies of the filing
(referring to STB Ex Parte No. 661) to:
Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20423–
0001.
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 154 / Thursday, August 10, 2006 / Notices
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Joseph Dettmar, (202) 565–1609.
[Assistance for the hearing impaired is
available through the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–
800–877–8339.]
The
Surface Transportation Board has
instituted a proceeding to seek public
comments on the following proposed
measures regarding railroad practices
involving fuel surcharges. First,
pursuant to the Board’s proposed
changes, a carrier wishing to assess
what purports to be a fuel surcharge
would need to develop a means of
computing the surcharge that is more
closely linked to the increases in the
portion of its fuel costs that is
attributable to the movement to which
the fuel surcharge is applied. Second,
carriers would be prohibited from
‘‘double dipping’’ by charging for the
same increases in fuel costs for the same
shipment both through a fuel surcharge
rwilkins on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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and through application of a rate
escalator that is based on an index such
as the Board’s Railroad Cost Adjustment
Factor without first subtracting out any
fuel cost component from that index.
Third, railroads would be required to
use a single, uniform index for
measuring increases in the fuel costs—
the Energy Information Administration
‘‘U.S. No. 2 Diesel Retail Sales by All
Sellers (Cents per Gallon).’’ Finally,
each Class I railroad would submit a
monthly report to the Board showing its
actual total fuel costs, total fuel
consumption and total fuel surcharge
revenues, as well as how much of its
total fuel surcharge revenues are shared
with its shortline connections. The
Board seeks public comment on these
proposals.
In a decision served on August 3,
2006, the Board has discussed each of
these proposals in detail and explained
how each addresses concerns raised in
this proceeding. Because these
proposals have significance for rail
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45901
carriers and their shippers, all interested
parties are invited to comment.
Additional information is contained
in the Board’s decision. To obtain a free
copy of the full decision, visit the
Board’s https://www.stb.dot.gov Web site.
The Board certifies that the proposed
rules would not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities.
These actions should not significantly
affect the quality of the human
environment. While we do not believe
these actions would have a substantial
effect on the conservation of energy
resources, any effect they might have
should be beneficial.
Decided: August 3, 2006.
By the Board, Chairman Buttrey and Vice
Chairman Mulvey.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6–12982 Filed 8–9–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915–01–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 154 (Thursday, August 10, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45900-45901]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12982]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board
[STB Ex Parte No. 661]
Rail Fuel Surcharges
AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed requiremetns regarding rail fuel surcharges.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Surface Transportation Board has instituted a proceeding
to seek public comments on proposed measures regarding railroad
practices involving fuel surcharges. These changes are intended to
address concerns raised at the Board's public hearing on May 11, 2006,
and in written comments received in this proceeding.
DATES: Comments are due on September 25, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted either via the Board's e-filing
format or in the traditional paper format. Any person using e-filing
should comply with the instructions found on the Board's https://
www.stb.dot.gov Web site, at the ``E-FILING'' link. Any person
submitting a filing in the traditional paper format should send an
original and 10 paper copies of the filing (referring to STB Ex Parte
No. 661) to: Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20423-0001.
[[Page 45901]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Dettmar, (202) 565-1609.
[Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Surface Transportation Board has
instituted a proceeding to seek public comments on the following
proposed measures regarding railroad practices involving fuel
surcharges. First, pursuant to the Board's proposed changes, a carrier
wishing to assess what purports to be a fuel surcharge would need to
develop a means of computing the surcharge that is more closely linked
to the increases in the portion of its fuel costs that is attributable
to the movement to which the fuel surcharge is applied. Second,
carriers would be prohibited from ``double dipping'' by charging for
the same increases in fuel costs for the same shipment both through a
fuel surcharge and through application of a rate escalator that is
based on an index such as the Board's Railroad Cost Adjustment Factor
without first subtracting out any fuel cost component from that index.
Third, railroads would be required to use a single, uniform index for
measuring increases in the fuel costs--the Energy Information
Administration ``U.S. No. 2 Diesel Retail Sales by All Sellers (Cents
per Gallon).'' Finally, each Class I railroad would submit a monthly
report to the Board showing its actual total fuel costs, total fuel
consumption and total fuel surcharge revenues, as well as how much of
its total fuel surcharge revenues are shared with its shortline
connections. The Board seeks public comment on these proposals.
In a decision served on August 3, 2006, the Board has discussed
each of these proposals in detail and explained how each addresses
concerns raised in this proceeding. Because these proposals have
significance for rail carriers and their shippers, all interested
parties are invited to comment.
Additional information is contained in the Board's decision. To
obtain a free copy of the full decision, visit the Board's https://
www.stb.dot.gov Web site.
The Board certifies that the proposed rules would not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
These actions should not significantly affect the quality of the
human environment. While we do not believe these actions would have a
substantial effect on the conservation of energy resources, any effect
they might have should be beneficial.
Decided: August 3, 2006.
By the Board, Chairman Buttrey and Vice Chairman Mulvey.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-12982 Filed 8-9-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P
