Surface Transportation Board – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Surface Transportation Board (Board) is issuing a final rule to implement the annual inflationary adjustment to its civil monetary penalties, pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015.

On December 21, 2018, the Board served a decision announcing the 2017 revenue adequacy determinations for the Nation's Class I railroads. Four carriers (BNSF Railway Company, Norfolk Southern Combined Railroad Subsidiaries, Soo Line Corporation, and Union Pacific Railroad Company) were found to be revenue adequate.

The Board has approved the first quarter 2019 Rail Cost Adjustment Factor (RCAF) and cost index filed by the Association of American Railroads. The first quarter 2019 RCAF (Unadjusted) is 1.058. The first quarter 2019 RCAF (Adjusted) is 0.448. The first quarter 2019 RCAF-5 is 0.419.

On August 3, 2017, Palmetto Railways (Applicant) filed an exemption petition with the Board pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 10502 to construct and operate approximately 28 miles of new rail line between the Cross Subdivision of CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT) rail network near the Santee Cooper Cross Generating Station and the Camp Hall Commerce Park in Berkeley County, South Carolina. Implementation of the proposed rail line would bring industrial rail service to the Volvo Cars facility, as well as areas being developed by Santee Cooper. FRA and the Coast Guard are cooperating agencies in the preparation of this Draft EA pursuant to CEQ NEPA implementing regulations (40 CFR 1501.6). The purpose of this Notice of Availability (NOA) is to notify individuals and agencies interested in or affected by the proposed action of the availability of the Draft EA for review and comment on November 30, 2018. The Draft EA analyzes the potential environmental impacts of the proposed action and alternatives, including the no- action alternative. The Draft EA addresses environmental issues and concerns identified during the scoping process. It also contains OEA's preliminary recommendations for environmental mitigation measures, and Palmetto Railways' voluntary mitigation measures. The Draft EA will be available on November 30, 2018 through the Board's website at http://www.stb.gov by following the decisions link, through the project website at http://www.CampHallRailNEPA.com, and at all public libraries in Berkeley County, South Carolina. Next Steps: Following the close of the 30-day comment period on December 30, 2018 of the Draft EA, OEA, the Corps, and the cooperating agencies will issue a Final EA that considers comments on the Draft EA. The Board will then issue a final decision based on the Draft and Final EAs and all public and agency comments in the public record for this proceeding. The final decision will address the transportation merits of the proposed project and the entire environmental record. That final decision will take one of three actions: Approve the proposed project, deny it, or approve it with mitigation conditions, including environmental conditions. Written Comments: Any interested party may submit written comments on the Draft EA. The procedures for submitting written comments are outlined below:

The Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board is publishing the Regulatory Flexibility Agenda for fall 2018.

The Surface Transportation Board (Board) grants in part a petition by the National Association of Reversionary Property Owners (NARPO) and opens a proceeding in Docket No. EP 749 (Sub-No. 1) to consider revising regulations related to the National Trails System Act. The Board proposes to modify its regulations to limit the number of 180-day extensions of a trail use negotiating period to a maximum of six extensions, absent extraordinary circumstances.

This Federal Register notice serves to inform the public of the current membership of the PRB and ERB, which is as follows: