Surface Transportation Board January 27, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Clean Railroads Act of 2008 (Clean Railroads Act or CRA), enacted to remove from the jurisdiction of the Surface Transportation Board (Board or STB) the regulation of solid waste rail transfer facilities, except as provided for in that act. The Clean Railroads Act adds new sections to title 49 of the United States Code which limit the Board's authority with regard to solid waste rail transfer facilities to the issuance of land-use-exemption permits. Upon receiving a land- use-exemption permit, a solid waste rail transfer facility need not comply with state laws, regulations, orders, and other requirements affecting the siting of the facility, as those state laws, regulations, orders and requirements would be preempted under these circumstances. The Clean Railroads Act also requires that the Board issue procedures governing the submission and review of applications for land-use- exemption permits and related filings.