[April 30, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 82)] [Unified Agenda] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [frwais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID: f:ua070460.wais] [Page 23642-23645] Surface Transportation Board ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Part LX ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Semiannual Regulatory Agenda [[Page 23642]] SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD (STB) _______________________________________________________________________ DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Surface Transportation Board 49 CFR Ch. X [STB Ex Parte No. 536 (Sub-No. 22)] Semiannual Regulatory Agenda AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board. ACTION: Semiannual regulatory agenda. _______________________________________________________________________ SUMMARY: The Surface Transportation Board (the Board), in accordance with the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, is publishing a semiannual agenda of: (1) current and projected rulemakings; and (2) existing regulations being reviewed to determine whether to propose modifications through rulemaking. Listed below are the regulatory actions to be developed or reviewed during the next 12 months. Following each rule identified is a brief description of the rule, including its purpose and legal basis. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A contact person is identified for each of the rules listed below. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq. (RFA), sets forth a number of requirements for agency rulemaking. Among other things, the RFA requires that, semiannually, each agency shall publish in the Federal Register a regulatory flexibility agenda, which shall contain: (1) A brief description of the subject area of any rule that the agency expects to propose or promulgate, which is likely to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities; (2) A summary of the nature of any such rule under consideration for each subject area listed in the agenda pursuant to paragraph (1), the objectives and legal basis for the issuance of the rule, and an approximate schedule for completing action on any rule for which the agency has issued a general notice of proposed rulemaking; and (3) The name and telephone number of an agency official knowledgeable concerning the items listed in paragraph (1). Accordingly, a list of proceedings appears below containing information about subject areas in which the Board is currently conducting rulemaking proceedings or may institute such proceedings in the near future. It also contains information about existing regulations being reviewed to determine whether to propose modifications through rulemaking. The agenda represents the Board's best estimate of rules that will be considered over the next 12 months. However, section 602(d) of the RFA, 5 U.S.C. 602(d), provides: ``Nothing in [section 602] precludes an agency from considering or acting on any matter not included in a regulatory flexibility agenda or requires an agency to consider or act on any matter listed in such agenda.'' The Board is publishing its spring 2007 regulatory flexibility agenda as part of the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions (Unified Agenda). The Unified Agenda is coordinated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), pursuant to Executive Order 12866. The Board is participating in the program voluntarily to assist OMB. Decided: February 27, 2007. By the Board, Chairman Nottingham, Vice Chairman Buttrey, and Commissioner Mulvey. Vernon A. Williams, Secretary. Surface Transportation Board--Proposed Rule Stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3817 Rail Fuel Surcharges, STB Ex Parte No. 661 (Sub-No. 1)................................ 2140-AA83 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Surface Transportation Board--Long-Term Actions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3818 Simplified Standards for Rail Rate Cases, STB Ex Parte No. 646 (Sub-No. 1)............ 2140-AA82 3819 Methodology To Be Employed in Determining the Railroad Industry's Cost of Capital, STB 2140-AA84 Ex Parte No. 664...................................................................... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Surface Transportation Board--Completed Actions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3820 Class Exemption for Expedited Abandonment Procedure for Class II and Class III 2140-AA71 Railroads, STB Ex Parte No. 647....................................................... 3821 Major Issues in Rail Rate Cases, STB Ex Parte No. 657 (Sub-No. 1)..................... 2140-AA79 3822 Public Participation in Class Exemption Proceedings, STB Ex Parte No. 659............. 2140-AA80 3823 Rail Fuel Surcharges, STB Ex Parte No. 661............................................ 2140-AA81 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 23643]] _______________________________________________________________________ Surface Transportation Board (STB) Proposed Rule Stage _______________________________________________________________________ 3817. [bull] RAIL FUEL SURCHARGES, STB EX PARTE NO. 661 (SUB-NO. 1) Priority: Other Significant. Major status under 5 USC 801 is undetermined. Legal Authority: 49 USC 10702; 49 USC 11144 to 11145 CFR Citation: 49 CFR 1243; 49 CFR 1243.3 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Board is seeking comments on the proposed collection of information from Class I carriers in the form of a Report of Fuel Cost, Consumption, and Surcharge Revenue. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 02/01/07 72 FR 4676 NPRM Comment Period End 04/01/07 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None URL For More Information: www.stb.dot.gov URL For Public Comments: www.stb.dot.gov Agency Contact: Marilyn Levitt, Attorney, Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20423 Phone: 202 245-0269 TDD Phone: 800 877-8339 Fax: 202 245-0460 Email: levittm@stb.dot.gov RIN: 2140-AA83 _______________________________________________________________________ Surface Transportation Board (STB) Long-Term Actions _______________________________________________________________________ 3818. SIMPLIFIED STANDARDS FOR RAIL RATE CASES, STB EX PARTE NO. 646 (SUB-NO. 1) Priority: Other Significant. Major status under 5 USC 801 is undetermined. Legal Authority: 5 USC 559; 49 USC 721; 49 USC 10701(d)(3); 49 USC 10704; 49 USC 10707; 49 USC 11144 to 11145; 49 USC 11701 CFR Citation: 49 CFR 1111.1; 49 CFR 1111.4; 49 CRF 1111.9 to 1111.10; 49 CFR 1114.21 to 1114.22; 49 CFR 1114.26; 49 CFR 1114.30 to 1114.31 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Board is proposing to revise its guidelines for determining the reasonableness of challenged rail rates in cases where a full stand-alone cost presentation is too costly, given the value of the case. The proposed revisions to the guidelines would provide for a simplified stand-alone cost procedure for medium-size rate disputes, a modified three-benchmark method for small rate disputes, and would establish eligibility presumptions based on the maximum value of the case. The Board also proposes to amend its procedures for processing such rate cases. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 08/02/06 71 FR 43703 NPRM Comment Period End 10/01/06 NPRM Comment Period End 01/11/07 Hearing 01/31/07 Next Action Undetermined Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None URL For More Information: www.stb.dot.gov URL For Public Comments: www.stb.dot.gov Agency Contact: Joseph H. Dettmar, Deputy Director, Office of Proceedings, Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001 Phone: 202 245-0395 TDD Phone: 800 877-8339 Fax: 202 245-0464 Email: dettmarj@stb.dot.gov Related RIN: Merged with 2140-AA70 RIN: 2140-AA82 _______________________________________________________________________ 3819. [bull] METHODOLOGY TO BE EMPLOYED IN DETERMINING THE RAILROAD INDUSTRY'S COST OF CAPITAL, STB EX PARTE NO. 664 Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant. Major status under 5 USC 801 is undetermined. Legal Authority: 5 USC 605(b) CFR Citation: Not Yet Determined Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Board is seeking comments on the appropriate methodology to be employed in determining the railroad industry's estimated cost of capital to be used in future annual cost-of-capital determinations. We are also soliciting comments on how evidence should be submitted and analyzed in future cost-of-capital proceedings. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Public Hearing 01/19/07 72 FR 2591 ANPRM 09/25/06 71 FR 55825 ANPRM Comment Period End 11/06/06 Hearing 02/15/07 Next Action Undetermined Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None URL For More Information: www.stb.dot.gov URL For Public Comments: www.stb.dot.gov Agency Contact: Pedro G. Ramirez, Financial Analyst, Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20423 Phone: 202 245-0333 TDD Phone: 800 877-8339 Fax: 202 245-0454 Email: ramirezp@stb.dot.gov RIN: 2140-AA84 [[Page 23644]] _______________________________________________________________________ Surface Transportation Board (STB) Completed Actions _______________________________________________________________________ 3820. CLASS EXEMPTION FOR EXPEDITED ABANDONMENT PROCEDURE FOR CLASS II AND CLASS III RAILROADS, STB EX PARTE NO. 647 Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 49 USC 10502; 49 USC 10903 CFR Citation: 49 CFR 1150.50; 49 CFR 1152.22 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Board considered a proposal to create a class exemption for Class II and Class III railroads from some of the prior approval requirements of the abandonment process. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ ANPRM 08/13/03 68 FR 48332 Hearing 07/27/04 69 FR 44727 ANPRM 01/19/06 71 FR 3030 End Review 12/15/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None URL For More Information: www.stb.dot.gov URL For Public Comments: www.stb.dot.gov Agency Contact: Joseph H. Dettmar, Deputy Director, Office of Proceedings, Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001 Phone: 202 245-0395 TDD Phone: 800 877-8339 Fax: 202 245-0464 Email: dettmarj@stb.dot.gov RIN: 2140-AA71 _______________________________________________________________________ 3821. MAJOR ISSUES IN RAIL RATE CASES, STB EX PARTE NO. 657 (SUB-NO. 1) Priority: Other Significant Legal Authority: 49 USC 10701(d); 49 USC 721 CFR Citation: 49 CFR 1111 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Board adopted proposed changes to its ``stand-alone cost'' methodology for resolving major rail rate cases. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 03/03/06 71 FR 11015 NPRM Comment Period End 06/30/06 Final Action--Finalized By The Board 10/30/06 Final Action Effective 11/29/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None URL For More Information: www.stb.dot.gov URL For Public Comments: www.stb.dot.gov Agency Contact: Raymond A. Atkins, Attorney, Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001 Phone: 202 245-0266 TDD Phone: 800 877-8339 Fax: 202 245-0460 Email: atkinsr@stb.dot.gov RIN: 2140-AA79 _______________________________________________________________________ 3822. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN CLASS EXEMPTION PROCEEDINGS, STB EX PARTE NO. 659 Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 49 USC 721(a); 49 USC 10502; 49 USC 10901 to 10902; 5 USC 553; 5 USC 559; 11 USC 1172; 49 USC 721; 49 USC 11323 to 11325 CFR Citation: 49 CFR 1150.32; 49 CFR 1150.35; 49 CFR 1150.42; 49 CFR 1150.45; 49 CFR 1180.4 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Board revised its procedures for certain classes of exempt transactions under 49 U.S.C. 10901, 10902, and 11323 to provide for greater public participation in such proceedings and to allow Federal Register notice of covered transactions to precede the effective date of the exemption. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 03/16/06 71 FR 13563 NPRM Comment Period End 06/14/06 Final Action 10/19/06 71 FR 62212 Final Action Effective 11/23/06 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None URL For More Information: www.stb.dot.gov URL For Public Comments: www.stb.dot.gov Agency Contact: Joseph H. Dettmar, Deputy Director, Office of Proceedings, Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001 Phone: 202 245-0395 TDD Phone: 800 877-8339 Fax: 202 245-0464 Email: dettmarj@stb.dot.gov RIN: 2140-AA80 _______________________________________________________________________ 3823. RAIL FUEL SURCHARGES, STB EX PARTE NO. 661 Priority: Other Significant Legal Authority: 49 USC 10702(2); 49 USC 721(b) CFR Citation: None Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Board issued a decision finding that computing rail fuel surcharges as a percentage of a base rate is an unreasonable practice and directed carriers to change this practice. The Board also prohibited the practice of ``double dipping'' as an unreasonable practice in the same decision. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Public Hearing 03/17/06 71 FR 13896 Public Hearing 08/10/06 71 FR 45900 Comment Period End 09/25/06 Final Action--Finalized By The Board 01/26/07 Final Action Effective 01/26/07 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None URL For More Information: www.stb.dot.gov URL For Public Comments: www.stb.dot.gov Agency Contact: Joseph H. Dettmar, Deputy Director, Office of Proceedings, Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001 Phone: 202 245-0395 TDD Phone: 800 877-8339 Fax: 202 245-0464 [[Page 23645]] Email: dettmarj@stb.dot.gov RIN: 2140-AA81 [FR Doc. 07-01264 Filed 04-27-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915-01-S