[Federal Register: August 10, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 154)]
[Notices]
[Page 45900-45901]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10au06-146]
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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.
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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 http://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 http://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