[Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions] [Surface Transportation Board Semiannual Regulatory Agenda] [From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Part LXIII Surface Transportation Board ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Semiannual Regulatory Agenda [[Page 31460]]SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD (STB) _______________________________________________________________________ DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Surface Transportation Board 49 CFR Ch. X [STB Ex Parte No. 536 (Sub-No. 14)] 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 2003 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: March 20, 2003. By the Board, Chairman Nober, Vice Chairman Burkes, and Commissioner Morgan. Vernon A. Williams, Secretary. Surface Transportation Board--Long-Term Actions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identification Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4240 Railroad Consolidation Procedures--Exemption for Temporary Trackage Rights, STB Ex 2140-AA68 Parte No. 282 (Sub-No. 20).......................................................... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Surface Transportation Board--Completed Actions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identification Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4241 Calculation of Variable Costs in Rate Complaint Proceedings Involving Non-Class I 2140-AA62 Railroads, STB Ex Parte No. 589..................................................... 4242 Procedures To Expedite Resolution of Rail Rate Challenges To Be Considered Under the 2140-AA64 Stand-Alone Cost Methodology, STB Ex Parte No. 638.................................. 4243 Revision of Delegation of Authority Regulations, STB Ex Parte No. 588............... 2140-AA65 4244 Removal of Joint Rate Cancellation Regulations, STB Ex Parte No. 639................ 2140-AA66 4245 Revision of Delegation of Authority Regulations, STB Ex Parte No. 642............... 2140-AA67 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 31461]] _______________________________________________________________________ Surface Transportation Board (STB) Long-Term Actions _______________________________________________________________________ 4240. [bull] RAILROAD CONSOLIDATION PROCEDURES--EXEMPTION FOR TEMPORARY TRACKAGE RIGHTS, STB EX PARTE NO. 282 (SUB-NO. 20) Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 49 USC 11323 to 11325; 49 USC 10502 CFR Citation: 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(8); 49 CFR 1180.4(g)(2)(iii) Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The STB is proposing a new class exemption and related regulations that would be available for trackage rights agreements that by their terms expire on a date certain and would permit their authorization for a limited period of time. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 02/10/03 68 FR 6695 NPRM Comment Period End 03/12/03 Final Action To Be Determined Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None URL For More Information: http://stb.dot.gov Agency Contact: Joseph H. Dettmar, Deputy Director, Office of Proceedings, Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20423-0001 Phone: 202 565-1609 Fax: 202 565-9002 Email: dettmarj@stb.dot.gov RIN: 2140-AA68 _______________________________________________________________________ Surface Transportation Board (STB) Completed Actions _______________________________________________________________________ 4241. CALCULATION OF VARIABLE COSTS IN RATE COMPLAINT PROCEEDINGS INVOLVING NON-CLASS I RAILROADS, STB EX PARTE NO. 589 Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 49 USC 10707 CFR Citation: None Legal Deadline: None Abstract: This proceeding was instituted to settle how the STB will estimate the variable costs of non-Class I railroads in future rail rate complaint cases. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 04/30/02 67 FR 21321 NPRM Comment Period End 07/31/02 Final Action 03/28/03 68 FR 15263 Final Action Effective 04/27/03 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None URL For More Information: http://stb.dot.gov Agency Contact: Harold J. Warren, Transportation Industry Analyst, Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20423 Phone: 202 565-1533 TDD Phone: 800 877-8339 Fax: 202 565-9000 Email: warrenj@stb.dot.gov RIN: 2140-AA62 _______________________________________________________________________ 4242. PROCEDURES TO EXPEDITE RESOLUTION OF RAIL RATE CHALLENGES TO BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE STAND-ALONE COST METHODOLOGY, STB EX PARTE NO. 638 Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 49 USC 721(a) CFR Citation: 49 CFR 1011; 49 CFR 1114 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: To expedite decisions in rail rate cases as required by 49 U.S.C. 10701 and 10704, the STB proposes changes to the regulations at 49 CFR 1109 and 1114 that would require initial mediation as part of the complaint-filing process; modify or clarify standards for addressing discovery disputes; and establish expedited procedures, including informal conferences with staff, for resolving discovery disputes. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 09/11/02 67 FR 57557 NPRM Comment Period End 10/31/02 Final Action 04/09/03 68 FR 17312 Final Action Effective 05/09/03 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None URL For More Information: http://stb.dot.gov Agency Contact: Thomas J. Stilling, Attorney, Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20423-0001 Phone: 202 565-1567 TDD Phone: 800 877-8339 Fax: 202 565-9001 Email: stillingt@stb.dot.gov RIN: 2140-AA64 _______________________________________________________________________ 4243. [bull] REVISION OF DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY REGULATIONS, STB EX PARTE NO. 588 Priority: Info./Admin./Other Legal Authority: PL 104-88, sec 204; 49 USC 721 CFR Citation: 49 CFR 1011 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The STB revised the delegation of authority regulations to reflect changes made by the ICC Termination Act of 1995 and other changes. These rules set out the organization of the Board and procedures in processing cases, certain litigation, and informal opinions. The Board's revision of its regulations includes the removal of obsolete delegations of authority, and the updating of references to statutory provisions. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action 09/25/02 67 FR 60167 Final Action Effective 09/30/02 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None URL For More Information: http://stb.dot.gov Agency Contact: John J. Sado, Assistant to the Director of the Office [[Page 31462]] of Proceedings, Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20423-0001 Phone: 202 565-1661 TDD Phone: 800-877-8339 Fax: 202 565-9003 Email: sadoj@stb.dot.gov RIN: 2140-AA65 _______________________________________________________________________ 4244. [bull] REMOVAL OF JOINT RATE CANCELLATION REGULATIONS, STB EX PARTE NO. 639 Priority: Info./Admin./Other Legal Authority: PL 104-88, sec 204; 49 USC 10705; 49 USC 11102 CFR Citation: 49 CFR 1144 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The STB removed regulations concerning the cancellation of through routes and joint rates because those rules have been made obsolete by statutory changes. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action 09/30/02 67 FR 61290 Final Action Effective 09/30/02 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None URL For More Information: http://stb.dot.gov Agency Contact: John J. Sado, Assistant to the Director of the Office of Proceedings, Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20423-0001 Phone: 202 565-1661 TDD Phone: 800-877-8339 Fax: 202 565-9003 Email: sadoj@stb.dot.gov RIN: 2140-AA66 _______________________________________________________________________ 4245. [bull] REVISION OF DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY REGULATIONS, STB EX PARTE NO. 642 Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 5 USC 553; 31 USC 9701; 49 USC 701; 49 USC 721; 49 USC 11123; 49 USC 11124; 49 USC 11144; 49 USC 14122; 49 USC 15722 CFR Citation: 49 CFR 1011.4; 49 CFR 1011.7 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The STB has revised its delegations of authority (1) to authorize the Chairman to take necessary actions in emergency situations when the Chairman is the only Board member reasonably available, and (2) if no Board Member is available, to delegate authority to take such actions to the Director of the Board's Office of Compliance and Enforcement. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Action Effective 02/14/03 Final Action 02/25/03 68 FR 8725 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: None URL For More Information: http://stb.dot.gov Agency Contact: Melvin F. Clemens, Director, Office of Compliance and Enforcement, Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20943-0001 Phone: 202 565-1573 TDD Phone: 800 877-8339 Fax: 202 565-9011 Email: clemensm@stb.dot.gov RIN: 2140-AA67 [FR Doc. 03-7438 Filed 05-23-03; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915-00-S