[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 19 (Monday, January 29, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 2866-2867] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-1537] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Surface Transportation Board [STB Ex Parte No. 526] Notice of Establishment of Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council and Request for Recommendation of Candidates for Membership AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board. ACTION: Request For Recommendation of Candidates For Membership on Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 2867]] SUMMARY: As provided by section 726 of the ICC Termination Act of 1995, Public Law 104-88, 109 Stat. 803, the Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council (Council) is established to advise the Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board (Board), the Secretary of Transportation, and Congressional oversight committees with respect to rail transportation policy issues of particular importance to small shippers and small railroads. To fulfill the duty of the Chairman of the Board to appoint Council members, this notice requests recommendations for membership on the Council from rail carriers and rail shippers. DATES: Recommendations for Council members are due on February 13, 1996. ADDRESSES: Send recommendations and supporting information (an original plus 3 copies) referring to STB Ex Parte No. 526, Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council to: Vernon A. Williams, Secretary, Surface Transportation Board, Room 1324, 1201 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20423. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard S. Fitzsimmons, (202) 927- 6050. [TDD for the hearing impaired: (202) 927-5721.] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council was established upon the enactment of the ICC Termination Act of 1995 (the Act), on December 29, 1995, to advise the Board's Chairman, the Secretary of Transportation, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives with respect to rail transportation policy issues the Council considers significant. The Council will focus on issues of importance to small shippers and small railroads, including car supply, rates, competition, and procedures for addressing claims. The Act directs the Council to develop private-sector mechanisms to prevent, or identify and address, obstacles to the most effective and efficient transportation system practicable. The Secretary of Transportation and the Chairman of the Board will cooperate with the Council in providing research, technical, and other reasonable support. To the extent the Council addresses specific grain car issues, it will coordinate its activities with the National Grain Car Council. The Council must also prepare an annual report concerning its activities and recommendations on whatever regulatory or legislative relief it considers appropriate. The Council is not subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Suggestions for candidates for membership on the Council and supporting information must be submitted to the Board by February 13, 1996. Suggestions for members of the Council should be submitted in letter form, identifying the name of the candidate and including evidence of the interests the candidate will represent. Council members must be citizens of the United States and represent as broadly as practicable the various segments of the railroad and rail shipper industries. They may not be full-time employees of the United States. The Council will consist of 19 members. Of this number, 15 members will be appointed by the Chairman of the Board, and the remaining four members will be comprised of the Secretary of Transportation and the Members of the Board, who will serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the Council. Of the 15 members to be appointed, nine members will be the voting members of the Council and be appointed from senior executive officers of organizations engaged in the railroad and rail shipping industries. At least four of the voting members must be representatives of small shippers as determined by the Chairman, and at least four of the voting members must be representatives of Class II or III railroads. The remaining six Council members to be appointed--three representing Class I railroads and three representing large shipper organizations--will serve in a nonvoting advisory capacity, but will be entitled to participate in Council deliberations. The members of the Council will be appointed for a term of 3 years, except that of the members first appointed, five members will be appointed for terms of 1 year, and five members will be appointed for terms of 2 years, as designated by the Chairman at the time of appointment. A member may serve after the expiration of his or her term until a successor has taken office. No member will be eligible to serve in excess of two consecutive terms. The Council will meet at least semi-annually and hold other meetings at the call of the Council Chairman. Federal facilities, where available, may be used for such meetings. The members of the Council shall receive no compensation for their services and, with regard to the availability of funding from the Board for support, the members will be required to provide for the expenses incidental to their service, including travel expenses, as the Board has limited appropriations and cannot at this time provide for these expenses. The Council Chairman, however, may request funding from the Department of Transportation to cover travel expenses, subject to certain restrictions in the Act. The Council also may solicit and use private funding for its activities, again subject to certain restrictions in the Act. Decided: January 23, 1996. By the Board, Linda J. Morgan, Chairman. Vernon A. Williams, Secretary. [FR Doc. 96-1537 Filed 1-26-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915-00-P