[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 175 (Monday, September 9, 1996)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 47446] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-22916] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Surface Transportation Board 49 CFR Part 1039 [Ex Parte No. 346 (Sub-No. 35)] Rail General Exemption Authority--Exemption of Ferrous Recyclables AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board. ACTION: Final rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Pursuant to its authority under 49 U.S.C. 10502, the Surface Transportation Board is exempting from regulation the transportation by rail of blast furnace, open hearth, rolling mill or coke oven products, NEC (STCC Commodity Group No. 33-119). This commodity group is added to the list of exempt commodities, as set forth below, and is intended to eliminate unnecessary regulation. EFFECTIVE DATE: October 9, 1996. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beryl Gordon, (202) 927-5660. [TDD for the hearing impaired: (202) 927-5721.] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Since the Interstate Commerce Commission's 1 decision of May 16, 1995 (60 FR 26839, May 19, 1995), in this proceeding, which refrained from exempting commodities in STCC Commodity Group No. 33-119 because it included certain recyclable materials deemed to be nonferrous, Congress has passed the ICCTA. The ICCTA repealed the special statutory protections for transportation of nonferrous recyclable commodities. As a consequence, because regulation of the rail transportation of commodities in STCC Commodity Group No. 33-119 is not necessary, rather than distinguishing between ferrous and nonferrous commodities within the commodity group, we will exempt the entire five-digit commodity group. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ The ICC Termination Act of 1995, Pub. L. No. 104-88, 109 Stat. 803 (ICCTA), which was enacted on December 29, 1995, and took effect on January 1, 1996, abolished the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) and transferred certain functions to the Surface Transportation Board (Board). This decision relates to a proceeding that was pending with the ICC prior to January 1, 1996, and to functions that are subject to Board jurisdiction pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 10701 et seq. Citations are to the current sections of the statute. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulatory Flexibility Act The Board certifies that this exemption will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities within the meaning of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. This exemption will reduce regulation; it imposes no new reporting or other requirements directly or indirectly on small entities. Environment and Energy This action will not significantly affect either the quality of the human environment or the conservation of energy resources. List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 1039 Intramodal transportation, Manufactured commodities, Railroads. Decided: August 27, 1996. By the Board, Chairman Morgan, Vice Chairman Simmons, and Commissioner Owen. Vernon A. Williams, Secretary. For the reasons set forth in the preamble, title 49, chapter X, part 1039 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows: PART 1039--EXEMPTIONS 1. The authority citation for part 1039 is revised to read as follows: Authority: 5 U.S.C. 553; 49 U.S.C. 10502 and 13301. 2. Section 1039.11, paragraph (a), is amended by adding the following new entry to the end of table: Sec. 1039.11 Miscellaneous commodities exemptions. (a) * * * ------------------------------------------------------------------------ STCC No. STCC tariff Commodity ------------------------------------------------------------------------ * * * * * 33 119 6001-X, eff. 1-11-96 Blast furnace, open hearth, rolling mill or coke oven products, NEC. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ * * * * * [FR Doc. 96-22916 Filed 9-6-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915-00-P