[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 180 (Monday, September 16, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48639-48640]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-23664]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

49 CFR Part 1002

[STB Ex Parte No. 542]


Regulations Governing Fees for Services Performed in Connection 
With Licensing and Related Services--1996 Update

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, DOT.

ACTION: Final rules; Delay of effectiveness.

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SUMMARY: The Surface Transportation Board (Board) is delaying the 
effective date for Fee Item (60), Labor arbitration proceedings and Fee 
Item (61), Appeals to a Surface Transportation Board decision and 
petitions to revoke an exemption pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 10502(d), to 
allow sufficient time for the Board to consider the related petition to 
reopen that has been filed in this proceeding.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date for 49 CFR 1002.2(f), fee items (60) 
and (61), published in the Federal Register at 61 FR 42190 (August 14, 
1996) is delayed until the Board issues a decision on the merits of the 
related petition to reopen filed in this proceeding. The Board will 
announce further information in the Federal Register regarding the 
effective date of these two fee items when a decision on the merits of 
the related petition to reopen filed in this proceeding is issued.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen M. King, (202) 927-5249 or 
David T. Groves, (202) 927-6395. [TDD for the hearing impaired: (202) 
927-5721.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board issued final rules to implement 
its 1996 user fee update on August 14, 1996 at 61 FR 42190. Those rules 
are scheduled to go into effect on September 16, 1996.
    On August 26, 1996, Joseph Szabo, the Illinois Legislative Director 
for the United Transportation Union (Mr. Szabo), filed a petition for 
stay

[[Page 48640]]

requesting that the Board stay the establishment of the new $7,600 
filing fee for Fee Item (60), Labor arbitration proceedings, and the 
new $150 filing fee for Fee Item (61), Appeals to a Surface 
Transportation Board decision and petitions to revoke an exemption 
pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 10502(d), pending the disposition of his petition 
to reopen the August 14, 1996 decision. In letters filed August 26, 
1996, the United Transportation Union and the Brotherhood of Locomotive 
Engineers also objected to the establishment of these two fees and 
supported Mr. Szabo's petition for stay. On September 3, 1996, Mr. 
Szabo filed his petition to reopen this proceeding.
    Under the authority of 49 U.S.C. 721(a), I am granting a 
``housekeeping'' delay of the effective date of Fee Items (60) and (61) 
so that the Board will have sufficient time to consider the issues 
raised in the related petition to reopen. The Board intends to act on 
that petition by October 1, 1996. All other fee items will go into 
effect as scheduled.
    This action will not significantly affect either the quality of the 
human environment or the conservation of energy resources.

    Decided: August 11, 1996.

    By the Commission, Chairman Morgan.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the effective date of 49 
CFR 1002.2(f), fee items (60) and (61), published at 61 FR 42190 
(August 14, 1996), is delayed until the Board issues a decision on the 
merits of the related petition to reopen filed in this proceeding. The 
Board will announce further information in the Federal Register 
regarding the effective date of these two fee items when a decision on 
the merits of the petition to reopen is issued.

[FR Doc. 96-23664 Filed 9-13-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P