[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 239 (Friday, December 12, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 65378]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-32565]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

49 CFR Part 1241

[Ex Parte No. 431 (Sub-No. 2)]


Review of the General Purpose Costing System

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Policy Statement; Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: The Surface Transportation Board (Board) is modifying the 
procedures used for determining the variable cost of using privately-
owned rail cars, and requesting comments on certain modifications to 
the recently adopted procedures used to determine the variable costs 
associated with rail movements of intermodal traffic.

DATES: The policy statement modifying the costing of privately-owned 
cars is effective December 12, 1997 . The policy statement revising the 
procedures for costing intermodal traffic is scheduled to be effective 
February 10, 1998; if this effective date is delayed, timely notice 
will be published in the Federal Register.
    Comments are due January 12, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send an original and 10 copies of comments referring to Ex 
Parte No. 431 (Sub-No. 2) to: Surface Transportation Board, Office of 
the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 
20423-001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas J. Stilling, (202) 565-1567. 
[TDD for the hearing impaired: (202) 565-1695.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To provide consistent and comparable 
information on railroad costs, the Board maintains a general purpose 
costing system known as the Uniform Railroad Costing System (URCS). 
This rulemaking was instituted to review the procedures used by the 
URCS to develop the variable costs of providing rail service. As a 
result of the comments received, the Board is adopting modifications to 
the procedures for determining the variable cost of using privately-
owned rail cars. In addition, as discussed below, the Board is 
modifying certain procedures used to develop the costs associated with 
movements of intermodal traffic, absent objections within 30 days. The 
Board's decision may be reviewed at the agency's offices in Washington, 
D.C. during normal business hours. The decision is also available from 
our Internet site at www.stb.dot.gov or for a charge by calling DC NEWS 
& DATA INC. at (202) 289-4357.

Intermodal Costing

    In response to the reconsideration request of the Association of 
American Railroads, the Board is proposing to modify several intermodal 
costing procedures adopted previously in this proceeding. These 
modifications recognize changes that have taken place in the railroad 
industry since evidence was last submitted in this proceeding. Unless 
adverse comments are received, the Board will adopt for the purposes of 
waybill and URCS movement costing (1) an intertrain and intratrain 
switching factor for intermodal cars of 4,163 miles, (2) an intermodal 
car spotted-to-pulled ratio equal to the intermodal car empty-to-loaded 
ratio, (3) a RoadRailer tare weight of 13.9 tons, and (4) use of our 
standard default costing procedure to assign locomotive cost to 
RoadRailer shipments. Absent receipt of comments voicing opposition to 
this modification within 30 days of this decision, it will become a 
permanent change effective February 10, 1998. If the effective date of 
this modification is delayed, timely notice will be published in the 
Federal Register.
    The Board certifies that the new procedures will not have a 
significant economic effect on a substantial number of small entities. 
The impact on small entities, if any, will be to provide them with 
better cost estimates.
    This action will not significantly affect either the quality of the 
human environment or the conservation of energy resources.

    Decided: December 5, 1997.

    By the Board, Chairman Morgan and Vice Chairman Owen.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-32565 Filed 12-11-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P