[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 114 (Tuesday, June 13, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37205-37206]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-15000]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Docket No. 42052]


Union Pacific Railroad Company--Petition for Declaratory Order--
Imposed Interchange Charges

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Institution of declaratory order proceeding; request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: The Board is instituting a proceeding under 5 U.S.C. 554(e) to 
resolve questions concerning the right of a rail carrier to impose 
charges unilaterally against other carriers for events that may occur 
when cars are interchanged.

DATES: Comments by or on behalf of all interested parties are due July 
12, 2000. Replies are due August 1, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The original and 10 copies of comments referring to STB 
Docket No. 42052 must be sent to: Surface Transportation Board, Office 
of the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 
20423-0001, ATTN: STB Docket No. 42052.
    In addition, send one copy of comments to: (1) Union Pacific 
Railroad Company, Robert T. Opal, General Commerce Counsel, 1416 Dodge 
Street, Room 830, Omaha, Nebraska 68179; (2) Iowa Interstate Railroad, 
Ltd., Edward J. Krug, Krug & Beckelman, P.L.C., 401 First Street S.E., 
Suite 330, P.O. Box 186, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-0186; (3) City of 
Tacoma Public Utilities, d/b/a Tacoma Rail, Mark Bubenik, Chief 
Assistant City Attorney, P.O. Box 11007, Tacoma, WA 98411-0007; (4) 
Roger A. Serpe, General Counsel, Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad Company, 
111 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 1128, Chicago, Illinois 60604-3502; 
and (5) William C. Sippel, Thomas J. Litwiler, Fletcher & Sippel LLC, 
Two Prudential Plaza, Suite 3125, 180 North Stetson Avenue, Chicago, 
Illinois 60601-6710.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beryl Gordon, (202) 565-1600. [TDD for 
the hearing impaired: 1-800-877-8339.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 14, 2000, Union Pacific Railroad 
Company (UP or petitioner) filed a petition seeking a declaratory order 
to resolve a dispute over the right of a rail carrier to impose charges 
unilaterally against other carriers for events that may occur when cars 
are interchanged. Replies to the petition have been filed by 
respondents Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad Company (Indiana Harbor Belt), 
Iowa Interstate Railroad, Ltd. (Iowa Interstate), and City of Tacoma, 
Tacoma Public Utilities, d/b/a Tacoma Rail and Tacoma Beltline Railroad 
(Tacoma Beltline) (collectively, respondents).
    Specifically, UP seeks a declaration that, under 49 U.S.C. 11121, a 
rail carrier may not unilaterally impose charges on another carrier for 
interchange of cars, either by ``tariff'' or otherwise, and that 
interchange-related charges imposed by one carrier on another must be 
either permitted by agreement of the carriers involved or specifically 
authorized by the Board. The controversy arises as a consequence of 
``tariff'' provisions issued by respondents, pursuant to which charges 
may be imposed when cars are not pulled from interchange within

[[Page 37206]]

specified times. UP asserts that such interchange matters are subject 
to the Association of American Railroads' (AAR) Car Service and Car 
Hire Agreement (Car Hire Agreement), unless the rail carriers enter 
into agreements that differ from the Car Hire Agreement.
    Respondents concur that a declaratory order is warranted, though 
they disagree with UP as to the substance of such an order. Indiana 
Harbor Belt assails UP's allegedly ``delinquent interchange practices 
in the Chicago Switching District.'' Iowa Interstate defends its 
charges as necessary to protect short line railroads against arbitrary 
and unfair interchange practices of Class I railroads. Tacoma Beltline 
asserts that UP's position constitutes anti-competitive conduct in 
complete disregard of business operations.\1\ Iowa Interstate and 
Tacoma Beltline rely on the decision of the court in Cincinnati, N.O. & 
T.P. Ry. Co. v. Chesapeake & O. Ry. Co., 441 F.2d 483 (4th Cir. 1971), 
for the proposition that AAR's car service rules do not prevent a 
carrier from acting individually through a ``tariff'' charge to avoid 
costs related to another railroad's malfeasance.
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    \1\ Tacoma Beltline requested that the Board delay any ruling 
until its lawsuit seeking interchange charges is resolved in City of 
Tacoma, Tacoma Public Utilities v. Union Pacific Railroad Company, 
Case No. C00-50548FDB, (W.D. Wash.) This request is moot, because in 
an order dated April 20, 2000, the court dismissed the case without 
prejudice, citing the Board's exclusive jurisdiction.
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    Under 5 U.S.C. 554(e) and 49 U.S.C. 721, the Board has 
discretionary authority to issue a declaratory order to terminate a 
controversy or remove uncertainty. The Board and its predecessor, the 
Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), have exercised broad authority in 
handling such requests. In determining whether to entertain such 
petitions, the agency considers a number of factors, including the 
significance to the industry, the ripeness of the controversy, and 
whether a proceeding is necessary to terminate an active controversy.
    The issues presented raise questions that would appear to have 
broad and current applicability within the railroad industry, involving 
significant interpretations of the statutory framework within which 
that industry operates since enactment of the ICC Termination Act of 
1995, Pub. L. No. 104-88, 109 Stat. 803. These significant questions 
deserve resolution on a full record, including the comments of all 
interested persons, not just the parties already of record.
    Accordingly, a declaratory order proceeding is instituted to 
consider the issues raised in UP's petition and respondents' replies, 
based on the comments of all interested parties. This proceeding will 
be handled on the basis of written statements submitted by the parties.
    Written comments (an original and 10 copies) by or on behalf of all 
interested parties (including petitioner and respondents) must be filed 
with the Board no later than July 12, 2000. Replies (an original and 10 
copies) by petitioner and respondents must be filed no later than 
August 1, 2000.\2\ Comments must state the basis for the party's 
position and must contain the name and address of the commenting party. 
Petitioner and respondents must be served concurrently with a copy of 
each comment (and reply); other commenters must be served concurrently 
with a copy of each reply.
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    \2\ Replies may also be submitted by other commenting parties, 
if desired, by the same date. Petitioner's and respondents' 
representatives are directed to assist in providing an appropriate 
mailing list to other interested parties, upon request.
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    Board decisions and notices are available on our website at 
``www.stb.dot.gov''.
    This action will not significantly affect either the quality of the 
human environment or the conservation of energy resources.

    Decided: June 7, 2000.

    By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-15000 Filed 6-12-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P