[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 238 (Monday, December 11, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 77319-77322]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-31344]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

49 CFR Part 1002

[STB Ex Parte No. 542 (Sub-No. 5)]


Regulations Governing Fees for Services Performed in Connection 
With Licensing and Related Services--2000 Update

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Final rules.

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SUMMARY: The Board adopts its 2000 User Fee Update and revises its fee 
schedule at this time to recover the cost associated with the January 
2000 Government salary increases plus increases to its Federal Register 
publication costs.

EFFECTIVE DATE: These rules are effective January 10, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David T. Groves, (202) 565-1551, or 
Anne Quinlan, (202) 565-1727. [TDD for the hearing impaired: (202) 565-
1695.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board's regulations in 49 CFR 1002.3 
require the Board's user fee schedule to be updated annually. The 
Board's regulations in 49 CFR 1002.3(a) provide that the entire fee 
schedule or selected fees can be modified more than once a year, if 
necessary. The Board's fees are revised based on the cost study formula 
set forth at 49 CFR 1002.3(d). Also, in some previous years, selected 
fees were modified to reflect new cost study data or changes in Board 
or Interstate Commerce Commission fee policy.
    Because Board employees received a salary increase of 4.94% in 
January 2000, we are updating our user fees to recover the increased 
personnel costs. We also are increasing the fees to take into account 
an approximate increase of 4.2% in our publication costs. With certain 
exceptions, all fees will be updated based on our cost formula 
contained in 49 CFR 1002.3(d).
    The fee increases involved here result only from the mechanical 
application of the update formula in 49 CFR 1002.3(d), which was 
adopted through notice and comment procedures in Regulations Governing 
Fees for Services--1987 Update, 4 I.C.C.2d 137 (1987). In addition, no 
new fees are being proposed in this proceeding. Therefore, we believe 
notice and comment are unnecessary for this proceeding. See Regulations 
Governing Fees for Services--1990 Update, 7 I.C.C.2d 3 (1990); 
Regulations Governing Fees for Services--1991 Update, 8 I.C.C.2d 13 
(1991); and Regulations Governing Fees for Services--1993 Update, 9 
I.C.C.2d 855 (1993).
    We conclude that the fee changes being adopted here will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
because the Board's regulations provide for waiver of filing fees for 
those entities that can make the required showing of financial 
hardship.
    Additional information is contained in the Board's decision. To 
obtain a copy of the full decision, write, call, or pick up in person 
from Da-to-Da Office Solutions, Suite 405, Surface Transportation 
Board, 1925 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20423-0001. Telephone: (202) 
466-5530. [Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through TDD 
services 1-800-877-8339.]

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 1002

    Administrative practice and procedure, Common carriers, Freedom of 
information, User fees.

    Decided: December 4, 2000.

    By the Board, Chairman Morgan, Vice Chairman Burkes, and 
Commissioner Clyburn.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, title 49, chapter X, 
part 1002, of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:

PART 1002--FEES

    1. The authority citation for part 1002 continues to read as 
follows:


[[Page 77320]]


    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(4)(A) and 553; 31 U.S.C. 9701 and 49 
U.S.C. 721(a).

    2. Section 1002.1 is amended by revising paragraphs (b), (c) and 
(e)(1) and the table in paragraph (f)(6) to read as follows:


Sec. 1002.1  Fees for records search, review, copying, certification, 
and related services.

* * * * *
    (b) Service involved in examination of tariffs or schedules for 
preparation of certified copies of tariffs or schedules or extracts 
therefrom at the rate of $28.00 per hour.
    (c) Service involved in checking records to be certified to 
determine authenticity, including clerical work, etc., incidental 
thereto, at the rate of $19.00 per hour.
* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (1) A fee of $49.00 per hour for professional staff time will be 
charged when it is required to fulfill a request for ADP data.
* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (6) * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Grade                                 Rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GS-1.........................................................      $8.21
GS-2.........................................................       8.94
GS-3.........................................................      10.08
GS-4.........................................................      11.31
GS-5.........................................................      12.65
GS-6.........................................................      14.11
GS-7.........................................................      15.67
GS-8.........................................................      17.36
GS-9.........................................................      19.17
GS-10........................................................      21.12
GS-11........................................................      23.20
GS-12........................................................      27.81
GS-13........................................................      33.07
GS-14........................................................      39.07
GS-15 and over...............................................      45.96
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

    2. In Sec. 1002.2, paragraph (f) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 1002.2  Filing fees.

* * * * *
    (f) Schedule of filing fees.

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                      Type of proceeding                          Fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Part I: Non-Rail Applications or Proceedings to Enter Upon a Particular
               Financial Transaction or Joint Arrangement
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) An application for the pooling or division of traffic....     $2,900
(2) An application involving the purchase, lease,                  1,400
 consolidation, merger, or acquisition of control of a motor
 carrier of passengers under 49 U.S.C. 14303.................
(3) An application for approval of a non-rail rate                18,300
 association agreement. 49 U.S.C. 13703......................
(4) An application for approval of an amendment to a non-rail
 rate association agreement:
    (i) Significant amendment................................     3,100.
    (ii) Minor amendment.....................................        70.
(5) An application for temporary authority to operate a motor        300
 carrier of passengers. 49 U.S.C. 14303(i)...................
(6) A notice of exemption for transaction within a motor           1,100
 passenger corporate family that does not result in adverse
 changes in service levels, significant operational changes,
 or a change in the competitive balance with motor passenger
 carriers outside the corporate family.......................
(7)-(10) [Reserved]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Part II: Rail Licensing Proceedings other than Abandonment or
                       Discontinuance Proceedings
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11)(i) An application for a certificate authorizing the           4,800
 extension, acquisition, or operation of lines of railroad.
 49 U.S.C. 10901.............................................
    (ii) Notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.31-1150.35....      1,200
    (iii) Petition for exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502.......      8,300
(12) (i) An application involving the construction of a rail      49,300
 line........................................................
    (ii) A notice of exemption involving construction of a         1,200
     rail line under 49 CFR 1150.36..........................
    (iii) A petition for exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502          49,300
     involving construction of a rail line...................
(13) A Feeder Line Development Program application filed           2,600
 under 49 U.S.C. 10907(b)(1)(A)(i) or 10907(b)(1)(A)(ii).....
(14) (i) An application of a class II or class III carrier to      4,100
 acquire an extended or additional rail line under 49 U.S.C.
 10902.......................................................
    (ii) Notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.41-1150.45....      1,200
    (iii) Petition for exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502             4,400
     relating to an exemption from the provisions of 49
     U.S.C. 10902............................................
(15) A notice of a modified certificate of public convenience      1,100
 and necessity under 49 CFR 1150.21-1150.24..................
(16)-(20) [Reserved]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Part III: Rail Abandonment or Discontinuance of Transportation Services
                               Proceedings
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(21) (i) An application for authority to abandon all or a         14,600
 portion of a line of railroad or discontinue operation
 thereof filed by a railroad (except applications filed by
 Consolidated Rail Corporation pursuant to the Northeast Rail
 Service Act [Subtitle E of Title XI of Pub. L. 97-35],
 bankrupt railroads, or exempt abandonments).................
    (ii) Notice of an exempt abandonment or discontinuance         2,500
     under 49 CFR 1152.50....................................
    (iii) A petition for exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502.....      4,200
(22) An application for authority to abandon all or a portion        300
 of a line of a railroad or operation thereof filed by
 Consolidated Rail Corporation pursuant to Northeast Rail
 Service Act.................................................
(23) Abandonments filed by bankrupt railroads................      1,200
(24) A request for waiver of filing requirements for               1,200
 abandonment application proceedings.........................
(25) An offer of financial assistance under 49 U.S.C. 10904        1,000
 relating to the purchase of or subsidy for a rail line
 proposed for abandonment....................................
(26) A request to set terms and conditions for the sale of or     14,900
 subsidy for a rail line proposed to be abandoned............
(27) A request for a trail use condition in an abandonment           150
 proceeding under 16 U.S.C.1247(d)...........................
(28)-(35) [Reserved]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Part IV: Rail Applications to Enter Upon a Particular Financial
                    Transaction or Joint Arrangement
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(36) An application for use of terminal facilities or other       12,500
 applications under 49 U.S.C. 11102..........................
(37) An application for the pooling or division of traffic.        6,800
 49 U.S.C. 11322.............................................

[[Page 77321]]

 
(38) An application for two or more carriers to consolidate
 or merge their properties or franchises (or a part thereof)
 into one corporation for ownership, management, and
 operation of the properties previously in separate
 ownership. 49 U.S.C. 11324:
    (i) Major transaction....................................   $986,300
    (ii) Significant transaction.............................    197,200
    (iii) Minor transaction..................................      5,300
    (iv) Notice of an exempt transaction under 49 CFR              1,100
     118.02(d)...............................................
    (v) Responsive application...............................      5,300
    (vi) Petition for exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502........      6,200
(39) An application of a non-carrier to acquire control of
 two or more carriers through ownership of stock or
 otherwise. 49 U.S.C. 11324:
    (i) Major transaction....................................    986,300
    (ii) Significant transaction.............................    197,200
    (iii) Minor transaction..................................      5,300
    (iv) A notice of an exempt transaction under 49 CFR              950
     118.02(d)...............................................
    (v) Responsive application...............................      5,300
    (vi) Petition for exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502........      6,200
(40) An application to acquire trackage rights over, joint
 ownership in, or joint use of any railroad lines owned and
 operated by any other carrier and terminals incidental
 thereto. 49 U.S.C. 11324:
    (i) Major transaction....................................    986,300
    (ii) Significant transaction.............................    197,200
    (iii) Minor transaction..................................      5,300
    (iv) Notice of an exempt transaction under 49 CFR                850
     118.02(d)...............................................
    (v) Responsive application...............................      5,300
    (vi) Petition for exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502........      6,200
(41) An application of a carrier or carriers to purchase,
 lease, or contract to operate the properties of another, or
 to acquire control of another by purchase of stock or
 otherwise. 49 U.S.C. 11324:
    (i) Major transaction....................................    986,300
    (ii) Significant transaction.............................    197,200
    (iii) Minor transaction..................................      5,300
    (iv) Notice of an exempt transaction under 49 CFR              1,000
     118.02(d)...............................................
    (v) Responsive application...............................      5,300
    (vi) Petition for exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502........      4,400
(42) Notice of a joint project involving relocation of a rail      1,600
 line under 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(5)..............................
(43) An application for approval of a rail rate association       46,100
 agreement. 49 U.S.C. 10706..................................
(44) An application for approval of an amendment to a rail
 rate association agreement. 49 U.S.C. 10706
    (i) Significant amendment................................     8,600.
    (ii) Minor amendment.....................................         70
(45) An application for authority to hold a position as              500
 officer or director under 49 U.S.C. 11328...................
(46) A petition for exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502 (other         5,300
 than a rulemaking) filed by rail carrier not otherwise
 covered.....................................................
(47) National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)                150
 conveyance proceeding under 45 U.S.C. 562...................
(48) National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)                150
 compensation proceeding under Section 402(a) of the Rail
 Passenger Service Act.......................................
(49)-(55) [Reserved]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Part V: Formal Proceedings
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(56) A formal complaint alleging unlawful rates or practices
 of carriers:
    (i) A formal complaint filed under the coal rate              55,000
     guidelines (Stand-Alone Cost Methodology) alleging
     unlawful rates and/or practices of rail carriers under
     49 U.S.C. 10704(c)(1)...................................
    (ii) All other formal complaints (except competitive           5,400
     access complaints.......................................
    (iii) Competitive access complaints......................        150
(57) A complaint seeking or a petition requesting institution      5,800
 of an investigation seeking the prescription or division of
 joint rates or charges. 49 U.S.C. 10705.....................
(58) A petition for declaratory order:
    (i) A petition for declaratory order involving a dispute      1,000.
     over an existing rate or practice which is comparable to
     a complaint proceeding..................................
    (ii) All other petitions for declaratory order...........      1,400
(59) An application for shipper antitrust immunity. 49 U.S.C.      4,700
 10706(a)(5)(A)..............................................
(60) Labor arbitration proceedings...........................        150
(61) Appeals to a Surface Transportation Board decision and          150
 petitions to revoke an exemption pursuant to 49 U.S.C.
 10502(d)....................................................
(62) Motor carrier undercharge proceedings...................        150
(63)-(75) [Reserved]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Part VI: Informal Proceedings
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(76) An application for authority to establish released value        800
 rates or ratings for motor carriers and freight forwarders
 of household goods under 49 U.S.C. 14706....................
(77) An application for special permission for short notice           80
 or the waiver of other tariff publishing requirements.......
(78) (i) The filing of tariffs, including supplements, or              1
 contract summaries (per page, $16 minimum charge)...........
    (ii) Tariffs transmitted by fax (per page)...............          1
(79) Special docket applications from rail and water
 carriers:
    (i) Applications involving $25,000 or less...............         50
    (ii) Applications involving over $25,000.................        100
(80) Informal complaint about rail rate applications.........        400

[[Page 77322]]

 
(81) Tariff reconciliation petitions from motor common
 carriers:
    (i) Petitions involving $25,000 or less..................        $50
    (ii) Petitions involving over $25,000....................        100
(82) Request for a determination of the applicability or             150
 reasonableness of motor carrier rates under 49 U.S.C.
 13710(a)(2) and (3).........................................
(83) Filing of documents for recordation. 49 U.S.C. 11301 and         27
 49 CFR 1177.3(c) (per document).............................
(84) Informal opinions about rate applications (all modes)...        150
(85) A railroad accounting interpretation....................        750
(86) An operational interpretation...........................        950
(87) Arbitration of Certain Disputes Subject to the Statutory
 Jurisdiction of the Surface Transportation Board under 49
 CFR 1108:
    (i) Complaint............................................         75
    (ii) Answer (per defendant), Unless Declining to Submit           75
     to Any Arbitration......................................
    (iii) Third Party Complaint..............................         75
    (iv) Third Party Answer (per defendant), Unless Declining         75
     to Submit to Any Arbitration............................
    (v) Appeals of Arbitration Decisions or Petitions to             150
     Modify or Vacate an Arbitration Award...................
(88)-(95) [Reserved]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Part VII: Service
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(96) Messenger delivery of decision to a railroad carrier's           21
 Washington, DC, agent (per delivery)........................
(97) Request for service or pleading list for proceedings             16
 (per list)..................................................
(98) (i) Processing the paperwork related to a request for           200
 the Carload Waybill Sample to be used in a Surface
 Transportation Board or State proceeding that does not
 require a Federal Register notice...........................
    (ii) Processing the paperwork related to a request for           450
     Carload Waybill Sample to be used for reasons other than
     a Surface Transportation Board or State proceeding that
     requires a Federal Register notice......................
(99) (i) Application fee for the Surface Transportation              100
 Board's Practitioners' Exam.................................
    (ii) Practitioners' Exam Information Package.............         25
(100) Uniform Railroad Costing System (URCS) software and
 information:
    (i) Initial PC version URCS Phase III software program            50
     and manual..............................................
    (ii) Updated URCS PC version Phase III cost file, if              10
     computer disk provided by requestor.....................
    (iii) Updated URCS PC version Phase III cost file, if             20
     computer disk provided by the Board.....................
    (iv) Public requests for Source Codes to the PC version          500
     URCS Phase III..........................................
    (v) PC version or mainframe version URCS Phase II........        400
    (vi) PC version or mainframe version Updated Phase II             50
     databases...............................................
    (vii) Public requests for Source Codes to PC version URCS      1,500
     Phase II................................................
(101) Carload Waybill Sample data on recordable compact disk
 (R-CD):
    (i) Requests for Public Use File on R-CD--First Year.....        450
    (ii) Requests for Public Use File on R-CD Each Additional        150
     Year....................................................
    (iii) Waybill--Surface Transportation Board or State             650
     proceedings on R-CD--First Year.........................
    (iv) Waybill--Surface Transportation Board or State              450
     proceedings on R-CD--Second Year on same R-CD...........
    (v) Waybill--Surface Transportation Board of State               500
     proceeding on R-CD--Second Year on different R-CD.......
    (vi) User Guide for latest available Carload Waybill              50
     Sample..................................................
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[FR Doc. 00-31344 Filed 12-8-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P