[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 176 (Wednesday, September 11, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57532-57534]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-22724]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

49 CFR Parts 1200, 1201, 1241, 1242, 1243, and 1244

[STB Ex Parte No. 636]


Accounts, Records, and Reports--Technical Amendments

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, DOT.

ACTION: Final rules.

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SUMMARY: The Surface Transportation Board (Board) amends regulations 
concerning accounts, records, and reports (Subchapter C) to reflect 
current agency organizational components, account titles and accounting 
references. In addition, General Instruction 1-18, Distribution of 
expenses for material, tools, fuel, lubricants, purchased services and 
general, which was inadvertently omitted in recent publications of the 
accounting regulations, is added.

EFFECTIVE DATE: These rules are effective September 30, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Aguiar, (202) 565-1527. [Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) for the hearing impaired: 1-800-877-
8339.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Because these changes merely update obsolete 
references in the regulations or otherwise make revisions that are not 
substantive, we find good cause to dispense with notice and comment. 5 
U.S.C. 553(b)(3) (A) and (B). These changes will be incorporated into 
the next edition of the Code of Federal Regulations.
    This action will not significantly affect either the quality of the 
human environment or the conservation of energy resources.
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 605(b), we conclude that our action will not 
have a significant economic effect on a substantial number of small 
entities within the meaning of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects

49 CFR Part 1200

    Common carriers, Uniform System of Accounts.

49 CFR 1201

    Railroads, Uniform System of Accounts.

49 CFR 1241

    Railroads, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

49 CFR 1242

    Railroads, Taxes.

49 CFR 1243

    Railroads, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

49 CFR 1244

    Freight, Railroads, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Decided: August 28, 2002.

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

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, title 49, chapter X, 
parts 1200, 1201, 1241, 1242, 1243, and 1244 of the

[[Page 57533]]

Code of Federal Regulations are amended as follows:

PART 1200--GENERAL ACCOUNTING REGULATIONS UNDER THE INTERSTATE 
COMMERCE ACT

    1. The authority citation for part 1200 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 721, 11142, 11143, 11144, 11145.


Sec.  1200.2  [Amended]

    2. In Sec.  1200.2 remove ``Bureau of Accounts'' and add in its 
place ``Office of Economics, Environmental Analysis, and 
Administration'' and remove ``Bureau'' and add in its place ``Office'' 
each place it appears.

PART 1201--RAILROAD COMPANIES

    1. The authority citation for part 1201 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 553 and 49 U.S.C. 11142 and 11164.

Subpart A--Uniform System of Accounts

    2. Remove ``Commission'' and add in its place ``Board'' in 
paragraph (b)(2) of General Instruction 1-1 Classification of carriers.

    3. Remove ``(see definition 20(e))'' and add in its place ``(see 
definition 17(e))'' in paragraph (a) of General Instruction 1-10 
Accounting for income taxes.

    4. Remove ``(see definition 20)'' and add in its place ``(see 
definition 17)'' in paragraph (b) of General Instruction 1-10 
Accounting for income taxes.

    5. Add General Instruction 1-18 to read as follows:
    1-18 Distribution of expenses for material, tools, fuel, 
lubricants, purchased services and general. (a) These expenses shall be 
assigned directly to activities based on usage whenever possible.
    (b) When it is necessary to apportion these expenses to two or more 
activities they shall be equitably apportioned only to the activities 
in which they are actually used or to the activities they support.

    6. In part 1201, remove ``Instruction 3-2'' and add in its place 
``Instruction 1-18'' wherever it appears.

    7. Remove ``Extraordinary Items,'' and add in its place 
``Extraordinary Items (net),'' in paragraph (b) of income account 551 
Miscellaneous income charges.

    8. Remove ``[See definition 20(e)]'' and add in its place ``[See 
definition 17(e)]'' in paragraph (a) of income account 557 Provision 
for deferred taxes.

    9. Remove ``(see definition 23(a))'' and add in its place ``(see 
definition 32(a))'' in income account 560 Income or loss from 
operations of discontinued segments.

    10. In Form of Income Statement following income account 592 
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles make the 
following revisions:
    i. Remove ``502 Railway operating revenues (amortization of 
deferred transfers from government authorities'' and add in its place 
``503 Railway operating revenues (amortization of deferred transfers 
from government authorities).''
    ii. Remove ``518 Contributions from other companies'' and add in 
its place ``518 Reimbursements received under contracts and 
agreements.''
    iii. Remove ``550 Income transferred to other companies'' and add 
in its place ``550 Income transferred under contracts and agreements.''
    iv. Remove ``557 Provision for deferred income taxes'' and add in 
its place ``557 Provision for deferred taxes.''

    11. Remove ``(see definition 24)'' and add in its place ``(see 
definition 10)'' in account explanation 703 Special Deposits.

    12. Remove ``account 636000'' and add in its place ``account 63-60-
00'' in paragraph (a) of account explanation 709.5 Allowance for 
uncollectible accounts.

    13. In account explanation 712 Material and supplies:
    (i) Remove ``account 656000'' and add in its place ``account 65-60-
00'' in paragraph (a).
    (ii) Remove ``(See definition 17, Salvage value.)'' and add in its 
place ``(See definition 31, Salvage value.)'' in paragraph (b).

    14. Remove ``(see definition 24)'' and add in its place ``(see 
definition 10)'' in Note D to account explanation 717 Other funds.

    15. Remove the two references to ``(also see definition 4)'' and 
add in their place ``(also see definition 5(a))'' in account 
explanation 721 Investments and advances.

    16. Remove ``(See definition 9.)'' and add in its place ``(See 
account 14.)'' in paragraph (b) of account explanation 743 Other 
deferred debits.

    17. Note B to account explanation 765 Funded debt unmatured is 
revised to read as follows:


Sec.  765  Funded debt unmatured.

* * * * *

    Note B: See definitions 3, actually issued; 4, actually 
outstanding; 25, nominally issued; and 26, nominally outstanding.



    18. Remove ``Definition 20'' and add in its place ``Definition 17'' 
in Note A to account explanation 786 Accumulated deferred income tax 
credits.

    19. Note D to account explanation 791 Capital stock is revised to 
read as follows:


Sec.  791  Capital stock.

* * * * *

    Note D: See definitions 3, actually issued; 4, actually 
outstanding; 25, nominally issued; and 26, nominally outstanding.


Subpart B--Branch Line Accounting System

    20. Remove ``ICC's'' and add in its place ``STB's'' in the 
definition of ``Account'' in instruction 900 Definitions.

    21. Remove the definition of ``RSPO'' in instruction 900 
Definitions.

    22. Remove ``(49 CFR Part 1155)'' from paragraph (a) of instruction 
910 Purpose and scope.

    23. Remove paragraph (b) and remove paragraph designation (a) of 
instruction 910 Purpose and scope.

    24. Remove the last sentence of paragraph (a)(2) from instruction 
920 Collection of data.

    25. Remove the last sentence of paragraph (a)(4) from instruction 
920 Collection of data.

    26. The first sentence of paragraph (b) of instruction 920 
Collection of data is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  920  Collection of data.

* * * * *
    (b) * * * The data collected shall include the items of revenue, 
expense, and service units which are specified in 49 CFR 1152, as 
described in the account texts listed in section 950. * * *

    27. Paragraph (d) of instruction 930 Publication of data is revised 
to read as follows:


Sec.  930  Publication of data.

* * * * *
    (d) Waivers and modifications. The STB's Office of Economics, 
Environmental Analysis, and Administration may, with respect to 
individual requests, upon good cause shown, waive or modify any 
requirement of this section not required by law.

    28. Remove ``Commission'' and add in its place ``Board'' in the 
text of account

[[Page 57534]]

12-34-00, Fringe benefits not included in compensation--
transportation--specialized services: Freight.

    29. Remove ``Commission'' and add in its place ``Board'' in the 
text of account 61-34-XX, Other expenses--transportation--specialized 
services: Freight.

PART 1241--ANNUAL, SPECIAL, OR PERIODIC REPORTS--CARRIERS SUBJECT 
TO PART I OF THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE ACT

    1. The authority citation for part 1241 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 11145.


Sec.  1241.11  [Amended]

    2. Remove ``Bureau of Accounts'' and add in its place ``Office of 
Economics, Environmental Analysis, and Administration'' in Sec.  
1241.11(a).

PART 1242--SEPARATION OF COMMON OPERATING EXPENSES BETWEEN FREIGHT 
SERVICE AND PASSENGER SERVICE FOR RAILROADS \1\

    1. The authority citation for part 1242 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 721, 11142.


Sec.  1242.00  [Amended]

    2. Remove ``(Sec.  1240.1 of this chapter)'' in Sec.  1242.00.

PART 1243--QUARTERLY OPERATING REPORTS--RAILROADS

    1. The authority citation for part 1243 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 721, 11145.


Sec.  1243.1  [Amended]

    2. In Sec.  1243.1:
    i. Remove, ``as defined in Sec.  1240.1 of this chapter,'' and
    ii. Remove ``Bureau of Accounts'' and add in its place ``Office of 
Economics, Environmental Analysis, and Administration''.


Sec.  1243.2  [Amended]

    3. In Sec.  1243.2 remove ``as defined in Sec.  1240.1 of this 
chapter,'' and remove ``Bureau of Accounts'' and add in its place 
``Office of Economics, Environmental Analysis, and Administration''.

PART 1244--WAYBILL ANALYSIS OF TRANSPORTATION OF PROPERTY--
RAILROADS

    1. The authority citation for part 1244 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 721, 10707, 11144, 11145.


Sec.  1244.9  [Amended]

    2. In Sec.  1244.9:
    i. Remove ``The Director of the Office of Transportation Analysis'' 
and add in its place ``The Director of the Office of Economics, 
Environmental Analysis, and Administration'' wherever it appears.
    ii. Remove ``Office of Transportation Analysis'' and add in its 
place ``Office of Economics, Environmental Analysis, and 
Administration'' in (d)(2), and
    iii. Remove ``Director, Office of Transportation Analysis'' and add 
in its place ``Director, Office of Economics, Environmental Analysis, 
and Administration'' wherever it appears.

[FR Doc. 02-22724 Filed 9-10-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P