[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 22, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 14493]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5515]



[[Page 14493]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Ex Parte No. 657]


Rail Rate Challenges Under the Stand-Alone Cost Methodology

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The Surface Transportation Board (Board) will hold a public 
hearing beginning at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 26, 2005, at its offices 
in Washington, DC, to provide interested persons an opportunity to 
express their views on the subject of rail rate challenges under the 
stand-alone cost (SAC) methodology. Persons wishing to speak at the 
hearing should notify the Board in writing. This notice reschedules a 
public hearing originally planned for March 24, 2005, as described in a 
notice published on February 23, 2005 (70 FR 8874).

DATES: The public hearing will take place on Tuesday, April 26, 2005. 
Any person wishing to speak at the hearing should file with the Board a 
written notice of intent to participate, and should indicate a 
requested time allotment, as soon as possible but no later than April 
15, 2005. Each speaker should also file with the Board his/her written 
testimony by April 20, 2005. Written submissions by interested persons 
who do not wish to appear at the hearing will also be due by April 20, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: All notices of intent to participate and testimony may be 
submitted either via the Board's e-filing format or in the traditional 
paper format. Any person using e-filing should comply with the Board's 
http://www.stb.dot.gov Web site, at the ``E-FILING'' link. Any person 
submitting a filing in the traditional paper format should send an 
original and 10 copies of the filing (referring to STB Ex Parte No. 
657) to: Surface Transportation Board, Attn: STB Ex Parte No. 657, 1925 
K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20423-0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Raymond A. Atkins, (202) 565-1624. 
[Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at: (800) 877-8339.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a decision served on March 14, 2005, the 
Board has rescheduled the hearing at the request of Alliance for Rail 
Competition and 17 other entities. The Board is holding the public 
hearing to provide a forum for the expression of views by rail 
shippers, railroads, and other interested persons, on the Board's 
consideration of rail rate challenges under the SAC methodology. This 
hearing will provide a forum for the discussion of any suggestions and 
proposals that interested persons might wish to offer regarding the 
Board's consideration of rail rate reasonableness challenges under the 
SAC methodology. The hearing is not intended to offer a forum for 
discussion of pending cases, but rather is intended as an opportunity 
for interested persons to address broader issues that may cut across 
SAC cases generally.
    Date of Hearing. The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 
April 26, 2005, in the 7th floor hearing room at the Board's 
headquarters in Washington, DC, and will continue, with short breaks if 
necessary, until every person scheduled to speak has been heard.
    Notice of Intent To Participate. Any person wishing to speak at the 
hearing should file with the Board a written notice of intent to 
participate, and should indicate a requested time allotment, as soon as 
possible, but no later than April 15, 2005.
    Testimony. Each speaker should file with the Board his/her written 
testimony by April 20, 2005. Also, any interested person who wishes to 
submit a written statement without appearing at the April 26 hearing 
should file that statement by April 20, 2005.
    Board Releases and Live Audio Available Via the Internet. Decisions 
and notices of the Board, including this notice, are available on the 
Board's Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov. This hearing will be 
available on the Board's Web site by live audio streaming. To access 
the hearing, click on the ``Live Audio'' link under ``Information 
Center'' at the left side of the home page beginning at 10 a.m. on 
April 26, 2005.
    This action will not significantly affect either the quality of the 
human environment or the conservation of energy resources.

    Dated: March 14, 2005.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 05-5515 Filed 3-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P