[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 53 (Monday, March 20, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13939-13942]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2662]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

49 CFR Part 1002

[STB Ex Parte No. 542 (Sub-No. 13)]


Regulations Governing Fees for Services Performed in Connection 
With Licensing and Related Services--2006 Update

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Board adopts its 2006 User Fee Update and revises its fee 
schedule to recover the costs associated with the January 2006 
Government salary increases and to reflect changes in overhead costs to 
the Board.

DATES: Effective Date: These rules are effective April 19, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David T. Groves, (202) 565-1551, or 
Anne Quinlan, (202) 565-1727. [TDD for the hearing impaired: 1-800-877-
8339.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board's regulations at 49 CFR 1002.3 
require that the Board's user fee schedule be updated annually. The 
regulation at 49 CFR 1002.3(a) provides that the entire fee schedule or 
selected fees can be modified more than once a year, if necessary. Fees 
are revised based on the cost study formula set forth at 49 CFR 
1002.3(d).
    Because Board employees received a salary increase of 3.44% in 
January 2006, the Board is updating its user fees to recover the 
increased personnel costs. With certain exceptions, all fees, including 
those adopted or amended in Regulations Governing Fees For Services 
Performed In Connection With Licensing And Related Services--2002 New 
Fees, STB Ex Parte No. 542 (Sub-No. 4) (STB served Mar. 29, 2004) will 
be updated based on the cost formula contained in 49 CFR 1002.3(d). In 
addition, changes to the overhead costs borne by the Board are 
reflected in the revised fee schedule.
    The fee increases adopted here result 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). No new fees are 
being proposed in this proceeding. Therefore, the Board finds that 
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).
    The Board concludes that the fee changes 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 free copy of the full decision, visit the Board's Web site at 
http://www.stb.dot.gov or call the Board's Information Officer at (202) 
565-1500. To purchase a copy of the decision, write to, call, e-mail, 
or pick up in person from ASAP Document Solutions, 9332 Annapolis Road, 
Suite 103 Lanham, MD 20706, (202) 306-4004, [email protected]. 
[Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through Federal 
Information Relay Services (FIRS): (800) 877-8339.]

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 1002

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

    Decided: March 13, 2006.

    By the Board, Chairman Buttrey and Vice Chairman Mulvey.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.

0
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

0
1. The authority citation for part 1002 continues to read as follows:

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

0
2. Section 1002.1 is amended by revising paragraphs (a), (b), (d) and 
(f)(1); and the table in paragraph (g)(6) and paragraph (g)(7) to read 
as follows:

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

* * * * *
    (a) Certificate of the Secretary, $14.00.
    (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 $35.00 per hour.
* * * * *
    (d) Photocopies of tariffs, reports, and other public documents, at 
the rate of $1.20 per letter or legal size exposure. A minimum charge 
of $6.00 will be made for this service.
* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (1) A fee of $62.00 per hour for professional staff time will be 
charged when it is required to fulfill a request for ADP data.
* * * * *
    (g) * * *
    (6) * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Grade                                 Rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GS-1.......................................................       $10.43
GS-2.......................................................        11.36
GS-3.......................................................        12.80
GS-4.......................................................        14.37
GS-5.......................................................        16.08
GS-6.......................................................        17.92
GS-7.......................................................        19.91
GS-8.......................................................        22.05
GS-9.......................................................        24.36
GS-10......................................................        26.82
GS-11......................................................        29.47
GS-12......................................................        35.32
GS-13......................................................        42.00
GS-14......................................................        49.64
GS-15 and over.............................................        58.39
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (7) The fee for photocopies shall be $1.20 per letter or legal size 
exposure with a minimum charge of $6.00.
* * * * *

0
3. In Sec.  1002.2, paragraph (f) is revised as follows:


Sec.  1002.2  Filing fees.

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

[[Page 13940]]



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               Type of proceeding                           Fee
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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    $3,700
 of traffic.
(2)(i) An application involving the purchase,     1,700
 lease, consolidation, merger, or acquisition of
 control of a motor carrier of passengers under
 49 U.S.C. 14303.
    (ii) A petition for exemption under 49        2,700
     U.S.C. 13541 (other than a rulemaking)
     filed by a non-rail carrier not otherwise
     covered.
    (iii) A petition to revoke an exemption       2,200
     filed under 49 U.S.C. 13541(d).
(3) An application for approval of a non-rail     23,300
 rate 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...................  3,900
    (ii) Minor amendment........................  80
(5) An application for temporary authority to     400
 operate a motor carrier of passengers. 49
 U.S.C. 14303(i).
(6) A notice of exemption for transaction within  1,400
 a motor 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          6,100
 authorizing the extension, acquisition, or
 operation of lines of railroad. 49 U.S.C. 10901.
    (ii) Notice of exemption under 49 CFR         1,500
     1150.31-1150.35.
    (iii) Petition for exemption under 49 U.S.C.  10,600
     10502.
(12)(i) An application involving the              62,900
 construction of a rail line.
    (ii) A notice of exemption involving          1,500
     construction of a rail line under 49 CFR
     1150.36.
    (iii) A petition for exemption under 49       62,900
     U.S.C. 10502 involving construction of a
     rail line.
    (iv) A request for determination of a         200
     dispute involving a rail construction that
     crosses the line of another carrier under
     49 U.S.C. 10902(d).
(13) A Feeder Line Development Program            2,600
 application filed 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     5,200
 III carrier to acquire an extended or
 additional rail line under 49 U.S.C. 10902.
    (ii) Notice of exemption under 49 CFR         1,500
     1150.41-1150.45.
    (iii) Petition for exemption under 49 U.S.C.  5,600
     10502 relating to an exemption from the
     provisions of 49 U.S.C. 10902.
(15) A notice of a modified certificate of        1,400
 public convenience 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   18,700
 all or a 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       3,100
     discontinuance under 49 CFR 1152.50.
    (iii) A petition for exemption under 49       5,300
     U.S.C. 10502.
(22) An application for authority to abandon all  400
 or a portion 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...  1,600
(24) A request for waiver of filing requirements  1,500
 for abandonment application proceedings.
(25) An offer of financial assistance under 49    1,300
 U.S.C. 10904 relating to the purchase of or
 subsidy for a rail line proposed for
 abandonment.
(26) A request to set terms and conditions for    19,100
 the sale of or subsidy for a rail line proposed
 to be abandoned.
(27)(i) A request for a trail use condition in    200
 an abandonment proceeding under 16
 U.S.C.1247(d).
    (ii) A request to extend the period to        350
     negotiate a trail use agreement.
(28)-(35) [Reserved]
PART IV: Rail Applications to Enter Upon a
 Particular Financial Transaction or Joint
 Arrangement:
(36) An application for use of terminal           16,000
 facilities or other applications under 49
 U.S.C. 11102.
(37) An application for the pooling or division   8,600
 of traffic. 49 U.S.C. 11322.
(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.......................  1,257,600
    (ii) Significant transaction................  251,500
    (iii) Minor transaction.....................  6,500
    (iv) Notice of an exempt transaction under    1,400
     49 CFR 1180.2(d).
    (v) Responsive application..................  6,500
    (vi) Petition for exemption under 49 U.S.C.   7,900
     10502.
    (vii) A request for waiver or clarification   4,600
     of regulations filed in a major financial
     proceeding as defined at 49 CFR 1180.2(a).
(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.......................  1,257,600
    (ii) Significant transaction................  251,500
    (iii) Minor transaction.....................  6,500
    (iv) A notice of an exempt transaction under  1,100
     49 CFR 1180.2(d).
    (v) Responsive application..................  6,500
    (vi) Petition for exemption under 49 U.S.C.   7,900
     10502.
    (vii) A request for waiver or clarification   4,600
     of regulations filed in a major financial
     proceeding as defined at 49 CFR 1180.2(a).

[[Page 13941]]

 
(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.......................  1,257,600
    (ii) Significant transaction................  251,500
    (iii) Minor transaction.....................  6,500
    (iv) Notice of an exempt transaction under    1,000
     49 CFR 1180.2(d).
    (v) Responsive application..................  6,500
    (vi) Petition for exemption under 49 U.S.C.   7,900
     10502.
    (vii) A request for waiver or clarification   4,600
     of regulations filed in a major financial
     proceeding as defined at 49 CFR 1180.2(a).
(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.......................  1,257,600
    (ii) Significant transaction................  251,500
    (iii) Minor transaction.....................  6,500
    (iv) Notice of an exempt transaction under    1,200
     49 CFR 1180.2(d).
    (v) Responsive application..................  6,500
    (vi) Petition for exemption under 49 U.S.C.   5,600
     10502.
    (vii) A request for waiver or clarification   4,600
     of regulations filed in a major financial
     proceeding as defined at 49 CFR 1180.2(a).
(42) Notice of a joint project involving          2,000
 relocation of a rail line under 49 CFR
 1180.2(d)(5).
(43) An application for approval of a rail rate   58,800
 association 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...................  10,900
    (ii) Minor amendment........................  80
(45) An application for authority to hold a       650
 position as officer or director under 49 U.S.C.
 11328.
(46) A petition for exemption under 49 U.S.C.     6,700
 10502 (other than a rulemaking) filed by rail
 carrier not otherwise covered.
(47) National Railroad Passenger Corporation      200
 (Amtrak) conveyance proceeding under 45 U.S.C.
 562.
(48) National Railroad Passenger Corporation      200
 (Amtrak) 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   140,600
     rate guidelines (Stand-Alone Cost
     Methodology) alleging unlawful rates and/or
     practices of rail carriers under 49 U.S.C.
     10704(c)(1).
    (ii) A formal complaint involving rail        150
     maximum rates filed under the small rate
     case procedures.
    (iii) All other formal complaints (except     13,900
     competitive access complaints).
    (iv) Competitive access complaints..........  150
    (v) A request for an order compelling a rail  200
     carrier to establish a common carrier rate.
(57) A complaint seeking or a petition            7,400
 requesting institution 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          1,000
     involving a dispute over an existing rate
     or practice which is comparable to a
     complaint proceeding.
    (ii) All other petitions for declaratory      1,400
     order.
(59) An application for shipper antitrust         5,900
 immunity. 49 U.S.C. 10706(a)(5)(A).
(60) Labor arbitration proceedings..............  200
(61)(i) An appeal of a Surface Transportation     200
 Board decision on the merits or petition to
 revoke an exemption pursuant to 49 U.S.C.
 10502(d).
    (ii) An appeal of a Surface Transportation    300
     Board decision on procedural matters except
     discovery rulings.
(62) Motor carrier undercharge proceedings......  200
(63)(i) Expedited relief for service              200
 inadequacies: A request for expedited relief
 under 49 U.S.C. 11123 and 49 CFR part 1146 for
 service emergency.
    (ii) Expedited relief for service             200
     inadequacies: A request for temporary
     relief under 49 U.S.C. 10705 and 11102, and
     49 CFR part 1147 for service inadequacies.
(64) A request for waiver or clarification of     500
 regulations except one filed in an abandonment
 or discontinuance proceeding, or in a major
 financial proceeding as defined at 49 CFR
 1180.2(a).
(65)-(75) [Reserved]
PART VI: Informal Proceedings:
(76) An application for authority to establish    1,000
 released value 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    100
 short notice or the waiver of other tariff
 publishing requirements.
(78) The filing of tariffs, including             $1 per page
 supplements, or contract summaries.              ($20 minimum charge).
(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           500
 applications.
(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           200
 applicability or reasonableness of motor
 carrier rates under 49 U.S.C. 13710(a)(2) and
 (3).

[[Page 13942]]

 
(83) Filing of documents for recordation. 49      $34 per document.
 U.S.C. 11301 and 49 CFR 1177.3(c).
(84) Informal opinions about rate applications    200
 (all modes).
(85) A railroad accounting interpretation.......  950
(86)(i) A request for an informal opinion not     1,200
 otherwise covered.
    (ii) A proposal to use on a voting trust      4,300
     agreement pursuant to 49 CFR 1013 and 49
     CFR 1180.4(b)(4)(iv) in connection with a
     major control proceeding as defined at 49
     CFR 1180.2(a).
    (iii) A request for an informal opinion on a  400
     voting trust agreement pursuant to 49 CFR
     1013.3(a) not otherwise covered.
(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           75
     Declining to Submit to Any Arbitration.
    (iii) Third Party Complaint.................  75
    (iv) Third Party Answer (per defendant),      75
     Unless Declining to Submit to Any
     Arbitration.
    (v) Appeals of Arbitration Decisions or       150
     Petitions to Modify or Vacate an
     Arbitration Award.
(88) Basic fee for STB adjudicatory services not  200
 otherwise covered.
(89)-(95) [Reserved]
PART VII: Services:
(96) Messenger delivery of decision to a          $27 per delivery.
 railroad carrier's Washington, DC, agent.
(97) Request for service or pleading list for     $20 per list.
 proceedings.
(98) Processing the paperwork related to a
 request for the Carload Waybill Sample to be
 used in a Surface Transportation Board or State
 proceeding that:
    (i) Does not require a Federal Register
     notice:
        (a) Set cost portion....................  100
        (b) Sliding cost portion................  $39 per party.
    (ii) Does require a Federal Register notice:
        (a) Set cost portion....................  350
        (b) Sliding cost portion................  $39 per party.
(99)(i) Application fee for the Surface           150
 Transportation 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         50
     software program and manual.
    (ii) Updated URCS PC version Phase III cost   $25 per year.
     file--per year.
    (iii) Public requests for Source Codes to     100
     the PC version URCS Phase III.
(101) Carload Waybill Sample data on recordable
 compact disk (R-CD):
    (i) Requests for Public Use File on R-CD--    $250 per year.
     per year.
    (ii) Waybill--Surface Transportation Board    $500 per year.
     or State proceedings on R-CD--per year.
    (iii) User Guide for latest available         50
     Carload Waybill Sample.
    (iv) Specialized programming for Waybill      $93 per hour.
     requests to the Board.
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[FR Doc. 06-2662 Filed 3-17-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P