[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 17, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61138-61139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-17151]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Ex Parte No. 665]


Rail Transportation of Grain

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The Surface Transportation Board will hold a public hearing 
beginning at 10 a.m. on Thursday, November 2, 2006, at its offices in 
Washington, DC. The purpose of the public hearing will be to examine 
issues related to the transportation of grain by rail. Persons wishing 
to speak at the hearing should notify the Board in writing.

DATES: The public hearing will take place on Thursday November 2, 2006. 
Any person wishing to speak at the hearing should file with the Board a 
written notice of intent to participate, and should identify the party, 
the proposed speaker, the time requested, and the topic(s) to be 
covered, as soon as possible but no later than October 23, 2006. Each 
speaker should also file with the Board his/her written testimony by 
October 30, 2006. Written submissions by interested persons who do not 
wish to appear at the hearing will also be due by October 30, 2006.

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 
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 to: Surface Transportation Board, 
Attn: STB Ex Parte No. 665, 1925 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20423-
0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Joseph H. Dettmar, (202) 565-1609. 
[Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at: (800) 877-8339.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 6, 2006, the United States 
Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report that included 
observations on rates, competition, and capacity issues in the American 
rail freight industry. GAO reported that the changes that have occurred 
in the rail industry since the Staggers Rail Act of 1980 are widely 
viewed as positive. The financial health of the industry has improved 
substantially as railroads have cut costs and boosted productivity. GAO

[[Page 61139]]

found that most rates have declined since 1985. However, one category 
of rates examined by GAO--grain rates--diverged from the industry 
trends. According to the GAO report, the amount of grain traffic with 
comparatively high markups over variable cost increased notably between 
1985 and 2004.
    The Board will hold a public hearing, as a forum for interested 
persons to provide views and information about the market conditions 
that led to these observations by GAO and about grain transportation 
markets in general. Because U.S. grain producers compete in a broader 
North American, and global, marketplace, the Board also invites 
information regarding the interplay between the American and Canadian 
wheat markets, how the Canadian regulatory system differs from the 
American system, and what impact those differences might have on grain 
production in the United States.
    Date of Hearing. The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 
November 2, 2006, 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 identify the party, the proposed speaker, the 
time requested, and topic(s) to be covered, as soon as possible, but no 
later than October 23, 2006.
    Testimony. Each speaker should file with the Board his/her written 
testimony by October 30, 2006. Also, any interested person who wishes 
to submit a written statement without appearing at the November 2 
hearing should file that statement by October 30, 2006.
    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 
November 2, 2006.
    This action will not significantly affect either the quality of the 
human environment or the conservation of energy resources.

    Dated: October 11, 2006.

    By the Board, Vernon A. Williams, Secretary.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-17151 Filed 10-16-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P