[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 111 (Monday, June 11, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32161-32162]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-11236]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Ex Parte No. 672]


Rail Transportation of Resources Critical to the Nation's Energy 
Supply

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The Surface Transportation Board will hold a public hearing 
beginning at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 18, 2007, in the Ground Floor 
Conference Room of the Richard Bolling Federal Building, 601 East 12th 
Street, Kansas City, MO 64106. The purpose of the public hearing will 
be to examine issues related to the efficiency and reliability of rail 
transportation of resources critical to the nation's energy supply, 
including coal, ethanol, and biofuels.

DATES: The public hearing will take place on July 18, 2007. 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 June 19, 2007. Each speaker 
should also file with the Board his/her written testimony by July 5, 
2007. Written submissions by interested persons who do not wish to 
appear at the hearing will also be due by July 5, 2007. If a party 
intends to use audio-visual materials at the hearing, those materials 
should be submitted to the Board in electronic form by July 13, 2007.

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 attach a document and 
otherwise comply with the instructions at the E-FILING link on the 
Board's Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov. 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. 672, 395 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Timothy Strafford, (202) 245-0356. 
[Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at: (800) 877-8339.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board, created by Congress in 1996 to 
take over many of the functions

[[Page 32162]]

previously performed by the Interstate Commerce Commission, exercises 
broad authority over transportation by rail carriers, including 
regulation of railroad rates and service (49 U.S.C. 10701-10747, 11101-
11124), as well as the construction, acquisition, operation, and 
abandonment of rail lines (49 U.S.C. 10901-10907) and railroad line 
sales, consolidations, mergers, and common control arrangements (49 
U.S.C. 10902, 11323-11327).
    The Board views the reliability of the nation's energy supply as 
crucial to this nation's economic and national security, and the 
transportation by rail of coal and other energy resources as a vital 
link in the energy supply chain. The Board will hold a public hearing, 
as a forum for interested persons to provide views and information 
about issues relating to the efficiency and reliability of rail 
transportation of resources critical to the nation's energy supply.
    Date of Hearing. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, 
July 18, 2007 in the Ground Floor Conference Room of the Richard 
Bolling Federal Building, 601 East 12th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106, 
and will continue, with breaks as necessary, until every person 
scheduled to speak has been heard. The Richard Bolling Federal Building 
is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. All employees and 
visitors must present a valid form of photo identification and pass 
screening before being granted access into the building. Visitors will 
have access to public areas only.
    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 June 19, 2007.
    Testimony. Each speaker should file with the Board his/her written 
testimony by July 5, 2007. Also, any interested person who wishes to 
submit a written statement without appearing at the July 18 hearing 
should file that statement by July 5, 2007. If a party intends to use 
audio-visual materials at the hearing, those materials should be 
submitted to the Board in electronic form by July 13, 2007.
    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. Information concerning the 
availability of live audio streaming of this hearing will be included 
in the decision scheduling speaker times.
    This action will not significantly affect either the quality of the 
human environment or the conservation of energy resources.

    Dated: June 6, 2007.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-11236 Filed 6-8-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P