[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 16, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70080-70081]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-28797]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Docket No. EP 552 (Sub No. 2)]


Notice of Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council 
Vacancies

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board (Board), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of vacancies on the Railroad-Shipper Transportation 
Advisory Council (RSTAC) and solicitation of nominations.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Board hereby gives notice of 2 vacancies on RSTAC for: (1) 
A representative of a Class I railroad; and (2) a representative of a 
small shipper. The Board is soliciting suggestions for candidates to 
fill these vacancies.

DATES: Suggestions of candidates for membership on RSTAC are due on 
December 13, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Suggestions 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 website, at http://www.stb.dot.gov. 
Any person submitting a filing in the traditional paper format should 
send an original and 10 copies to: Surface Transportation Board, Attn: 
Docket No. EP 526 (Sub-No. 2), 395 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20423-
0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian O'Boyle at 202-245-0536. 
Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board, created by Congress in 1996 to 
take over many of the functions previously performed by the Interstate 
Commerce Commission, exercises broad authority over transportation by 
rail carriers, including regulation of freight 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).
    RSTAC was established upon the enactment of the ICC Termination Act 
of 1995 (ICCTA), on December 29, 1995, to advise the Board's Chairman, 
the Secretary of Transportation, the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, with respect to 
rail transportation policy issues that RSTAC considers significant. 
RSTAC focuses on issues of importance to small shippers and small 
railroads, including car supply, rates, competition, and procedures for 
addressing claims. ICCTA directs RSTAC to develop private-sector 
mechanisms to prevent, or identify and address, obstacles to the most 
effective and efficient transportation system practicable. The 
Secretary of Transportation and the members of the Board cooperate with 
RSTAC in providing research, technical, and other reasonable support. 
RSTAC also prepares an annual report concerning its activities and 
recommendations on whatever regulatory or legislative relief it 
considers appropriate. RSTAC is not subject to the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act.
    RSTAC consists of 19 members. Of this number, 15 members are 
appointed by the Chairman of the Board, and the remaining 4 members are 
the Secretary of Transportation and the Members of the Board, who serve 
as ex officio, nonvoting members. Of the 15 members to be appointed, 9 
members are voting members and are appointed from senior executive 
officers of organizations engaged in the railroad and rail shipping 
industries. At least 4 of the voting members must be representatives of 
small shippers, as determined by the Chairman, and at least 4 of the 
voting members must be representatives of Class II or III railroads. 
The remaining 6 members to be appointed--3 representing Class I 
railroads and 3 representing large shipper organizations--serve in a 
nonvoting, advisory capacity, but are entitled to participate in RSTAC 
deliberations.
    RSTAC is required by statute to meet at least semiannually, and has 
chosen to meet 4 times in 2011, with the first meeting tentatively 
scheduled in March 2011. Meetings are generally held at the Board's 
headquarters in Washington, DC, although some may be held in other 
locations.

[[Page 70081]]

    The members of RSTAC receive no compensation for their services. 
RSTAC members are required to provide for the expenses incidental to 
their service, including travel expenses, as the Board cannot provide 
for these expenses. The RSTAC Chairman, however, may request funding 
from the Department of Transportation to cover travel expenses, subject 
to certain restrictions in ICCTA. RSTAC also may solicit and use 
private funding for its activities, again subject to certain 
restrictions in ICCTA. RSTAC members currently have elected to submit 
annual dues to pay for RSTAC expenses.
    RSTAC members must be citizens of the United States and represent 
as broadly as practicable the various segments of the railroad and rail 
shipper industries. They may not be full-time employees of the United 
States. Further, RSTAC members appointed or re-appointed after June 18, 
2010, are prohibited from serving as federally registered lobbyists 
during their RSTAC term.
    The members of RSTAC are appointed for a term of 3 years. A member 
may serve after the expiration of his or her term until a successor has 
taken office. No member will be eligible to serve in excess of 2 
consecutive terms.
    Currently, 2 vacancies exist: for a non-voting representative of a 
Class I railroad, and for a voting representative of a small rail 
shipper. Each vacancy is for a 3-year term, to begin immediately upon 
appointment by the Chairman, and to end on December 31, 2013. 
Suggestions for a member to fill these vacancies should be submitted in 
letter form, identifying the name of the candidate and a representation 
that the candidate is willing to serve as a member of RSTAC for a 3-
year term beginning immediately upon appointment and ending December 
31, 2013. Suggestions for a candidate for membership on RSTAC should be 
filed with the Board by December 13, 2010.
    This action will not significantly affect either the quality of the 
human environment or the conservation of energy resources.

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 726.

    Decided: November 10, 2010.

    By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2010-28797 Filed 11-15-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P