[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 18, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 64426]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-26880]



[[Page 64426]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[Docket No. EP 526 (Sub-No. 3)]


Notice of Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council 
Vacancy

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board (Board).

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

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SUMMARY: The Board hereby gives notice of 7 vacancies on RSTAC for: (1) 
Representatives of 3 small shippers; (2) representatives of 2 Class I 
railroads; (3) a representative of a large shipper; and (4) a 
representative of a Class II or III railroad. The Board is soliciting 
suggestions for candidates to fill these vacancies.

DATES: Suggestions for candidates for membership on RSTAC are due on 
December 2, 2011.

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 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 to: Surface Transportation Board, Attn: 
Docket No. EP 526 (Sub-No. 3), 395 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20423-
0001. Please note that submissions will be available to the public at 
the Board's offices and posted on the Board's Web site under Docket No. 
EP 526 (Sub-No. 3).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jamie Rennert at 202-245-0283. 
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 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 
comprised of 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 semi-annually. In 
recent years, RSTAC has chosen to meet 4 times a year, with the first 
meeting each February. Meetings are generally held at the Board's 
headquarters in Washington, DC, although some may be held in other 
locations.
    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 presently 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 reappointed 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.
    At the end of this year, 7 vacancies will exist for: 
representatives of 3 small shippers; Representatives of 2 Class I 
railroads; a representative of a large shipper; and a representative of 
a Class II or III railroad, to begin immediately upon their appointment 
by the Chairman, and to end on December 31, 2014. Suggestions for 
candidates to fill these vacancies should be submitted in letter form, 
identifying the name of the candidate, providing a summary of why the 
candidate is qualified to serve on RSTAC, and containing 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, 2014. Suggestions for a candidate for membership on 
RSTAC should be filed with the Board by December 2, 2011. Members 
selected to serve on RSTAC are chosen at the discretion of the Board's 
Chairman. Please note that submissions will be available to the public 
at the Board's offices and posted on the Board's Web site under Docket 
No. EP 526 (Sub-No. 3).
    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: October 12, 2011.

    By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, Office of Proceedings.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2011-26880 Filed 10-17-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P