[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 15, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 70664-70665]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-29348]



[[Page 70664]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

49 CFR Part 1011

[Docket No. EP 709]


Policy Statement on Grant Stamp Procedure in Routine Director 
Orders

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, DOT.

ACTION: Statement of Board Policy.

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SUMMARY: The Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) is issuing 
this policy statement to inform the public that, beginning on December 
15, 2011, the Board will implement a grant stamp procedure for certain 
decisions issued by the Director of the Office of Proceedings 
(Director). The grant stamp will be used for decisions in uncontested, 
routine procedural matters delegated to the Director when no further 
explanation or discussion is necessary. This procedure is designed to 
better serve the public, to streamline Board processes, and to remove 
uncertainty.

DATES: Effective Date: This policy statement is effective on December 
15, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy C. Ziehm, (202) 245-0391. 
Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-(800) 877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    In this Policy Statement, the Board informs the public that, 
beginning December 15, 2011, a grant stamp procedure will be used for 
certain Director Orders.\1\ This Policy Statement explains the limited 
purpose and intended use of the grant stamp.
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    \1\ At this time, this policy will apply only to decisions of 
the Director of the Office of Proceedings, not to decisions of other 
Office Directors or other Board employees.
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    Pursuant to 49 CFR 1011.6 and 1011.7, the STB and the Chairman of 
the STB have delegated to the Director authority to issue decisions 
addressing many routine procedural matters in proceedings before the 
Board. In many of these decisions, all parties to the proceeding concur 
in the relief sought and very little, if anything, in the way of 
further discussion is required by the Director. Therefore, the Director 
will begin using the grant stamp procedure in these routine, unopposed 
matters. For example, the Director could grant with a grant stamp 
unopposed motions for an extension of time or requests for a procedural 
schedule to which all parties have consented.
    The procedure will be as follows: The Director will affix the grant 
stamp to the pleading that is filed with the Board. The stamp will be 
in a format similar to the sample shown in the Appendix to this 
decision. It will contain information such as the agency seal, the 
decided date, the service date, a decision identification number, and a 
signature line for the Director. The stamp will also have an area for 
any notation that needs to be made regarding the decision. The stamp 
will not include the docket number, as that information should already 
be included on the pleading. The pleading with the stamp affixed will 
be served as a Director Order.
    The purpose of initiating a grant stamp procedure is to increase 
the efficiency with which the Director can issue these decisions. Use 
of a grant stamp would eliminate the time it takes to draft a decision 
and would allow for quicker responses to stakeholders, thereby removing 
the uncertainty that Board stakeholders might encounter as they wait 
for the Board to draft and serve these Director Orders. This procedure 
will allow for more efficient use of Board resources.
    This action will not significantly affect either the quality of the 
human environment or the conservation of energy resources.

    Decided: November 7, 2011.

    By the Board, Chairman Elliott, Vice Chairman Begeman, and 
Commissioner Mulvey.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.

Appendix
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15NO11.002



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[FR Doc. 2011-29348 Filed 11-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P