[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 130 (Monday, July 8, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40823-40824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-16224]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

 [Docket No. EP 526 (Sub-No. 5)]


Notice of Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council 
Vacancy

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, DOT.

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 two vacancies on RSTAC. One 
is for a large shipper representative, and the other is for an at-large 
(public interest) representative. The Board is soliciting suggestions 
for candidates to fill these two vacancies.

DATES: Suggestions of candidates for membership on RSTAC are due on 
July 31, 2013.

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. 5), 395 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20423-
0001 (if sending via express company or private courier, please use zip 
code 20024). 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. 5).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gabriel Meyer at 202-245-0150. 
Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board, created 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).

[[Page 40824]]

    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 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 four 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, 
nine members are voting members and are appointed from senior executive 
officers of organizations engaged in the railroad and rail shipping 
industries. At least four of the voting members must be representatives 
of small shippers as determined by the Chairman, and at least four of 
the voting members must be representatives of Class II or III 
railroads. The remaining six members to be appointed--three 
representing Class I railroads and three 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 four 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.
    RSTAC members receive no compensation for their services and 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 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 three 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 two consecutive terms.
    Due to the unanticipated resignation of RSTAC members, two 
vacancies currently exist. One is for a large shipper representative, 
and the other is for an at-large (public interest) representative. Upon 
appointment by the Chairman, both representatives will serve for three 
years, and may be eligible to serve a second three-year term following 
the end of their first term.
    Suggestions for candidates to fill the two vacancies should be 
submitted in letter form, identify the name of the candidate, provide a 
summary of why the candidate is qualified to serve on RSTAC, and 
contain a representation that the candidate is willing to serve as a 
member of RSTAC effective immediately upon appointment. RSTAC candidate 
suggestions should be filed with the Board by July 31, 2013. 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. 5).
    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: July 1, 2013.

    By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Raina S. White,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2013-16224 Filed 7-5-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P