[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