[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 146 (Wednesday, July 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44249-44250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-17908]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[Docket No. EP 670 (Sub-No. 2)]


Notice of Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee Vacancy

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of vacancy on federal advisory committee and 
solicitation of nominations.

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SUMMARY: The Surface Transportation Board (Board) hereby gives notice 
of one vacancy on its Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee 
(RETAC) for a representative of a coal producer. The Board is 
soliciting suggestions from the public for a candidate to fill this 
vacancy.

DATES: Suggestions for a candidate for membership on RETAC are due 
August 22, 2014

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 the original and 10 copies to: Surface Transportation Board, Attn: 
Docket No. EP 670 (Sub-No. 2), 395 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20423-
0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Michael H. Higgins at 202-245-0284. 
[Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board 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).
    In 2007, the Board established RETAC as a federal advisory 
committee consisting of a balanced cross-section of energy and rail 
industry stakeholders to provide independent, candid policy advice to 
the Board and to foster open, effective communication among the 
affected interests on issues such as rail performance, capacity 
constraints, infrastructure planning and development, and effective 
coordination among suppliers, carriers, and users of energy resources. 
RETAC operates subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
App. 2, 1-16).
    RETAC's membership is balanced and representative of interested and 
affected parties, consisting of not less than: Five representatives 
from the Class I railroads; three representatives from Class II and III 
railroads; three

[[Page 44250]]

representatives from coal producers; five representatives from electric 
utilities (including at least one rural electric cooperative and one 
state- or municipally-owned utility); four representatives from biofuel 
refiners, processors, or distributors, or biofuel feedstock growers or 
providers; one representative of the petroleum shipping industry; and, 
two representatives from private car owners, car lessors, or car 
manufacturers. RETAC may also include up to two members with relevant 
experience but not necessarily affiliated with one of the 
aforementioned industries or sectors. Members are selected by the 
Chairman of the Board with the concurrence of a majority of the Board. 
The Chairman may invite representatives from the U.S. Departments of 
Agriculture, Energy, and Transportation and the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission to serve on RETAC in advisory capacities as ex 
officio (non-voting) members. The three members of the Board serve as 
ex officio members of the Committee.
    RETAC meets at least twice per year. Meetings are generally held at 
the Board's headquarters in Washington, DC, but may be held in other 
locations. Members of RETAC serve without compensation and without 
reimbursement of travel expenses unless reimbursement of such expenses 
is authorized in advance by the Board's Managing Director. RETAC 
members appointed or reappointed after June 18, 2010, are prohibited 
from serving as federally registered lobbyists during their RETAC term. 
Further information about RETAC is available on the RETAC page of the 
Board's Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov/stb/rail/retac.html.
    The Board is soliciting nominations from the public for a candidate 
to fill one vacancy on RETAC for a representative of a coal producer, 
for a three-year term ending September 30, 2017.
    Nominations for a candidate to fill this vacancy should be 
submitted in letter form and should include: (1) The name of the 
candidate; (2) the interest the candidate will represent; (3) a summary 
of the candidate's experience and qualifications for the position; (4) 
a representation that the candidate is willing to serve as a member of 
RETAC; and, (5) a representation that the candidate is not a federally 
registered lobbyist. Suggestions for a candidate for membership on 
RETAC should be filed with the Board by August 22, 2014. 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 670 (Sub-No. 2).
    This action will not significantly affect either the quality of the 
human environment or the conservation of energy resources.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 721; 49 U.S.C. 11101; 49 U.S.C. 11121.

    Decided: July 24, 2014.

    By the Board, Joseph H. Dettmar, Acting Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Derrick A. Gardner,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2014-17908 Filed 7-29-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P