[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 214 (Wednesday, November 5, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65769-65770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-26288]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[Docket No. EP 526 (Sub-No. 6)]


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 Surface Transportation Board (Board) hereby gives notice 
of two vacancies for small railroad representatives on RSTAC. The Board 
is soliciting suggestions from the public for candidates to fill these 
two vacancies.

DATES: Suggestions of candidates for membership on RSTAC are due on 
December 3, 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 an original and 10 copies to: Surface Transportation Board, Attn: 
Docket No. EP 526 (Sub-No. 6), 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. 6).

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 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 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 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 met four times a year, with the first meeting 
each February. Most meetings are held at the Board's headquarters in 
Washington, DC, although some have been held in other locations.

[[Page 65770]]

    RSTAC members receive no compensation for their services and are 
required to provide for 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. According to revised guidance issued by the Office of 
Management and Budget, it is permissible for federally registered 
lobbyists to serve on advisory committees, such as RSTAC, as long as 
they do so in a representative capacity, rather than an individual 
capacity. See Revised Guidance on Appointment of Lobbyists to Federal 
Advisory Committees, Boards, and Commissions, 79 FR 47,482 (Aug. 13, 
2014). Members of RSTAC are appointed to serve in a representative 
capacity.
    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.
    Two vacancies for small railroad representatives currently exist. 
Representatives must be senior executive officers within their 
organizations. Upon appointment by the Chairman, both representatives 
will serve for three years, and may be eligible to serve second three-
year terms following the end of their first terms.
    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 December 3, 2014. 
Candidates 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. 6).
    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 31, 2014.

    By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2014-26288 Filed 11-4-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P