[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 171 (Thursday, September 3, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53389-53390]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21915]


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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.

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 the electric utility industry. 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 
October 1, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Suggestions may be submitted either via the Board's e-filing 
format or in 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 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.

[[Page 53390]]


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 rates and services (49 
U.S.C. 10701-10747, 11101-11124), construction, acquisition, operation, 
and abandonment of railroad lines (49 U.S.C. 10901-10907), and 
consolidation, merger, or common control arrangements between railroads 
(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, railroads, and users of energy resources. 
RETAC operates under 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 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. (At present, the 
at-large seats are occupied by representatives of railway labor and the 
downstream segment of the domestic petroleum industry.) 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. 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 the electric 
utility industry, for a three-year term ending September 30, 2017. 
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 RETAC, 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 47482 (Aug. 13, 2014). 
Members of RETAC are appointed to serve in a representative capacity.
    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 statement that the candidate agrees to serve in a 
representative capacity. Suggestions for a candidate for membership on 
RETAC should be filed with the Board by October 1, 2015. 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).

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

    Decided: August 31, 2015.

    By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Tia Delano,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2015-21915 Filed 9-2-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4915-01-P