[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 59 (Monday, March 28, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17125-17132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06956]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

49 CFR Part 1039

[Docket No. EP 704 (Sub-No. 1)]


Review of Commodity, Boxcar, and Trailer-on-Flatcar/Container-on-
Flatcar (TOFC/COFC) Exemptions

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Surface Transportation Board (Board or STB) seeks public 
comment on its proposal to revoke the existing class exemptions for 
crushed or broken stone or rip rap; hydraulic cement; and coke produced 
from coal, primary iron or steel products, and iron or steel scrap, 
wastes or tailings. The Board also invites interested parties to file, 
during the comment period for these proposed rules, comments regarding 
the possible revocation of other commodity class exemptions.

DATES: Comments on the proposed rulemaking are due on or before May 27, 
2016; replies are due June 27, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Any filings submitted in this proceeding must 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 found at the E-FILING link on 
the Board's Web site at www.stb.dot.gov. Any person submitting a filing 
in the traditional paper format should send an original and 10 copies 
and also an electronic version to: Surface Transportation Board, Attn: 
Docket No. EP 704 (Sub-No. 1), 395 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20423-
0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Zimmerman at (202) 245-0386. 
Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal 
Information Relay Services (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    In 1976, as part of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory 
Reform Act of 1976, Public Law 94-210, 90 Stat. 31, Congress gave the 
Board broad authority to exempt rail carriers from regulation when such 
regulation was not needed to protect against abuses of market power. 
The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC or Commission) first exercised 
its exemption authority in Rail General Exemption Authority--Fresh 
Fruits & Vegetables, 361 I.C.C. 211 (1979), categorically exempting the 
transportation of certain fresh fruits and vegetables from its 
regulations.
    Congress revised the statutory exemption standard in the Staggers 
Rail Act of 1980, 94 Stat. 1895, to provide that the agency shall 
exempt a person, class of persons, or a transaction or service when it 
finds that the application of a provision of 49 U.S.C. subtitle IV (1) 
is not necessary to carry out the transportation policy of section 
10101a; and (2) either (a) the transaction or service is of limited 
scope, or (b) the application of the statute is not necessary to 
protect shippers from the abuse of market power. The exemption 
provision, which is now codified at 49 U.S.C. 10502,\1\ also provides 
that the agency may revoke an exemption (partially or completely) if 
the agency later determines that the application of the Interstate 
Commerce Act is necessary to carry out the Rail Transportation Policy 
at 49 U.S.C. 10101 (the RTP). See section 10502(d).
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    \1\ There have been additional changes to the exemption 
provision since the Staggers Act with regard to the process and 
timing of exemption proceedings. The substantive standard, however, 
has remained the same.
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    Pursuant to its exemption authority, the ICC, and later the Board, 
exempted from regulation the transportation by rail of numerous other 
individual commodities, finding that traffic for these individual 
commodities was sufficiently competitive and that railroads lacked the 
ability to subject shippers to an abuse of market power.\2\ These 
commodity exemptions are codified at 49 CFR 1039.10 and 1039.11. The 
Commission also exempted rail (and truck) operations provided in 
connection with trailer-on-flatcar/container-on-flatcar (TOFC/COFC) 
services, at 49 CFR pt. 1090,\3\ and the rail transportation of all 
commodities in single-line boxcar service, at 49 CFR 1039.14.\4\
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    \2\ See Rail Gen. Exemption Auth.--Nonferrous Recyclables, 3 
S.T.B. 62 (1998); Rail Gen. Exemption Auth.--Pet. of AAR to Exempt 
Rail Transp. of Selected Commodity Groups, 9 I.C.C.2d 969 (1993); 
Exemption from Regulation--Rail Transp. Frozen Food, 367 I.C.C. 859 
(1983); Liquid Iron Chloride, 367 I.C.C. 347 (1983); Rail Gen. 
Exemption Auth.--Miscellaneous Agric. Commodities, 367 I.C.C. 298 
(1983).
    \3\ See Improvement of TOFC/COFC Regulation, 364 I.C.C. 731 
(1981); Improvement of TOFC/COFC Regulations (R.R.-Affiliated Motor 
Carriers & Other Motor Carriers), 3 I.C.C.2d 869 (1987); Improvement 
of TOFC/COFC Regulations (Pickup & Delivery), 6 I.C.C.2d 208 (1989).
    \4\ See Exemption from Regulation--Boxcar Traffic, 367 I.C.C. 
425 (1983); Exemption from Regulation--Boxcar Traffic, 367 I.C.C. 
747 (1983), Exemption from Regulation--Boxcar Traffic, 3 I.C.C.2d 23 
(1986). See also Brae Corp. v. United States, 740 F.2d 1023 (D.C. 
Cir. 1984).
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February 2011 Hearing

    The agency's exemption decisions were instrumental in the U.S. rail 
system's transition from a heavily regulated, financially weak 
component of the economy into a mature, healthy industry that operates 
with limited oversight. However, more than 30 years have passed since 
many of the commodity exemptions were adopted, and there have been many 
changes in the railroad industry over that period. In more recent 
years, the Board received informal inquiries questioning the relevance 
or necessity of some of the existing commodity exemptions. The Board, 
therefore, requested public comment and held a public hearing in 
February 2011 to explore the continued utility of, and the issues 
surrounding, the various commodity exemptions under 49 CFR 1039.10 and 
1039.11, the boxcar exemption under 49 CFR 1039.14, and the TOFC/COFC 
exemption under 49 CFR pt. 1090. The Board encouraged interested 
parties to address the effectiveness of the exemptions in the 
marketplace, whether the rationale behind any of these exemptions 
should be revisited, and whether the exemptions should be subject to 
periodic review.
    The Board received written comment from numerous parties 
representing a diverse group of stakeholders including railroads, 
shippers, and the U.S. Department of Transportation. Twenty-one 
individuals testified at the hearing. The Board has considered those 
written comments and the oral testimony in developing the proposal 
discussed below.

Proposed Rule

    As discussed above, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 10502(d), the Board may 
revoke an exemption, in whole or in part, when it finds that regulation 
is necessary to carry out the RTP. After considering the oral testimony 
and written comments, waybill rate data for years 1992 through 2013,\5\ 
and other industry information, the Board now proposes to revoke the 
commodity exemptions for the following Standard Transportation 
Commodity Code (STCC) groups: STCC

[[Page 17126]]

No. 14-2, crushed or broken stone or rip rap; STCC No. 29-914, coke 
produced from coal; STCC No. 33-12, primary iron or steel products 
(plates, pipes, and rods); STCC No. 32-4, hydraulic cement; and STCC 
No. 40-211, iron or steel scrap, wastes or tailings.\6\
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    \5\ The Board reviewed a 22-year period of confidential waybill 
data, beginning with information filed in 1992 and ending with data 
filed in 2013, the most recent on file with the Board.
    \6\ The Standard Transportation Commodity Code is a numerical 
code used to identify commodities and groupings of commodities. The 
initial two digits represent a broad commodity grouping; subsequent 
numbers indicate smaller sub-groupings or individual commodities. 
See Rail Gen. Exemption Auth.--Pet. of AAR to Exempt Rail Transp. of 
Selected Commodity Groups, 9 I.C.C.2d 969 n.2 (1993).
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    With regard to each of these commodity groups, the dynamics of the 
particular transportation markets appear to have changed so 
significantly since the exemptions were first promulgated as to warrant 
the application of the Interstate Commerce Act in order to carry out 
the Rail Transportation Policy. As discussed below, these changes point 
toward an increased likelihood of railroad market power for each of 
these specific commodity groups. This conclusion is also supported by 
the fact that railroad waybill rate data for these commodities shows a 
substantial increase in revenue from potentially captive traffic (i.e., 
traffic with a revenue-to-variable cost (R/VC) ratio of more than 180%) 
over the last 22 years.\7\ Thus, with respect to these commodities, the 
Board believes that reestablishing regulatory oversight is necessary to 
foster sound economic conditions in transportation, 49 U.S.C. 10101(5), 
maintain reasonable rates where there is an absence of effective 
competition, section 10101(6), and prohibit predatory pricing and 
practices, avoid undue concentrations of market power, and prohibit 
unlawful discrimination, section 10101(12).
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    \7\ R/VC ratios in excess of the market dominance threshold of 
180% do not, standing alone, establish market power or an abuse of 
such power. Thus, the Board bases its proposal to revoke these 
commodity class exemptions on a variety of marketplace changes 
described in this notice of proposed rulemaking. However, R/VC 
ratios have long been used by the Board as one indication of market 
power, and it is appropriate to rely on this data as supporting 
evidence.
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    The purpose of this proposal is to restore shippers' access to the 
Board's regulatory oversight and processes--in particular, shippers of 
those commodities where evidence indicates that the competitive 
landscape has changed significantly enough to indicate that renewed 
regulation is needed to carry out the RTP. The Board is committed to 
ensuring that stakeholders have an appropriate, meaningful path to the 
Board, and the proposal here is an important step towards that goal. 
The Board also welcomes interested parties to file comments regarding 
the possible revocation of other commodity class exemptions; such 
comments should address any marketplace changes comparable to the ones 
described below.
1. STCC Nos. 14-2, Crushed or Broken Stone or Rip Rap
    In Rail General Exemption Authority--Petition of AAR to Exempt Rail 
Transportation of Selected Commodity Groups (Petition of AAR) 9 
I.C.C.2d 969 (1993), the Commission exempted from its regulation the 
railroad transportation of several commodities, including crushed or 
broken stone or rip rap (crushed stone).\8\ After reviewing broad, 
market-share data, the Commission found that the rail transportation of 
crushed stone consisted of short hauls and was characterized by 
declining or stagnant revenue per unit of service--market 
characteristics not consistent with a finding of market power. Id. at 
974. Thus, the Commission concluded that regulation of this commodity 
was not necessary to carry out the transportation policy of section 
10101 because transportation was competitive, and an exemption would, 
among other things, minimize the need for federal regulatory control; 
increase competition between rail carriers and trucks by allowing 
quick, selective rate changes in response to competition; and allow 
more efficient management by allowing pricing changes in response to 
changing business conditions. Id. at 973.
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    \8\ In that decision, the Commission exempted the railroad 
transportation of 16 other classes of commodities as well.
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    In its February 2011 hearing comments, Texas Crushed Stone (TCS), a 
limestone quarry operator, argued that the Board should consider 
revoking the class exemption for crushed stone or aggregates. (TCS 
Comments 8.) TCS stated that the business landscape of the railroad 
industry had changed since the Staggers Rail Act of 1980 was enacted. 
(Id. at 4.) TCS also claimed that intramodal competition had been 
reduced as a result of railroad consolidation and asserted that some 
railroads had abused their market power by aggressively increasing rail 
transportation rates. (Id. at 8.) TCS maintained that trucking was not 
a practical check on railroad market power as there are not enough 
trucks or drivers to handle the volumes it had shipped in the past. 
(Id. at 5.) TCS also asserted that the preponderance of its shipments 
were captive, as most of its customers were served by one railroad. 
(Id. at 5.) Accordingly, TCS requested that the Board revoke the 
exemptions for crushed stone so that TCS can seek regulatory relief 
from unfair rates and unreasonable practices. (Id. at 6.)
    When the Commission first exempted the rail transportation of this 
commodity group, testimony provided by witnesses on behalf of 
individual rail carriers indicated that this commodity group was 
subject to motor carrier competition because movements were often short 
haul in nature. Petition of AAR, 9 I.C.C.2d at 975. The Commission also 
found, based on data provided by AAR, that the rail market share of 
this commodity group was 5.4% in 1975, 4.8% in 1980, 4.0% in 1985, and 
4.6% in 1990, evidencing a lack of railroad market dominance. Id. at 
974. Recent information suggests that certain market dynamics may have 
changed significantly.
    While it appears that railroads still have a relatively small modal 
market share of the overall commodity group, TCS's testimony suggests 
that trucking does not effectively limit railroad market power with 
respect to this commodity group. Moreover, waybill data analysis 
demonstrates that the average R/VC ratio for potentially captive 
traffic for this commodity group increased from 232.2% in 1992 to 
254.9% in 2013. Similarly, the percentage of potentially captive 
traffic by revenue for this commodity group during the 22-year review 
period increased from 14.8% in 1992 to 62.0% in 2013. These significant 
changes indicate that revocation of the exemption may be necessary to 
carry out the RTP provisions discussed above with regard to crushed or 
broken stone or rip rap.
2. STCC Nos. 29-914, Coke Produced From Coal; 33-12, Primary Iron or 
Steel Products (Plates, Pipes, and Rods); and 40-211, Iron or Steel 
Scrap, Wastes, or Tailings
    In Petition of AAR, 9 I.C.C.2d at 978, the Commission also exempted 
from its regulation the railroad transportation of coke produced from 
coal, as well as primary iron or steel products. With regard to coke 
produced from coal, the Commission observed that there was, overall, a 
significant railroad market share for this commodity.\9\ Id. 
Nevertheless, based on other evidence, the ICC determined that there 
was product competition, intramodal competition, and depressed prices 
for coke. Id. For example, the ICC concluded that the average revenue 
per

[[Page 17127]]

ton-mile for coke had increased at rates below inflation. Also, the 
American Iron and Steel Institute supported the exemption and asserted, 
among other things, that an exemption would reduce the administrative 
burden associated with tariff and contract filing. Viewing the 
testimony from a trade association of shippers to be especially 
probative, the Commission exempted the rail transportation for coke 
produced from coal. Id.
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    \9\ The Board considered combined market share data for coke 
produced from coal and petroleum coke. AAR subsequently withdrew its 
request for the exemption of petroleum coke.
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    In determining whether to exempt the rail transportation of primary 
iron or steel products, the Commission reviewed modal market share data 
for this commodity group. 9 I.C.C.2d at 979. The agency concluded that 
fluctuating railroad market shares over the course of 15 years (i.e., 
40.4% (1975), 39.2% (1980), 29.7% (1985), and 37.8% (1990)) was 
consistent with a lack of market power. The Commission also noted that 
much of this traffic moved under contract. After considering the data, 
along with the testimony submitted from witnesses of individual 
railroads and a statement from the American Iron and Steel Institute 
supporting the exemption, the Commission exempted this class of 
commodities.
    A few years later, in Rail General Exemption Authority--Exemption 
of Ferrous Recyclables, Docket No. EP 346 (Sub-No. 35) (ICC served May 
16, 1995), the Commission exempted from regulation the railroad 
transportation of iron or steel scrap, wastes and tailings (STCC No. 
40-211). The Commission found the transportation of this commodity 
group to be extremely competitive. Specifically, the ICC found that 
intramodal competition with other railroads and intermodal competition 
with trucks and barges existed in many markets. Id. at 3. Also, the 
Commission determined that there was exceptionally strong geographic 
competition for this commodity group, which would further inhibit 
railroads from exercising market power. Id. Further, the Commission 
found the iron and steel scrap traffic average R/VC ratios of 139.5% in 
1991 and 138.6% in 1992, more than 40 percentage points less than the 
Commission's statutory 180% R/VC rate threshold. Id. at 4. Accordingly, 
the Commission concluded that it was reasonable to assume that the 
majority of the individual carload R/VC ratios were also below the 
jurisdictional threshold. Id.
    Several changes relating to the transportation of these commodity 
groups suggest that railroads have greater market power today than they 
did when the ICC issued its exemption decisions. First, as a general 
matter, in the last several decades, the United States has been 
generating more scrap and requiring less traditional steel production 
in general, which has led the steelmaking industry to shift away from 
traditional blast furnaces towards electric arc furnaces (EAF) to 
convert scrap into new steel.\10\ This trend towards the utilization of 
EAFs has resulted in the movement of steel production away from the 
Great Lakes region to the South.\11\ When steel production was located 
primarily in the Great Lakes region, water carriage was an option for 
transportation--e.g., over the Great Lakes themselves--but is now less 
so after the migration to the South. With respect to trucking, a review 
of confidential waybill data for 1992 and 2013 demonstrates that the 
average length of haul (weighted by tons) for primary iron or steel 
products and iron or steel scrap has increased for non-intermodal and 
non-boxcar movements. For primary iron or steel products, the average 
length of haul has increased by 74 miles, from 652 miles to 726. 
Similarly, the average length of haul for iron or steel scrap has 
increased 114 miles, from 306 miles in 1992, to 420 miles in 2013. 
Although it is unknown what specific factors have contributed to such 
increases, this data is one indication of trucking being less 
competitive in today's marketplace.\12\ For these reasons, railroads 
may be enjoying more market power now than in the early 1990's over 
shippers in the iron and steel industry.\13\ We note that the 
submission of modal market share data over time (between railroads, 
trucks and barge) with regard to these commodity groups will be helpful 
in assessing the degree to which the geographic migration may have 
affected intermodal competition.
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    \10\ John W. Miller, Times Have Changed: New Plan for a Century-
Old U.S. Steel Mill, Wall Street Journal (Jan. 28, 2014), http://blogs.wsj.com/corporate-intelligence/2014/01/28/times-have-changed-new-plan-for-a-century-old-u-s-steel-mill/.
    \11\ AMM Staff, Electric Arc Furnace Production Keeps Moving 
South, American Metal Market (Aug. 27, 2015, 4:12 p.m.), http://www.amm.com/Article/3483752/Electric-arc-furnace-production-keeps-moving-south.html.
    \12\ Trucking becomes less viable when the length of haul 
exceeds 500 miles because any transport over that threshold, in many 
instances, could not be completed in one day. Increases in the 
average length of haul for the above mentioned commodities is one 
possible indicator that there are more movements exceeding the 500-
mile threshold--thereby contributing to less competitive pressure 
from trucking.
    \13\ During the Board's February 2011 proceeding, AK Steel 
Corporation (AK Steel), a steel producer with seven steelmaking and 
finishing plants in the United States, filed comments arguing that 
the rationale underlying many of the exemptions no longer exists or 
is otherwise inapplicable in today's market. According to AK Steel, 
due to the characteristics of its particular freight, it must ship 
via rail because other modes, such as truck, are not viable options. 
(AK Steel Comments 3.) AK Steel further notes that, in many 
instances, its facilities are captive to a single railroad and are 
subject to monopoly railroad power and market dominant pricing. (Id. 
at 5.)
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    Similar arguments with regard to EAFs are also applicable to coke 
produced from coal (STCC No. 29-914). Years ago, blast furnaces in 
Pennsylvania, for instance, were not located far from coke sources in 
that same area. These short-haul distances potentially allowed for a 
significant volume of coke to be shipped to blast furnaces on trucks 
for use in the steelmaking process. However, a review of the Board's 
confidential waybill rate data indicates that the average length of 
haul for non-intermodal, non-boxcar coke produced from coal has 
increased by 39 miles, from 372 miles in 1992, to 411 in 2013. A 39-
mile increase in the average length of haul is consistent with more 
transportation movements exceeding 500 miles in 2013 than in 1992, 
which supports the Board's concern that there is less competition from 
the trucking industry to transport this commodity.
    We are aware that, in one rate reasonableness case, the complaining 
shipper requested that the exemption for coke be partially revoked. See 
FMC Wyo. Corp. v. Union Pac. R.R., NOR 42022 et al., slip op. at 13 
n.17 (STB served May 12, 2000). Although the Board found that there was 
not sufficient evidence to revoke the exemption for coke at that time, 
more recent quantitative findings, discussed below, lend support to the 
idea that the transportation market for that commodity might have 
changed significantly since then.
    Second, analysis of the Board's confidential waybill data further 
supports a conclusion that each of these commodity groups may be 
subject to increased market power from railroads. With regard to 
primary iron or steel products (STCC No. 33-12), from 1992 to 2013, the 
percentage of revenue that was potentially captive for primary iron or 
steel products doubled from 18.8% to 37.6%. Similarly, for iron and 
steel scrap (STCC No. 40-211), the percentage of revenue that was 
potentially captive doubled from 22.1% to 44.0% during this same time 
frame. Also, for primary iron or steel products, the average R/VC ratio 
for potentially captive traffic increased during the 22-year period, 
from 219.1% in 1992 to 236.6% in 2013. For the iron or steel scrap 
commodity group, the average R/VC ratio for potentially captive traffic 
increased by approximately four points, from 225.6% to 229.8%. Thus, 
the Board observes that the traffic for both primary iron or steel 
products and iron

[[Page 17128]]

or steel scrap appears to be increasingly potentially captive to 
railroads, and that this potentially captive traffic is being charged 
higher R/VC ratios over time. This data suggests that railroads may be 
exerting increased market power over shippers of these commodities.
    Likewise, the Board's confidential waybill data for coke produced 
from coal indicates that the percentage of revenue that was potentially 
captive almost tripled from 1992 to 2013. In 1992, 20.1% of revenue was 
potentially captive compared to 58.9% in 2013. During that same time 
period, the average R/VC ratio for potentially captive coke traffic 
increased by approximately 23 points from 225.0% to 248.2%. Thus, it 
appears that coke produced from coal is becoming increasingly captive 
to railroads, and that the captive traffic is being charged higher R/VC 
ratios over time. These findings are consistent with increased market 
power.
3. STCC No. 32-4, Hydraulic Cement
    In Rail General Exemption Authority--Exemption of Hydraulic Cement, 
EP 346 (Sub-No. 34) (ICC served July 26, 1995), the Commission exempted 
from its regulation the rail transportation of hydraulic cement. The 
ICC found that movements of hydraulic cement were predominantly short-
haul in nature, and that railroads therefore faced pervasive 
competition from other railroads, from barges, and especially from 
trucks. Id., slip op. at 4. The Commission, consequently, determined 
that regulation was not necessary to carry out the RTP and that an 
exemption would not permit railroads to abuse market power.
    Several shippers of exempted construction commodities and a shipper 
organization filed comments and/or testified at the Board's February 
2011 hearing.\14\ The Cement Shippers urged the Board to reexamine or 
revoke the exemptions that applied specifically to cement and 
construction materials. They asserted that the competitive landscape 
had changed significantly and that the railroad industry's financial 
situation had improved markedly since the adoption of the commodity 
exemptions. They also asserted that railroad consolidation had resulted 
in carriers having increased market power, enabling railroads to impose 
steep rate increases, and that the competitive situation was made worse 
by declining competition from the motor carrier industry, due to fuel 
prices, a shortage of drivers, and increased congestion on highways and 
roads.
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    \14\ These included CEMEX, Inc. (CEMEX); Holcim (US), Inc. 
(Holcim); and the Portland Cement Association (PCA). CEMEX requested 
that the Board revoke the exemption for construction materials. 
Similarly, Holcim requested revoking the exemption for hydraulic 
cement and the materials used in the manufacture of cement. PCA 
requested that the Board revoke the exemption for construction 
materials, and more specifically, cement and fly ash. These shippers 
are collectively referred to as ``Cement Shippers.''
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    When the ICC first exempted the rail transportation of hydraulic 
cement, the Commission found that railroads faced pervasive 
competition. The ICC concluded that intermodal and intramodal 
competition for hydraulic cement existed in many regions--trucking was 
dominant, and barges and other rail carriers also competed in the 
marketplace. See Rail Gen. Exemption Auth.--Exemption of Hydraulic 
Cement, EP 346 (Sub-No. 34), slip op. at 4. However, changes in the 
rail and cement industries appear to have significantly reduced the 
effectiveness of competitive transportation alternatives. According to 
PCA, over the course of 30 years, the number of cement manufacturing 
plants has fallen from 179 to fewer than 100, while plant capacity, on 
average, has doubled. (PCA Comments 10.) Consequently, cement shippers 
are shipping greater distances, where trucking is not economically 
feasible. (Id.) On average, according to PCA, cement shipments now 
range between 250 to 300 miles, yet truck transportation is not an 
economical mode of transport beyond 100 to 125 miles. (Id. at 2) The 
Cement Shippers state that over 80% of cement shipments in the United 
States are served by a single railroad. (Id.)
    The Board's analysis of waybill data for years 1992 through 2013 
reveals that R/VC ratios for hydraulic cement have trended upwards over 
the course of 22 years. In 1992, the R/VC ratio for potentially captive 
cement traffic was 208.3%, compared to 239.6% in 2013. Also, the 
percentage of potentially captive traffic by revenue increased from 
18.9% in 1992 to 54.6% in 2013. The Board finds that increases in both 
the R/VC ratio for potentially captive traffic and the percentage of 
potentially captive traffic by revenue are possible indicators of 
increased railroad market power sufficient to warrant regulatory 
oversight. This data further supports the Board's proposal to revoke 
the exemption for hydraulic cement.

Conclusion

    For the foregoing reasons, the Board proposes to revoke the 
exemptions, in whole, of STCC No. 14-2, crushed or broken stone or rip 
rap; STCC No. 29-914, coke produced from coal; STCC No. 33-12, primary 
iron or steel products (plates, pipes, and rods); STCC No. 40-211, iron 
or steel scrap, wastes or tailings; and STCC No. 32-4, hydraulic 
cement, because regulation of these commodities is necessary to carry 
out the RTP.
    The Board seeks public comment on whether the exemptions should be 
revoked.\15\ Commenters are invited to include any relevant data in 
support of their comments, including, but not limited to, the types of 
data (for example, modal market share, among other things), upon which 
the ICC relied in first promulgating the class exemptions now proposed 
to be revoked.\16\ The Board also invites parties to address how market 
conditions today differ from those that existed when the exemptions 
were granted and to reflect upon whether or how those changes should 
affect the Board's evaluation of those data sources upon which the ICC 
relied. Finally, as noted, the Board welcomes interested parties to 
file further comments regarding the possible revocation of other 
commodity class exemptions.
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    \15\ We note that additional commenters addressed certain of 
these commodity exemptions in the February 2011 hearing proceeding. 
In commenting in this proceeding, parties may incorporate and 
supplement prior comments as appropriate.
    \16\ See Rail Gen. Exemption Auth.--Pet. of AAR to Exempt Rail 
Transp. of Selected Commodity Groups, 9 I.C.C.2d 969 (1993); Rail 
Gen. Exemption Auth.--Exemption of Ferrous Recyclables, EP 346 (Sub-
No. 35) (ICC served May 16, 1995); and Rail Gen. Exemption Auth.--
Exemption of Hydraulic Cement, EP 346 (Sub-No. 34) (ICC served July 
26, 1995).
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Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601-612, 
generally requires a description and analysis of new rules that would 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. In drafting a rule, an agency is required to: (1) Assess the 
effect that its regulation will have on small entities; (2) analyze 
effective alternatives that may minimize a regulation's impact; and (3) 
make the analysis available for public comment. Sections 601-604. In 
its notice of proposed rulemaking, the agency must either include an 
initial regulatory flexibility analysis, section 603(a), or certify 
that the proposed rule would not have a ``significant impact on a 
substantial number of small entities,'' section 605(b).
    Because the goal of the RFA is to reduce the cost to small entities 
of complying with federal regulations, the RFA requires an agency to 
perform a regulatory flexibility analysis of small entity impacts only 
when a rule directly regulates those entities. In other words, the 
impact must be a direct impact on

[[Page 17129]]

small entities ``whose conduct is circumscribed or mandated'' by the 
proposed rule. White Eagle Coop. Ass'n v. Conner, 553 F.3d 467, 480 
(7th Cir. 2009).
    The rules proposed here would potentially have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Thus, we 
encourage comment on any information relevant to a significant burden, 
if any, the proposed rules would have on small rail carriers.

Description of the Reasons That Action by the Agency Is Being 
Considered

    The Board held a public hearing in February 2011 to explore the 
continued utility of, and the issues surrounding, exemptions under 
section 10502, specifically the various commodity exemptions under 49 
CFR 1039.10 and 1039.11, the boxcar exemption under 49 CFR 1039.14, and 
the TOFC/COFC exemption under 49 CFR pt. 1090. The Board held the 
hearing because it had been many years (and, in some cases, decades) 
since the agency promulgated many of these commodity exemptions, and 
the Board had received various informal inquiries questioning the 
relevance and/or necessity of some of the existing commodity 
exemptions, given the changes in the competitive landscape and the 
railroad industry that have occurred in the intervening years. A more 
detailed description of the agency's historical deregulation of the 
aforementioned commodities, and the Board's reasons for considering the 
proposed rules are set forth above in this NPRM.

Succinct Statement of the Objectives of, and Legal Basis for, the 
Proposed Rule

    The objective of the proposed rule is to restore shippers' access 
to the Board's regulatory oversight and processes--in particular, 
shippers of those commodities where evidence indicates that the 
competitive landscape has changed significantly enough to indicate that 
renewed regulation is needed to carry out the national RTP. 
Specifically, the Board has concluded, based on the record in this 
proceeding, that renewed regulation is needed with respect to the rail 
transportation of (1) crushed or broken stone or rip rap; (2) hydraulic 
cement; and (3) coke produced from coal, primary iron or steel 
products, and iron or steel scrap, wastes or tailings. The legal basis 
for the proposed rule is 49 U.S.C. 10502(d), which gives the Board 
authority to revoke an exemption, in whole or in part, when it finds 
that regulation is necessary to carry out the RTP of 49 U.S.C. 10101.

Description of and, Where Feasible, an Estimate of the Number of Small 
Entities to Which the Proposed Rule Will Apply

    In general, revoking the exemptions for the commodities listed 
above would impose on all of the nation's approximately 562 small rail 
carriers \17\ the obligation to, among other things, provide common 
carrier rail transportation of those commodities upon reasonable 
request.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ The Small Business Administration's Office of Size 
Standards has established a size standard for rail transportation, 
pursuant to which a ``line-haul railroad'' is considered small if 
its number of employees is 1,500 or less, and a ``short line 
railroad'' is considered small if its number of employees is 500 or 
less. 13 CFR 121.201 (industry subsector 482).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Description of the Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other 
Compliance Requirements of the Proposed Rule, Including an Estimate of 
the Classes of Small Entities That Will Be Subject to the Requirement 
and the Type of Professional Skills Necessary for Preparation of the 
Report or Record

    Under the Board's proposed rules, the revocation of exemption for 
STCC No. 14-2, crushed or broken stone or rip rap; STCC No. 29-914, 
coke produced from coal; STCC No. 33-12, primary iron or steel products 
(plates, pipes, and rods); STCC No. 32-4, hydraulic cement; and STCC 
No. 40-211, iron or steel scrap, wastes would now require a carrier to 
comply with the Board's statutes and regulations regarding the 
provision of common carrier service upon reasonable request, 
maintenance of reasonable practices and rates, and provision of 
adequate service. However, regulation would not impose new reporting 
requirements directly or indirectly on small entities--ICCTA removed 
regulatory paperwork burdens (with limited exceptions) on rail carriers 
to file tariffs or contract summary filings for rail shipments, exempt 
or non-exempt. Nevertheless, the Board seeks further comment on any 
recordkeeping or other compliance requirements, if any, needed to 
conform to the proposed rules.

Identification, to the Extent Practicable, of all Relevant Federal 
Rules That May Duplicate, Overlap, or Conflict With the Proposed Rule

    The Board is unaware of any duplicative, overlapping, or 
conflicting federal rules. The Board seeks comments and information 
about any such rules.

Description of any Significant Alternatives to the Proposed Rule That 
Accomplish the Stated Objectives of Applicable Statutes and That 
Minimize any Significant Economic Impact of the Proposed Rule on Small 
Entities, Including Alternatives Considered, Such as: (1) Establishment 
of Differing Compliance or Reporting Requirements or Timetables That 
Take Into Account the Resources Available to Small Entities; (2) 
Clarification, Consolidation, or Simplification of Compliance and 
Reporting Requirements Under the Rule for Such Small Entities; (3) use 
of Performance Rather Than Design Standards; (4) any Exemption From 
Coverage of the Rule, or any Part Thereof, for Such Small Entities

    Under the proposed rule, rail carriers would be required to comply 
with the Board's statutes and regulations regarding the provision of 
common carrier service upon reasonable request, maintenance of 
reasonable practices and rates, and provision of adequate service. One 
alternative to the proposed rule would be to exempt certain or all 
small carriers from coverage or compliance with the rule, in whole or 
in part (that is, to revoke the commodity class exemptions at issue for 
larger carriers but keep the exemptions in place for some or all small 
carriers). Another alternative would be to take no action--thereby 
implementing no changes to the current regulatory regime. However, 
neither alternative would accomplish the proposed rules' objective of 
restoring the rail transportation of the commodities at issue to the 
Board's statutory and regulatory regime. Commenters should, if they 
advance these or any other alternatives in their comments, address how 
such alternatives would be consistent or inconsistent with the goals 
envisioned by the proposed rules.

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 10502 and 13301.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 1039

    Agricultural commodities, Intermodal transportation, Railroads.

    Decided: March 23, 2016.

    By the Board, Chairman Elliott, Vice Chairman Miller, and 
Commissioner Begeman. Vice Chairman Miller concurred with a separate 
expression. Commissioner Begeman dissented with a separate 
expression.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.

__________

VICE CHAIRMAN MILLER, concurring:
    I am pleased that the Board is taking action on this long delayed 
matter and, in general, I agree with the outcome to

[[Page 17130]]

institute a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to revoke the 
commodity exemptions listed in the decision. However, I write 
separately to express my frustration at the lengthy delay by the Board 
to take any action on this matter, and the narrow analysis that was 
used to reach this result.
    It has been over five years since the Board first held a hearing to 
examine whether any commodity exemptions should be revoked. For these 
five years, our stakeholders have been left in the dark as to if or 
when the Board would act. My hope was that, given the long wait, the 
Board would at least conduct a thorough and wide-ranging analysis, but 
as today's decision makes clear, that was not the case.
    In order to demonstrate that the commodity exemptions here warrant 
revocation, the Board mainly relies on two pieces of data: the change 
in R/VC ratios over the last two decades and the percentage of traffic 
moved by rail that is ``potentially captive'' (i.e., above 180% R/VC). 
While not the strongest foundation on which to propose new rules, I 
believe it provides a sufficient basis to move forward, which is why I 
support today's decision. However, I would have liked the Board to go 
further and provide an analysis of all other commodities that are 
currently exempt from regulation. Instead, the scope of the decision 
here is limited to just those commodities that shippers identified at 
the 2010 hearing (and, even then, not all of them). I see no reason why 
the Board could not have analyzed other commodities, even if they were 
not presented at the 2010 hearing.
    By the same token, the Board--without explanation--provides no 
analysis regarding whether commodities that are currently regulated 
should now be exempted. Instead, the Board chooses to look only at 
commodities that are already exempt. In fact, the Board's decision 
ignores the request from Norfolk Southern Railway (NSR) for the Board 
to examine four commodities that NSR claims no longer require Board 
regulation. After keeping our stakeholders waiting for years, a broader 
analysis is the least I would expect.
    As I was unsatisfied with this limited analysis, I requested the 
Board's Office of Economics (OE) to conduct such analyses and provide 
me with the results. While I would have included such analyses as part 
of the decision today, they would not have led me to a different 
outcome. In particular, based on the conclusions I have drawn from the 
analyses, I believe that the railroads have likely not increased market 
power for any exempt commodities other than those addressed in this 
decision.
    In addition, I requested that OE look at available data to assess 
whether it appears that the railroads have lost market power over any 
commodities that are currently regulated, including the commodities 
that NSR identified in its comments as part of the 2010 hearing. Based 
on this analysis, only a handful of commodities showed a potential loss 
of market power by the railroads, but they all involved too minimal an 
amount of traffic to warrant revising the regulations.
    For reasons I do not understand, the Board has chosen not to 
include this analysis as part of the decision, though in my view its 
inclusion would strengthen it. Based on the results of the analysis, I 
would not have advocated for any further revocations of commodity 
exemptions other than the ones listed here, nor to exempt any 
commodities that are currently regulated. Without the analysis though, 
I would not have known that was the case and I would not have felt 
comfortable voting to approve this decision.
    That being said, I agree with Commissioner Begeman that the record 
on which we are basing this decision is less than robust and could 
benefit from additional information. Accordingly, I understand 
Commissioner Begeman's concern about proceeding directly to a NPRM. 
However, I believe that even without additional information, there is 
enough of a foundation on the record that we can move forward with an 
NPRM. Given that our stakeholders have waited for five years for the 
Board to take action, I am reluctant to proceed in a fashion that will 
add even more time to get to a final rule. As the Board will still 
receive comments from stakeholders, and because we can still make 
changes through a supplemental NPRM if the comments indicate our 
conclusions were wrong, I feel that this is a better course of action 
than the alternatives, such as starting with an Advanced Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking. I will remain open to the idea of initiating an 
additional NPRM or a supplemental NPRM if we receive evidence that 
indicates that our conclusions with regard any commodities proposed for 
revocation are incorrect.
__________

COMMISSIONER BEGEMAN, dissenting:
    This record was created over half a decade ago, before two of the 
three current Board members were even appointed (and my five-year term 
since expired). For this Board to take informed action now, we should 
first ask interested stakeholders to update the docket, and then 
propose whatever changes are necessary. And, importantly, we should 
commit to completing final action by a timely date certain.
    Although I appreciate the Board staff's recent review of waybill 
rate data from 1992 through 2013, I am not convinced that analysis 
sufficiently supports altering the exemption landscape. The ``record'' 
the majority is relying on to support its proposed changes is a 
waybill-based hunch using limited information on these commodities. 
Today's decision also begs the question: if waybill data are sufficient 
basis for a proposed rule, then why didn't the Board act years ago? 
Nothing in this decision suggests that the case for action has markedly 
changed since 2011.
    The proposed rule also fails to account for the present. 
Considerable and important events have taken place since the February 
2011 hearing and the 2013 waybill cutoff, including the 2014 rail 
service crisis that impacted shippers and carriers across the country 
and the significant shifts in service demand for coal, oil, and other 
important commodities. Fuel prices have also changed dramatically. 
Unfortunately, today's proposed rule is completely uninformed by any of 
these or other current market considerations.
    The law directs the Board to exercise its exemption authority 
broadly, and that directive was unchanged with passage of the recent 
STB Reauthorization Act, P.L. 114-110. Therefore, we shouldn't narrow 
or revoke exemptions granted under that authority absent compelling 
circumstances. Instead, the majority is proposing changes without 
really knowing whether the revocations are justified.
    Even if a commodity is exempt, however, the Board is not 
uninterested. We still conduct broad oversight of exempt commodities 
and take action when we deem it necessary. For example, when the Board 
directed the carriers to provide weekly service reporting, we included 
reporting on intermodal and automobiles, which are exempt. The Board's 
Rail Shipper Transportation Advisory Council has included shippers of 
exempt commodities who also provide the Board with key rail service 
demand information. The Board's Rail Customer and Public Assistance 
Program also helps resolve the questions and problems of exempt 
commodity shippers whenever possible.
    Clearly, stakeholders have waited far too long for Board action on 
this docket. But we should be asking the parties to update the record 
so that the Board can

[[Page 17131]]

propose an informed rule based on up-to-date information. Instead, the 
majority appears to be taking the path of least resistance to close a 
languishing docket. I dissent.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Surface 
Transportation Board proposes to amend 49 CFR part 1039 as follows:

PART 1039--EXEMPTIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 1039 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 10502, 13301.

0
2. Section 1039.11 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  1039.11  Miscellaneous commodities exemptions.

    (a) Commodities exempted. (1) Except as indicated in paragraph (b) 
of this section, the rail transportation of the commodities listed 
below is exempt from the provisions of 49 U.S.C. subtitle IV. The 
Standard Transportation Commodity Code (STCC) numbers that identify the 
exempted commodities are those in effect on the effective date of the 
tariff cited, and shall embrace all commodities assigned additional 
digits.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            STCC No.                                 STCC Tariff                               Commodity
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14 1...........................  6001-T, eff. 1-1-92................................  Dimension stone, quarry.
14 411.........................  ......do...........................................  Sand (aggregate or
                                                                                       ballast).
14 412.........................  ......do...........................................  Gravel (aggregate or
                                                                                       ballast).
20.............................  ......do...........................................  Food or kindred products
                                                                                       except:
                                                                                         20 143 Grease or
                                                                                          inedible tallow.
                                                                                         20 32 Canned
                                                                                          specialties.
                                                                                         20 33 Canned fruits,
                                                                                          jams, jellies,
                                                                                          preserves or
                                                                                          vegetables.
                                                                                         20 4 Grain mill
                                                                                          products.
                                                                                         20 6 Sugar, beet or
                                                                                          cane.
                                                                                         20 8 Beverages or
                                                                                          flavoring extracts.
                                                                                         20 911 Cottonseed oil,
                                                                                          crude or refined.
                                                                                         20 914 Cottonseed cake
                                                                                          or meal or by-
                                                                                          products.
                                                                                         20 92 Soybean oil or by-
                                                                                          products.
                                                                                         20 93 Nut or vegetable
                                                                                          oils or by-products.
22.............................  ......do...........................................  Textile mill products.
23.............................  ......do...........................................  Apparel or other finished
                                                                                       textile products or knit
                                                                                       apparel.
24.............................  ......do...........................................  Lumber or wood products.
25.............................  ......do...........................................  Furniture or fixtures.
26.............................  ......do...........................................  Pulp, paper or allied
                                                                                       products except:
                                                                                         26 1 Pulp or pulp mill
                                                                                          products.
                                                                                         26 211 Newsprint.
                                                                                         26 212 Ground wood
                                                                                          paper, uncoated.
                                                                                         26 213 Printing paper,
                                                                                          coated or uncoated,
                                                                                          etc.
                                                                                         26 214 Wrapping paper,
                                                                                          wrappers or coarse
                                                                                          paper.
                                                                                         26 218 Sanitary tissue
                                                                                          stock.
                                                                                         26 471 Sanitary tissues
                                                                                          or health products.
                                                                                         26 6 Building paper or
                                                                                          building board except:
                                                                                         26 613 Wallboard.
27.............................  ......do...........................................  Printed matter.
28 195 22-23...................  ......do...........................................  Iron chloride, liquid.
28 195 27-30...................  ......do...........................................  Iron sulphate.
28 195 68-69...................  ......do...........................................  Ferrous sulphate.
29 915.........................  ......do...........................................  Distillate or residual
                                                                                       fuel oil from coal
                                                                                       refining.
30.............................  ......do...........................................  Rubber or miscellaneous
                                                                                       plastics products except:
                                                                                         30 111 Rubber pneumatic
                                                                                          tires or parts.
31.............................  ......do...........................................  Leather or leather
                                                                                       products.
32.............................  ......do...........................................  Clay, concrete, glass or
                                                                                       stone products except:
                                                                                         32 4 Hydraulic cement.
                                                                                         32 741 Lime or lime
                                                                                          plaster.
                                                                                         32 95 Nonmetallic
                                                                                          earths or minerals,
                                                                                          ground or treated in
                                                                                          any other manner
                                                                                          except:
                                                                                         32 952 15 Cinders,
                                                                                          clay, shale expanded
                                                                                          shale), slate or
                                                                                          volcanic (not pumice
                                                                                          stone), or haydrite.
33.............................  ......do...........................................  Primary metal products,
                                                                                       including galvanized,
                                                                                       except:
                                                                                         33 12 Primary Iron or
                                                                                          Steel Products.
34.............................  ......do...........................................  Fabricated metal products
                                                                                       except:
                                                                                         34 6 Metal stampings.
                                                                                         34 919 40 Radioactive
                                                                                          material shipping
                                                                                          containers, etc.
35.............................  ......do...........................................  Machinery except:
                                                                                         35 11 Steam engines,
                                                                                          turbines, turbine
                                                                                          generator sets, or
                                                                                          parts.
                                                                                         35 85 Refrigerators or
                                                                                          refrigeration
                                                                                          machinery or complete
                                                                                          air-conditioning
                                                                                          units.
36.............................  ......do...........................................  Electrical machinery,
                                                                                       equipment or supplies
                                                                                       except:
                                                                                         36 12 Power,
                                                                                          distribution or
                                                                                          specialty
                                                                                          transformers.
                                                                                         36 21 Motors or
                                                                                          generators.
3711...........................  ......do...........................................  Motor vehicles.
3714...........................  ......do...........................................  Motor vehicle parts or
                                                                                       accessories.
38.............................  ......do...........................................  Instruments, photographic
                                                                                       goods, optical goods,
                                                                                       watches or clocks.
39.............................  ......do...........................................  Miscellaneous products of
                                                                                       manufacturing.
41 118.........................  6001-U, eff. 1-1-93................................  Used vehicles.
14 715.........................  6001-V, eff. 1-1-94................................  Rock salt.

[[Page 17132]]

 
20 143.........................  ......do...........................................  Grease or Inedible Tallow.
28 133.........................  ......do...........................................  Carbon dioxide.
28 991.........................  ......do...........................................  Salt.
34 912.........................  6001-W, eff. 1-1-95................................  Steel shipping containers.
33 119.........................  6001-X, eff. 1-11-96...............................  Blast furnace, open
                                                                                       hearth, rolling mill or
                                                                                       coke oven products, NEC.
20511..........................  6001-X, eff., 1-1-96...............................  Bread or other bakery
                                                                                       products exc. biscuits,
                                                                                       crackers, pretzels or
                                                                                       other dry bakery
                                                                                       products. See 20521-
                                                                                       20529.
22941..........................  ......do...........................................  Textile waste, garnetted,
                                                                                       processed, or recovered
                                                                                       or recovered fibres or
                                                                                       flock exc. packing or
                                                                                       wiping cloths or rags.
                                                                                       See 22994.
22973..........................  ......do...........................................  Textile fibres, laps,
                                                                                       noils, nubs, roving,
                                                                                       sliver or slubs, prepared
                                                                                       for spinning, combed or
                                                                                       converted.
22994..........................  ......do...........................................  Packing or wiping cloths
                                                                                       or rags (processed
                                                                                       textile wastes).
24293..........................  ......do...........................................  Shavings or sawdust.
30311..........................  ......do...........................................  Reclaimed rubber.
3229924........................  ......do...........................................  Cullet (broken glass).
33312..........................  ......do...........................................  Copper matte, speiss, flue
                                                                                       dust, or residues, etc.
33322..........................  ......do...........................................  Lead matte, speiss, flue
                                                                                       dust, dross, slag,
                                                                                       skimmings, etc.
33332..........................  ......do...........................................  Zinc dross, residues,
                                                                                       ashes, etc.
33342..........................  ......do...........................................  Aluminum residues, etc.
33398..........................  ......do...........................................  Misc. nonferrous metal
                                                                                       residues, including
                                                                                       solder babbitt or type
                                                                                       metal residues.
40112..........................  ......do...........................................  Ashes.
40212..........................  ......do...........................................  Brass, bronze, copper or
                                                                                       alloy scrap, tailings, or
                                                                                       wastes.
40213..........................  ......do...........................................  Lead, zinc, or alloy
                                                                                       scrap, tailings or
                                                                                       wastes.
40214..........................  ......do...........................................  Aluminum or alloy scrap,
                                                                                       tailings or wastes.
4021960........................  ......do...........................................  Tin scrap, consisting of
                                                                                       scraps or pieces of
                                                                                       metallic tin, clippings,
                                                                                       drippings, shavings,
                                                                                       turnings, or old worn-out
                                                                                       block tin pipe having
                                                                                       value for remelting
                                                                                       purposes only.
40221..........................  ......do...........................................  Textile waste, scrap or
                                                                                       sweepings.
40231..........................  ......do...........................................  Wood scrap or waste.
40241..........................  ......do...........................................  Paper waste or scrap.
40251..........................  ......do...........................................  Chemical or petroleum
                                                                                       waste, including spent.
40261..........................  ......do...........................................  Rubber or plastic scrap or
                                                                                       waste.
4029114........................  ......do...........................................  Municipal garbage waste,
                                                                                       solid, digested and
                                                                                       ground, other than sewage
                                                                                       waste or fertilizer.
4029176........................  ......do...........................................  Automobile shredder
                                                                                       residue.
4111434........................  ......do...........................................  Bags, old, burlap, gunny,
                                                                                       istle (ixtle), jute, or
                                                                                       sisal, NEC.
41115..........................  ......do...........................................  Articles, used, returned
                                                                                       for repair or
                                                                                       reconditioning.
42111..........................  ......do...........................................  Nonrevenue movement of
                                                                                       containers, bags,
                                                                                       barrels, bottles, boxes,
                                                                                       crates, cores, drums,
                                                                                       kegs, reels, tubes, or
                                                                                       carriers, NEC, empty,
                                                                                       returning in reverse of
                                                                                       route used in loaded
                                                                                       movement, and so
                                                                                       certified.
42112..........................  ......do...........................................  Nonrevenue movement of
                                                                                       shipping devices,
                                                                                       consisting of blocking,
                                                                                       bolsters, cradles,
                                                                                       pallets, racks, skids,
                                                                                       etc., empty, returning in
                                                                                       reverse of route used in
                                                                                       loaded movement, and so
                                                                                       certified.
42311..........................  ......do...........................................  Revenue movement of
                                                                                       containers, bags,
                                                                                       barrels, bottles, boxes,
                                                                                       crates, cores, drums,
                                                                                       kegs, reels, tubes, or
                                                                                       carriers, NEC, empty,
                                                                                       returning in reverse of
                                                                                       route used in loaded
                                                                                       movement and so
                                                                                       certified.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) Also excepted from this exemption are those recyclable products 
specifically identified by the Board at 356 I.C.C. 445-447, those 
commodities previously exempt, and any transportation service regarding 
which the Board has made a finding of market dominance. However, this 
exemption shall not be construed as affecting in any way the existing 
regulations, agreements, prescriptions, conditions, allowances or 
levels of compensation regarding the use of equipment, whether shipper 
or railroad owned or leased, including car hire, per diem and mileage 
allowances, and also including exemption from the anti-trust laws 
necessary to negotiate car service regulations or mandatory interchange 
of equipment or to maintain and execute such agreements. Nor shall this 
exemption be construed to affect existing Class III railroad 
``protections'' in the case of boxcars.
    (b) Conditions. Carriers must continue to comply with Board 
accounting and reporting requirements. All railroad tariffs pertaining 
to the transportation of these miscellaneous commodities will no longer 
apply. This exemption shall remain in effect, unless modified or 
revoked by a subsequent order of this Board.

[FR Doc. 2016-06956 Filed 3-25-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4915-01-P