[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 200 (Monday, October 17, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71563-71564]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25020]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. EP 736]


InterVISTAS Study

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Notice of roundtable discussion.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Board will host a roundtable discussion among noted 
economists on an independent report that assesses the Board's rate 
reasonableness methodologies, including the stand-alone cost 
methodology, and possible alternatives.

DATES: The roundtable discussion will take place on Tuesday, October 
25, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The roundtable discussion will be held in the Hearing Room 
on the first floor of the Board's headquarters at Patriot's Plaza, 395 
E Street SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nathaniel Bawcombe: (202) 245-0376. 
[Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board commissioned a study by 
InterVISTAS Consulting LLC (InterVISTAS) in late 2014, and the study 
was released by the Board on September 22, 2016. The Board asked for an 
independent assessment of its stand-alone cost (SAC) rate 
reasonableness methodology and possible alternatives. Among other 
things, the scope of the work required InterVISTAS to look for 
alternative methodologies to SAC that could be used to reduce the time, 
complexity, and expense historically involved in rate cases; determine 
whether SAC is sufficient for large rate cases; and whether the Board's 
simplified methodologies were appropriate alternatives to SAC. The 
report is available at https://www.stb.gov/stb/elibrary/IndependentStudy.html.
    To promote discourse on these issues, the Board will hold an 
economic roundtable regarding the issues and conclusions presented in 
the report. The panel will include the following independent and 
government economists:

Michael Tretheway, InterVISTAS Consulting LLC
Richard Schmalensee, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Wesley W. Wilson, University of Oregon
John Mayo, Georgetown University
Jeffrey Macher, Georgetown University
Mark Cooper, Consumer Federation of America
Russell Pittman, Director of Economic Research in the Economic Analysis 
Group,
Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice
William Huneke, Chief Economist, Surface Transportation Board, Office 
of Economics
William Brennan, Deputy Director, Surface Transportation Board, Office 
of Economics

    The roundtable discussion will be open for public observation but 
not public participation. In addition, the discussion will be available 
on the Board's Web site by live video streaming. To access the 
roundtable,

[[Page 71564]]

click on the ``Live Video'' link under ``Information Center'' at the 
left side of the home page beginning at 10:00 a.m. on October 25, 2016. 
The Board also intends to hold a public hearing on the report for all 
stakeholders and interested parties to participate in this important 
discourse. The date of that hearing will be announced in a subsequent 
Board decision.

    Decided: October 12, 2016.

    By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Kenyatta Clay,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2016-25020 Filed 10-14-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4915-01-P