[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 248 (Thursday, December 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61653-61654]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-28011]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. EP 526 (Sub-No. 10)]


Notice of Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council 
Vacancies

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board (Board).

ACTION: Notice of vacancies on the Railroad-Shipper Transportation 
Advisory Council (RSTAC) and solicitation of nominations.

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SUMMARY: The Board hereby gives notice of vacancies on RSTAC for two 
small shipper representatives, one large shipper representative, two 
small railroad representatives, and two large railroad representatives. 
The Board seeks suggestions for candidates to fill these vacancies.

DATES: Nominations are due on January 22, 2018.

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 website, at http://www.stb.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. 10), 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 website under 
Docket No. EP 526 (Sub-No. 10).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine Bourdon at 202-245-0285. 
Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board, created in 1996 to take over many 
of the functions previously performed by the Interstate Commerce 
Commission, exercises broad authority over transportation by rail 
carriers, including regulation of railroad rates and service (49 U.S.C. 
10701-47, 11101-24), the construction, acquisition, operation, and 
abandonment of rail lines (49 U.S.C. 10901-07), as well as railroad 
line sales, consolidations, mergers, and common control arrangements 
(49 U.S.C. 10902, 11323-27).
    RSTAC was established upon the enactment of the ICC Termination Act 
of 1995 (ICCTA) on December 29, 1995, 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 RSTAC considers significant. RSTAC focuses 
on

[[Page 61654]]

issues of importance to small shippers and small railroads, including 
car supply, rates, competition, and procedures for addressing claims. 
ICCTA instructs RSTAC to endeavor to develop private-sector mechanisms 
to prevent, or identify and address, obstacles to the most effective 
and efficient transportation system practicable. RSTAC also prepares an 
annual report concerning its activities and recommendations on whatever 
regulatory or legislative relief it considers appropriate. RSTAC is not 
subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
    RSTAC currently 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 appointed members, nine 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. Meetings are generally 
held at the Board's headquarters in Washington, DC, although some 
meetings are held in other locations.
    RSTAC members receive no compensation for their services and are 
required to provide for the expenses incidental to their service, 
including travel expenses, as the Board cannot provide for these 
expenses. RSTAC 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 Fed. 
Advisory Comms., Bds., & Comm'ns., 79 FR 47,482 (Aug. 13, 2014). 
Members of RSTAC are appointed to serve in a representative capacity.
    RSTAC members are appointed for three-year terms. 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.
    Due to the expiration of several RSTAC members' terms, vacancies 
exist for the following: Two small shipper representatives, one large 
shipper representative, two small railroad representatives, and two 
large railroad representatives. Upon appointment by the Board Chairman, 
the new representatives will serve for three years and may be eligible 
to serve a second three-year term following the end of their first 
term.
    Suggestions for candidates to fill these 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 an 
RSTAC member effective immediately upon appointment. RSTAC candidate 
suggestions should be filed with the Board by January 22, 2018. Members 
selected to serve on RSTAC are chosen at the discretion of the Board 
Chairman. Please note that submissions will be available to the public 
at the Board's offices and posted on the Board's website under Docket 
No. EP 526 (Sub-No. 10).

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 1325.

    Decided: December 21, 2017.

    By the Board, Scott M. Zimmerman, Acting Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2017-28011 Filed 12-27-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4915-01-P