[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 11, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63698-63699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26785]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. EP 730 (Sub-No. 1)]


Roster of Arbitrators--Annual Update

    Under Section 13 of the Surface Transportation Board 
Reauthorization Act of 2015 (STB Reauthorization Act), codified at 49 
U.S.C. 11708, Congress directed the Board to ``promulgate regulations 
to establish a voluntary and binding arbitration process to resolve 
rail rate and practice complaints'' that are subject to the Board's 
jurisdiction. In May 2016, the Board issued a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking proposing to modify its existing regulations at 49 CFR 1108 
and 1115.8 to conform to the requirements of the STB Reauthorization 
Act. Revisions to Arbitration Procedures, EP 730 (STB served May 12, 
2016). Section 11708(f) provides that, unless parties otherwise agree, 
an arbitrator or panel of arbitrators shall be selected from a roster 
maintained by the Board. Accordingly, the Board's rules establish a 
process for creating and maintaining a roster of arbitrators. See 
Revisions to Arbitration Procedures (Final Rule), EP 730, slip op. at 
3-4 (STB served Oct. 11, 2016).
    By decision served February 23, 2017, the Board adopted its initial 
roster of arbitrators and updated the roster by decision served 
February 14, 2018. The roster is published on the Board's website at 
https://www.stb.gov/stb/litigationalternatives/CurrentArbitration.html 
(under ``Arbitration Procedures'').
    Under 49 CFR 1108.6(b), the Board is to update the roster of 
arbitrators annually. Accordingly, the Board is now requesting the 
names and qualifications of new arbitrators who wish to be placed on 
the roster. Current arbitrators who wish to remain on the roster must 
notify the Board of their continued availability and confirm that the 
biographical information on file with the Board remains accurate and if 
not, provide any necessary updates. Arbitrators who do not confirm 
their continued availability will be removed from the roster. This 
decision will be served on all current arbitrators.
    Any person who wishes to be added to the roster should file an 
application describing his or her experience with rail transportation 
and economic regulation, as well as professional or business 
experience, including agriculture, in the private sector. Each 
applicant should also describe his or her training in dispute 
resolution and/or experience in arbitration or other forms of dispute 
resolution, including the number of years of experience. Lastly, the 
applicant should provide his or her contact information and fees.
    All comments--including filings from new applicants, updates to 
existing arbitrator information, and confirmations of continued 
availability--should be submitted by January 11, 2019.\1\ The Board 
will assess each new applicant's qualifications to determine which 
individuals can ably serve as arbitrators based on the criteria 
established under 49 CFR 1108.6(b). The Board will then establish an 
updated roster of arbitrators by no-objection vote. The roster will 
include a brief biographical sketch of each arbitrator, including 
information such as background, area(s) of expertise, arbitration 
experience, and geographical location, as well as contact information 
and fees. The roster will be published on the Board's website.
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    \1\ Persons who have informally indicated an interest in being 
included on the arbitrator roster (e.g., correspondence to Board 
members) should submit a comment pursuant to this decision.
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    It is ordered:
    1. Applications from persons interested in being added to the 
Board's roster of arbitrators, and confirmations of continued 
availability (with updates, if any, to existing arbitrator information) 
from persons currently on the arbitration roster, are due by January 
11, 2019.
    2. This decision will be served on all current arbitrators and 
published in the Federal Register.

[[Page 63699]]

    3. This decision is effective on the date of service.

    By the Board, Scott M. Zimmerman, Acting Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2018-26785 Filed 12-10-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4915-01-P