[The Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions]
[Surface Transportation Board Semiannual Regulatory Agenda]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]



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Part LXIV





Surface Transportation Board





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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

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Surface Transportation Board (STB)                                     


  



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

49 CFR Ch. X

STB Ex Parte No. 536 (Sub-No. 7)

Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

AGENCY:  Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION:  Semiannual regulatory agenda.

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SUMMARY:  The Surface Transportation Board, in accordance with the 
requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, is publishing a 
semiannual agenda of: (1) Current and projected rulemakings; and (2) 
existing regulations being reviewed to determine whether to propose 
modifications through rulemaking. Listed below are the regulatory 
actions to be developed or reviewed during the next 12 months. 
Following each rule identified is a brief description of the rule, 
including its purpose and legal basis.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  A contact person is identified for 
each of the rules listed below.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  The Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 
601 et seq. (RFA), sets forth a number of requirements for agency 
rulemaking. Among other things, the RFA requires that, during the 
months of April and October of each year, each agency shall publish in 
the Federal Register a regulatory flexibility agenda, which shall 
contain:

     (1) A brief description of the subject area of any rule which 
the agency expects to propose or promulgate which is likely to have 
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities;

     (2) A summary of the nature of any such rule under 
consideration for each subject area listed in the agenda pursuant 
to paragraph (1), the objectives and legal basis for the issuance 
of the rule, and an approximate schedule for completing action on 
any rule for which the agency has issued a general notice of 
proposed rulemaking; and

     (3) The name and telephone number of an agency official 
knowledgeable concerning the items listed in paragraph (1).

     Accordingly, a list of proceedings appears below containing 
information about subject areas in which the Board is currently 
conducting rulemaking proceedings or may institute such proceedings 
in the near future. It also contains information about existing 
regulations being reviewed to determine whether to propose 
modifications through rulemaking.

     The agenda represents the Board's best estimate of rules which 
will be considered over the next 12 months. However, section 602(d) 
of the RFA, 5 U.S.C. 602(d), provides: ``Nothing in [section 602] 
precludes an agency from considering or acting on any matter not 
included in a regulatory flexibility agenda or requires an agency 
to consider or act on any matter listed in such agenda.''

     The Board is publishing its October 1999 regulatory 
flexibility agenda as part of the Unified Agenda of Federal 
Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. The Unified Agenda of Federal 
Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions is coordinated by the Office of 
Management and Budget pursuant to Executive Order 12866. The Board 
is participating in the program voluntarily to assist OMB.

Decided: August 20, 1999.

By the Board, Chairman Morgan, Vice Chairman Clyburn and Commissioner 
Burkes.

 Vernon A. Williams,

Secretary.

                                                Long-Term Actions
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                                                                                                    Regulation
 Sequence                                          Title                                          Identification
  Number                                                                                              Number
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4700         Railroad Consolidation Procedures: Class Exemption for Transactions Subject to the      2140-AA03
            Statutory Consolidation Provision, STB Ex Parte No. 282 (Sub-No. 15)................
4701         Safe Implementation of Board-Approved Transactions, STB Ex Parte No. 574...........     2140-AA50
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                                                Completed Actions
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                                                                                                    Regulation
 Sequence                                          Title                                          Identification
  Number                                                                                              Number
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4702         Expedited Procedures for Processing Rail Rate Reasonableness, Exemption and             2140-AA54
            Revocation Proceedings, STB Ex Parte No. 527 (Sub-No. 2)............................
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Surface Transportation Board (STB)                    Long-Term Actions


  



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4700. RAILROAD CONSOLIDATION PROCEDURES: CLASS EXEMPTION FOR 
TRANSACTIONS SUBJECT TO THE STATUTORY CONSOLIDATION PROVISION, STB EX 
PARTE NO. 282 (SUB-NO. 15)

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority: 49 USC 10321; 49 USC 10505; 49 USC 11341; 49 USC 11343 
to 11346; 11 USC 1172; 45 USC 904; 45 USC 915; 5 USC 553; 5 USC 559

CFR Citation: 49 CFR 1180

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Board is considering whether to expand the 
``nonconnecting carrier'' class exemption to embrace all transactions 
subject to the statutory consolidation provision, except: (1) 
transactions involving the merger or control of at least two class I 
railroads; (2) transactions involving a reduction in the number of 
noncommonly controlled railroads serving any two points; (3) 
transactions involving a reduction from three to two in the number of 
noncommonly controlled railroads serving any interchange points.

Timetable:
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Action                            Date                      FR Cite

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NPRM                            07/14/92                    57 FR 31165
NPRM Comment Period End         08/30/92
Internal Review of Comments      To Be                       Determined

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Additional Information: Statutory references to title 49 of the United 
States Code are prior to their amendment by the ICC Termination Act of 
1995, Pub. L. 104-88, 109 Stat. 803, which became effective on January 
1, 1996.

Agency Contact: Joseph H. Dettmar, Deputy Director, Office of 
Proceedings, Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K Street NW, 
Washington, DC 20423-0001
Phone: 202 565-1609
Fax: 202 565-1695
Email: [email protected]

RIN: 2140-AA03
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4701. SAFE IMPLEMENTATION OF BOARD-APPROVED TRANSACTIONS, STB EX PARTE 
NO. 574

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority: 5 USC 553; 5 USC 559; 49 USC 721; 49 USC 10901; 49 USC 
10902; 49 USC 11323; 49 USC 11324; 49 USC 11325; 42 USC 4332

CFR Citation: 49 CFR 244; 49 CFR 1106

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Surface Transportation Board and the Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA) have proposed complementary regulations 
establishing procedures for the development and implementation of 
safety integration plans (SIPs) by railroads proposing to engage in 
certain merger, consolidation, or acquisition of control transactions 
with another railroad. Under the proposed rules, railroads seeking to 
consummate a Board-covered transaction would be required to file a 
written document with the FRA and the Board explaining how each step in 
implementing a contemplated transaction would be performed safely.

Timetable:
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Action                            Date                      FR Cite

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ANPRM                           12/04/97                    62 FR 64193
ANPRM Comment Period End        02/19/98
NPRM                            12/31/98                    63 FR 72225
NPRM Comment Period End         03/01/99
Internal Review of Comments      To Be                       Determined

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Evelyn Kitay, Attorney, Surface Transportation Board, 
1925 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20423-0001
Phone: 202 565-1563
Fax: 202 565-1695
Email: [email protected]

RIN: 2140-AA50
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Surface Transportation Board (STB)                    Completed Actions


  



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4702.  EXPEDITED PROCEDURES FOR PROCESSING RAIL RATE 
REASONABLENESS, EXEMPTION AND REVOCATION PROCEEDINGS, STB EX PARTE NO. 
527 (SUB-NO. 2)

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

Reinventing Government: This rulemaking is part of the Reinventing 
Government effort. It will revise text in the CFR to reduce burden or 
duplication, or streamline requirements.

Legal Authority: 49 USC 10502; 49 USC 10704

CFR Citation: 49 CFR 1121

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Board has clarified the procedures under 49 CFR Part 1121 
regarding when additional information or public comments will be sought 
in exemption proceedings.

Timetable:
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Action                            Date                      FR Cite

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NPRM                            06/25/99                    64 FR 34185
NPRM Comment Period End         07/26/99
Final Action                    08/26/99                    64 FR 46594
Final Action Effective          09/25/99

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: John J. Sado, Attorney, Surface Transportation Board, 
1925 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20423-0001
Phone: 202 565-1642
TDD Phone: 202 565-1695
Fax: 202 565-9002
Email: [email protected]

RIN: 2140-AA54
[FR Doc. 99-23658 Filed 11-19-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-F