[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 LXII





Surface Transportation Board





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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD (STB)                                     


  



_______________________________________________________________________

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

49 CFR Ch. X

[STB Ex Parte No. 536 (Sub-No. 11)]

Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

AGENCY:  Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION:  Semiannual regulatory agenda.

_______________________________________________________________________

SUMMARY:  The Surface Transportation Board (Board or STB), 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 that 
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 2001 regulatory 
flexibility agenda as part of the Unified Agenda of Federal 
Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions (Unified Agenda). The Unified 
Agenda is coordinated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), 
pursuant to Executive Order 12866. The Board is participating in 
the program voluntarily to assist OMB.

Decided:  September 7, 2001.

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

 Vernon A. Williams,

Secretary.

                                 Surface Transportation Board--Long-Term Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Regulation
 Sequence                                          Title                                          Identification
  Number                                                                                              Number
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4673         Safe Implementation of Board-Approved Transactions, STB Ex Parte No. 574...........     2140-AA50
4674         Modification of the Carload Waybill Sample Reporting Procedures, STB Ex Parte No.       2140-AA57
            385 (Sub-No. 5).....................................................................
4675         Consolidated Railroad Reporting, STB Ex Parte No. 634..............................     2140-AA58
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                 Surface Transportation Board--Completed Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Regulation
 Sequence                                          Title                                          Identification
  Number                                                                                              Number
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4676         Major Rail Consolidation Procedures, STB Ex Parte No. 582 (Sub-No. 1)..............     2140-AA56
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

_______________________________________________________________________


Surface Transportation Board (STB)                    Long-Term Actions


  



_______________________________________________________________________




4673. 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

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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:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

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
TDD Phone: 800 877-8339
Fax: 202 565-9001
Email: [email protected]

RIN: 2140-AA50
_______________________________________________________________________




4674. MODIFICATION OF THE CARLOAD WAYBILL SAMPLE REPORTING PROCEDURES, 
STB EX PARTE NO. 385 (SUB-NO. 5)

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant. Major status under 5 USC 801 is 
undetermined.

Legal Authority: 49 USC 721; 49 USC 10707; 49 USC 11144; 49 USC 11145

CFR Citation: 49 CFR 1244

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Surface Transportation Board solicits comments on 
modifying the Waybill Sample reporting regulations to require all 
railroads to identify international rail traffic moving from or through 
the United States and to report such traffic in the Waybill Sample as 
if the traffic had terminated at the United States border. The intent 
of this proposal is to ensure that the Waybill Sample reflects a 
representative sample of all railroad traffic moving on the U.S. rail 
system.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            09/08/00                    65 FR 54471
NPRM Comment Period End         10/12/00
Internal Review of Comments      To Be                       Determined

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: H. Jeff Warren, Transportation Industry Analyst, 
Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20423
Phone: 202 565-1533
TDD Phone: 800 877-8339
Fax: 202 565-9000
Email: [email protected]

RIN: 2140-AA57
_______________________________________________________________________




4675. CONSOLIDATED RAILROAD REPORTING, STB EX PARTE NO. 634

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant. Major status under 5 USC 801 is 
undetermined.

Legal Authority: 49 USC 721(b); 49 USC 10704(a)(3)

CFR Citation: 49 CFR 1201; 49 CFR 1241 to 1248

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Surface Transportation Board proposes, consistent with 
Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 94, to require 
consolidated reporting by commonly controlled U.S. railroads and their 
U.S. railroad-related affiliates.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            09/25/00                    65 FR 57650
NPRM Comment Period End         10/25/00
Internal Review of Comments      To Be                       Determined

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Paul A. Aguiar, Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K 
Street NW., Washington, DC 20423-0001
Phone: 202 565-1527
TDD Phone: 800 877-8339
Fax: 202 565-9000
Email: [email protected]

RIN: 2140-AA58
_______________________________________________________________________


Surface Transportation Board (STB)                    Completed Actions


  



_______________________________________________________________________




4676. MAJOR RAIL CONSOLIDATION PROCEDURES, STB EX PARTE NO. 582 (SUB-NO. 
1)

Priority: Other Significant

Legal Authority: 49 USC 721; 49 USC 11323 to 11325

CFR Citation: 49 CFR 1180

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Surface Transportation Board adopted final regulations 
governing proposals for major railroad consolidations. These new rules 
increase the amount of information that the consolidating carriers must 
provide to the public to permit interested persons to participate in 
the process. The new rules also require the consolidating carriers to 
demonstrate that a proposed transaction would be in the public 
interest, by requiring them, among other things, to demonstrate that 
the transaction would enhance competition where necessary to offset 
negative effects of the merger, such as competitive harm or service 
disruption.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

ANPRM                           03/31/00                    65 FR 18021
ANPRM Comment Period End        06/05/00
NPRM                            10/03/00                    65 FR 58974
NPRM Comment Period End         01/11/01
Final Rule                      06/15/01                    66 FR 32582
Final Rule Effective            07/11/01

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

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Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Julia Farr, Chief Counsel, Office of Proceedings, 
Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20423-
0001
Phone: 202 565-1613
TDD Phone: 800 877-8339
Fax: 202 565-9002
Email: [email protected]

RIN: 2140-AA56
[FR Doc. 01-23876 Filed 11-30-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-S
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