[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 LXIII





Surface Transportation Board





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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

[[Page 74040]]



SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD (STB)






_______________________________________________________________________

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

49 CFR Ch. X

[STB Ex Parte No. 536 (Sub-No. 15)]

Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Semiannual regulatory agenda.

_______________________________________________________________________

SUMMARY: The Surface Transportation Board (the 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, semiannually, 
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 that 
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 fall 2003 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 4, 2003.

By the Board, Chairman Nober.

 Vernon A. Williams,

Secretary.

                                Surface Transportation Board--Long--Term Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Regulation
 Sequence                                          Title                                          Identification
  Number                                                                                              Number
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4412        Small Rate Guidelines, STB Ex Parte No. 646.........................................    2140--AA70
4413        Class Exemption for Expedited Abandonment Procedure for Class II and Class III          2140--AA71
            Railroads, STB Ex Parte No. 647.....................................................
4414        Public Participation in Rail Abandonment Proceedings, STB Ex Parte No. 537 (Sub--No.    2140--AA72
            1)..................................................................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                 Surface Transportation Board--Completed Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Regulation
 Sequence                                          Title                                          Identification
  Number                                                                                              Number
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4415        Railroad Consolidation Procedures--Exemption for Temporary Trackage Rights, STB Ex      2140--AA68
            Parte No. 282 (Sub--No. 20).........................................................
4416        Removal of Divisions of Revenue Regulations, STB Ex Parte No. 637 (Sub--No. 1)......    2140--AA69
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 74041]]

_______________________________________________________________________


Surface Transportation Board (STB)                    Long-Term Actions






_______________________________________________________________________




4412. [bull] SMALL RATE GUIDELINES, STB EX PARTE NO. 646

Priority: Other Significant. Major status under 5 USC 801 is 
undetermined.

Legal Authority: 49 USC 10701(d)(3)

CFR Citation: 49 CFR 1109; 49 CFR 1114

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Board is seeking comments to revise the Simplified 
Guidelines (Rate Guidelines--Non--Coal Proceedings, 1 STB 1004 (1996)) 
to provide small shippers meaningful access to regulatory relief in 
cases where a full stand--alone cost presentation is too costly.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

Hearing                         03/31/03                    68 FR 15553
Notice                          04/07/03                    68 FR 16862


Next Action Undetermined

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined

Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: None

URL For More Information:
stb.dot.gov

URL For Public Comments:
stb.dot.gov

Agency Contact: Beryl Gordon, Deputy Director, Office of Proceedings, 
Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20423--
0001
Phone: 202 565--1616
TDD Phone: 800 877--8339
Fax: 202 565--9002
Email: [email protected]

RIN: 2140-AA70
_______________________________________________________________________




4413. [bull] CLASS EXEMPTION FOR EXPEDITED ABANDONMENT PROCEDURE FOR 
CLASS II AND CLASS III RAILROADS, STB EX PARTE NO. 647

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

Legal Authority: 49 USC 10502; 49 USC 10903

CFR Citation: Not Yet Determined

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Surface Transportation Board will consider a proposal to 
create a Class exemption for Class II and Class III railroads from the 
prior approval abandonment requirements, and any other matters 
interested persons may raise about the abandonment process.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

ANPRM                           08/13/03                    68 FR 48332
Next Action Undetermined

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined

Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: None

URL For More Information:
stb.dot.gov

URL For Public Comments:
stb.dot.gov

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
TDD Phone: 800 877--8339
Fax: 202 565--9002
Email: [email protected]

RIN: 2140-AA71
_______________________________________________________________________




4414. [bull] PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN RAIL ABANDONMENT PROCEEDINGS, STB 
EX PARTE NO. 537 (SUB--NO. 1)

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

Legal Authority: Not Yet Determined

CFR Citation: 49 CFR 1152.20(a)(2)(xi)

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Board is proposing to amend its regulations concerning 
the service of a notice of intent to abandon or discontinue rail 
service by removing an obsolete reference to a labor organization and 
making technical changes.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            09/02/03                    68 FR 52168
NPRM Comment Period End         10/02/03
Next Action Undetermined

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: None

URL For More Information:
stb.dot.gov

URL For Public Comments:
stb.dot.gov

Agency Contact: John J. Sado, Assistant to the Director of the Office 
of Proceedings, Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20423
Phone: 202 565--1661
TDD Phone: 800--877--8339
Fax: 202 565--9003
Email: [email protected]

RIN: 2140-AA72
_______________________________________________________________________


Surface Transportation Board (STB)                    Completed Actions






_______________________________________________________________________




4415. RAILROAD CONSOLIDATION PROCEDURES--EXEMPTION FOR TEMPORARY 
TRACKAGE RIGHTS, STB EX PARTE NO. 282 (SUB--NO. 20)

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority: 49 USC 11323 to 11325; 49 USC 10502

CFR Citation: 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(8); 49 CFR 1180.4(g)(2)(iii)

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The STB adopts a class exemption for trackage rights that, by 
their terms, are for overhead operations only and expire on a date 
certain, not to exceed one year from the effective date of the 
exemption.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            02/10/03                     68 FR 6695
NPRM Comment Period End         03/12/03
Final Action                    05/23/03                    68 FR 28139
Final Action Effective          06/22/03

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: None

[[Page 74042]]

URL For More Information:
stb.dot.gov

URL For Public Comments:
stb.dot.gov

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
TDD Phone: 800 877--8339
Fax: 202 565--9002
Email: [email protected]

RIN: 2140-AA68
_______________________________________________________________________




4416. [bull] REMOVAL OF DIVISIONS OF REVENUE REGULATIONS, STB EX PARTE 
NO. 637 (SUB--NO. 1)

Priority: Info./Admin./Other. Major status under 5 USC 801 is 
undetermined.

Legal Authority: 49 USC 10705

CFR Citation: 49 CFR 1137.1

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Board is removing its regulations concerning divisions of 
revenue proceedings because of changes in the statute and the 
infrequency of divisions of revenue complaints.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            05/06/03                    68 FR 23947
NPRM Comment Period End         06/05/03
Final Action                    08/29/03                    68 FR 51919
Final Action Effective          09/28/03

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: None

URL For More Information:
stb,dot.gov

URL For Public Comments:
stb.dot.gov

Agency Contact: John J. Sado, Assistant to the Director of the Office 
of Proceedings, Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20423
Phone: 202 565--1661
TDD Phone: 800--877--8339
Fax: 202 565--9003
Email: [email protected]

RIN: 2140-AA69
[FR Doc. 03-24023 Filed 12-19-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-S
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