[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 LXI





Surface Transportation Board





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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

[[Page 38674]]



SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD (STB)






_______________________________________________________________________

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

49 CFR Ch. X

[STB Ex Parte No. 536 (Sub-No. 16)]

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 spring 2004 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: May 10, 2004.

By the Board, Chairman Nober.

 Vernon A. Williams,

Secretary.

                                 Surface Transportation Board--Long-Term Actions
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                                                                                                     Regulation
 Sequence                                           Title                                            Identifier
  Number                                                                                               Number
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4326        Small Rate Guidelines, STB Ex Parte No. 646...........................................    2140-AA70
4327        Class Exemption for Expedited Abandonment Procedure for Class II and Class III            2140-AA71
            Railroads, STB Ex Parte No. 647.......................................................
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                                 Surface Transportation Board--Completed Actions
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                                                                                                     Regulation
 Sequence                                           Title                                            Identifier
  Number                                                                                               Number
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4328        Public Participation in Rail Abandonment Proceedings, STB Ex Parte No. 537 (Sub-No. 1)    2140-AA72
4329        Revision of Appellate Procedures and Informal Complaint Regulations, STB Ex Parte No.     2140-AA73
            650...................................................................................
4330        Electronic Filing Option for Certain Documents, STB Ex Parte No. 651..................    2140-AA74
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

_______________________________________________________________________


Surface Transportation Board (STB)                    Long-Term Actions






_______________________________________________________________________




4326. 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

[[Page 38675]]

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

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
_______________________________________________________________________




4327. 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

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
_______________________________________________________________________


Surface Transportation Board (STB)                    Completed Actions






_______________________________________________________________________




4328. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN RAIL ABANDONMENT PROCEEDINGS, STB EX PARTE 
NO. 537 (SUB-NO. 1)

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority: 49 USC 721(a)

CFR Citation: 49 CFR 1152.20(a)(2)(ii); 49 CFR 1152.20(a)(2)(xi); 49 
CFR 1152.20(a)(2)(xii); 49 CFR 1152.20(a)(2)(xiii)

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Surface Transportation Board is amending 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
Final Action                    12/04/03                    68 FR 67809
Final Action Effective          01/03/04

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
_______________________________________________________________________




4329.  REVISION OF APPELLATE PROCEDURES AND INFORMAL 
COMPLAINT REGULATIONS, STB EX PARTE NO. 650

Priority: Info./Admin./Other

Legal Authority: None

CFR Citation: None

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Surface Transportation Board is amending the appellate 
procedures and informal complainants regulations to change incorrect 
citations.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

Final Action                    03/18/04                    69 FR 12805
Final Action Effective          03/18/04

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: None

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-AA73
_______________________________________________________________________




4330.  ELECTRONIC FILING OPTION FOR CERTAIN DOCUMENTS, 
STB EX PARTE NO. 651

Priority: Info./Admin./Other

Legal Authority: 49 USC 721

CFR Citation: 49 CFR 1104.1(e); 49 CFR 1104.2(a); 49 CFR 1104.3; 49 CFR 
1104.3(b); 49 CFR 1104.3(b)(1); 49 CFR 1104.6; 49 CFR 1104.12(a)

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Surface Transportation Board (Board) is amending its 
regulations concerning filing of

[[Page 38676]]

pleadings and other documents with the Board to give persons the option 
of filing certain types of pleadings and documents electronically 
instead of filing paper copies and to give persons the option of filing 
documents in formats other than WordPerfect.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

Final Action                    04/08/04                    69 FR 18498
Final Action Effective          04/08/04

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: Governmental Jurisdictions, Organizations

Government Levels Affected: None

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-AA74
[FR Doc. 04-11490 Filed 06-25-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-S