[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

[[Page 74288]]



SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD (STB)






_______________________________________________________________________

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

49 CFR Ch. X

[STB Ex Parte No. 536 (Sub-No. 17)]

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 Registera 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 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: September 24, 2004.

By the Board, Chairman Nober, Vice Chairman Mulvey, and Commissioner 
Buttrey.

 Vernon A. Williams,

Secretary.

                                 Surface Transportation Board--Long-Term Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Regulation
 Sequence                                           Title                                            Identifier
  Number                                                                                               Number
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4250        Small Rate Guidelines, STB Ex Parte No. 646...........................................    2140-AA70
4251        Class Exemption for Expedited Abandonment Procedure for Class II and Class III            2140-AA71
            Railroads, STB Ex Parte No. 647.......................................................
4252        Procedures To Expedite Resolution of Rail Rate Challenges To Be Considered Under the      2140-AA76
            Stand-Alone Cost Methodology, STB Ex Parte No. 638....................................
4253        Revision of Exemption Authority Citations.............................................    2140-AA77
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

_______________________________________________________________________


Surface Transportation Board (STB)                    Long-Term Actions






_______________________________________________________________________




4250. 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

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

[[Page 74289]]

Street NW., Washington, DC 20423-0001
Phone: 202 565-1609
TDD Phone: 800 877-8339
Fax: 202 565-9002
Email: [email protected]

RIN: 2140-AA70
_______________________________________________________________________




4251. 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
_______________________________________________________________________




4252.  PROCEDURES TO EXPEDITE RESOLUTION OF RAIL RATE 
CHALLENGES TO BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE STAND-ALONE COST METHODOLOGY, STB 
EX PARTE NO. 638

Priority: Info./Admin./Other

Legal Authority: 49 USC 721(a)

CFR Citation: 49 CFR 1114.31(a)

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Surface Transportation Board is amending its regulations 
regarding discovery procedures to correct an inadvertent omission.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

Correction                       To Be                       Determined

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: Jamie P. Rennert, Attorney, Surface Transportation 
Board, 1925 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20423-0001
Phone: 202 565-1566
Fax: 202-565-9001
Email: [email protected]

Related RIN: Previously reported as 2140-AA64
RIN: 2140-AA76
_______________________________________________________________________




4253.  REVISION OF EXEMPTION AUTHORITY CITATIONS

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

Legal Authority: 49 USC 721

CFR Citation: 49 CFR 1039.10; 49 CFR 1039.20; 49 CFR 1101.2(e)(5); 49 
CFR 1105.7(e)(5)(i)(C); 49 CFR 1105.7(e)(5)(ii)(C); 49 CFR 1105.12; 49 
CFR 1150.1(a); 49 CFR 1150.32(c); 49 CFR 1150.34; 49 CFR 1150.35(f); 49 
CFR 1185.5(a); 49 CFR 1185.5(b)

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Surface Transportation Board is amending its regulations 
to change incorrect citations to its authority to exempt rail 
transportation, and to update miscellaneous references. The Board is 
also making changes to its authority citations.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

Final Action                     To Be                       Determined

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-AA77
[FR Doc. 04-22109 Filed 12-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-S