Overview
Title
Notice of Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council Vacancies; Solicitation of Nominations
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Surface Transportation Board is looking for two people from small railroads to help advise them about train rules and policies. They need people to volunteer for these spots by February 12, 2021, and would like them to start working right away.
Summary AI
The Surface Transportation Board has announced two vacancies on the Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council (RSTAC) for representatives from small railroads. The Board seeks nominations by February 12, 2021, and candidates should be willing to serve immediately. RSTAC advises on rail transportation policy, focusing on smaller shippers and railroads, and ensures fair representation across different industry segments. Members serve three-year terms, with meetings typically held quarterly.
Abstract
The Board hereby gives notice of vacancies on RSTAC for two small railroad representatives. The Board seeks suggestions for candidates to fill these vacancies.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The recent notice from the Surface Transportation Board (STB) announces that there are two open positions on the Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council (RSTAC) for representatives from small railroads. Interested individuals or organizations are encouraged to submit nominations by February 12, 2021. The selected candidates will become key advisors on important rail transportation policy issues, especially those affecting smaller shippers and railroads. With a focus on balancing representation across various industry segments, the selected members will hold a term of three years during which they will take part in regular meetings, typically held quarterly.
General Summary
This notice from the STB highlights an opportunity for stakeholders within the railroad industry, specifically small railroads, to nominate representatives to join the RSTAC. The council plays a critical role in advising on rail transportation policies, addressing issues such as car supply and competition. Ultimately, this aims to promote an efficient transportation system that equitably serves both small shippers and small railroads.
Significant Issues or Concerns
Several issues arise from this notice, such as:
Subjectivity in Candidate Selection: The document does not elaborate on precise criteria for evaluating candidates. This lack of clear guidelines may result in a subjective selection process.
Diversity and Representation: There is no outlined effort to ensure diversity among the candidates, which could result in a limited spectrum of perspectives and experiences shared within RSTAC.
Transparency and Public Involvement: The notice does not describe any processes for public feedback on the selection of candidates, potentially reducing transparency and public trust in the process.
Discretion of Board Chairman: The nomination and appointment process rests heavily upon the discretion of the Board Chairman, raising questions regarding checks and balances during selection.
Conflict of Interest: The allowance for federally registered lobbyists to serve on RSTAC, albeit in a representative capacity, might draw concerns about conflicts of interest or undue influence.
Impact on the Public
This document may influence the public by shaping the regulations and policies impacting the operation and pricing of railroad services. Given the strategic role of railways in freight transport across the nation, decisions made by RSTAC can ripple through related industries and ultimately, consumer prices.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For small railroads and shippers, this notice represents an opportunity to have their voices heard and interests protected in transportation policies. Successful nominations could provide these stakeholders with invaluable advocacy within federal regulatory frameworks. Conversely, the lack of detailed selection criteria and transparency might lead to dissatisfaction or a feeling of exclusion among those not selected, should the chosen members not adequately represent their concerns.
The notice also serves as a call to action for potential nominees and their supporters to engage in the nomination process thoughtfully and strategically, ensuring that new RSTAC members will effectively advocate for the nuanced and unique needs of small railroads.
Issues
• The document does not specify criteria for evaluating candidates for RSTAC, which may lead to subjective selection.
• There is no mention of efforts to encourage diversity among candidates, which could limit representation of varied perspectives.
• The notice does not detail any process for public feedback on candidate selections, potentially reducing transparency.
• Language such as "represent as broadly as practicable" is vague and subjective, lacking definitive criteria.
• The process for nominations and appointments is mentioned to be at the discretion of the Board Chairman, which could be perceived as lacking checks and balances.
• There is no mention of mechanisms to resolve disputes or challenges regarding the selection of RSTAC members, which could be problematic if disputes arise.
• The fact that federally registered lobbyists can serve on RSTAC might raise concerns about potential conflicts of interest, even when serving in a representative capacity.