Search Results for keywords:"Surface Transportation Board"

The Federal Register Office has reinstated Chapter XL of Title 5 in the Code of Federal Regulations. This chapter includes Parts 5000 to 5099 and was previously removed due to the disbandment of the Interstate Commerce Commission. However, a legal provision allows these regulations to remain effective under the Surface Transportation Board. Therefore, the removal of these regulations was recognized as a mistake, and they have been restored.

The Surface Transportation Board has received a request from Iowa State University to use data from their 1992-2018 Unmasked Carload Waybill Sample for research purposes. This data contains confidential information about railroads and shippers. Anyone who objects to the release of this data must submit their objections to the Board's Office of Economics within 14 calendar days from the notice date. The procedures for releasing waybill data are outlined in the federal regulations.

The Surface Transportation Board issued a final rule to update its civil monetary penalties by accounting for inflation, as required by federal law. This annual adjustment, effective January 14, 2025, follows a specific calculation method and does not allow for public comment because the Board is following a mandated federal formula. The rule applies only to violations occurring after the regulation's effective date. It also clarifies that the Board has no authority to adjust criminal penalties for inflation.

East Chicago Rail Terminal, LLC (ECRT) is planning to acquire and operate a small section of railroad track from Chrome, LLC at East Chicago, Indiana. This track is 467 feet long and connects to the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad. ECRT has agreed to this purchase and plans to use the track to provide common carrier rail service to Tri-Star DEF LLC without affecting any future agreements with other carriers. The acquisition is expected to be completed on or after February 26, 2021, and is exempt from environmental and historic reporting requirements.

San Joaquin Valley Railroad Co. (SJVR) has filed for an exemption to continue leasing and operating 101.5 miles of rail lines from Union Pacific Railroad Company. This lease, initially established in 1994 and most recently renewed in 2020, has been extended by a Lease Amendment signed in January 2025, allowing operations to continue for another five years. SJVR's notice also requests a waiver for a 60-day advance notice to labor unions, which will be decided separately. Moreover, SJVR confirms that its projected revenues will not exceed the limit set for a Class III carrier, despite current revenues being over $5 million.

The Surface Transportation Board has received a request from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign seeking permission to use data from the Board's 1986-2023 unmasked Carload Waybill Samples. This data is confidential and involves railroad and shipper information. Any objections to this request must be filed within 14 calendar days from the notice's publication date. For more information or inquiries, individuals can contact the Board via email at waybill@stb.gov.

Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART), a Class III rail carrier, has filed for an exemption to acquire and operate an 87.65-mile rail line from North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA) in California. The transaction allows SMART to be the freight operator using a noncarrier contract operator and is expected to be completed on or after March 4, 2021. SMART assures that its annual revenues from the deal will not exceed $5 million and that there are no agreements limiting future connections with other carriers. This transaction is mostly exempt from environmental and historic preservation reviews.

Paul Didelius, a noncarrier individual, has filed a notice to maintain control over RYAL, LLC once it becomes a Class III rail carrier. This is linked to a separate notice for RYAL to lease and operate a 26-mile rail line in Washington. Didelius confirms that none of the rail systems he controls connect physically and that they are all Class III carriers, which exempts the transaction from certain regulatory approvals. The public can file disputes or petitions related to this exemption, but it won't automatically stop the exemption from taking effect.

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.

Saratoga Railroad, LLC filed a notice to abandon a 23.71-mile rail line in Carbon County, Wyoming. No local traffic has used the line for two years, and any overhead traffic can be rerouted. Employees affected by this abandonment are entitled to certain protections. The abandonment will take effect on March 2, 2025, unless there is a stay pending reconsideration or other regulatory actions are taken by specified dates.