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STB reauthorization bill (S. 808)


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#11 CNJRoss

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Posted 17 March 2016 - 02:56 PM

STB news release 3/15:

 

STB REAUTHORIZATION ACT IMPLEMENTATION CONTINUES: STB TO HOLD INFORMAL MEETINGS FOR STREAMLINING AND EXPEDITING RAIL RATE CASES   ecblank.gifecblank.gifecblank.gif
 

The Surface Transportation Board announced today that its staff will hold informal meetings with stakeholders during April 2016 to explore and discuss ideas to expedite rate reasonableness cases.


Under the STB Reauthorization Act, the Board will be initiating a proceeding to assess how procedures to expedite court litigation potentially could be applied to rail rate cases. In addition to court litigation procedures, the Board intends to explore innovative ways to move stand-alone cost (“SAC”) rate cases forward in keeping with the Board’s substantially shortened timeframe to issue a SAC decision under the Act. The Board believes that holding informal discussions with stakeholders in non-public meetings will serve as a productive preliminary action toward the initiation of a meaningful proceeding.

These informal discussions will be used to enhance STB staff’s perspective on strategies and pathways to expedite and streamline rate cases, especially SAC cases where the Board’s time to analyze the record and issue a decision has been substantially shortened. In particular, the Board is inviting practitioners, consultants, and stakeholders who have significant experience in rate reasonableness cases to independently share their views and ideas for expediting rate cases. Participants are encouraged to meet in person with staff; however, teleconferencing will be available. Because the meetings are not part of a formal proceeding, official meeting transcripts or minutes will not be prepared.


“These meetings will be a valuable opportunity for STB staff and interested parties to talk openly and candidly about our procedures for handling rate cases, and to brainstorm ideas for improving our processes and expediting case resolution,” STB Chairman Daniel R. Elliott said. “Additionally, these meetings will further my efforts to make the Board more available and accessible to our stakeholders.”


Meeting times will be available Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between 10:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M. during the month of April. Interested persons are requested to contact the Rail Customer and Public Assistance office (202-245-0238) to schedule individual meeting times. Questions about the meetings should also be directed to RCPA.

 

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#12 CNJRoss

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Posted 02 April 2016 - 04:47 PM

STB news release, 4/1:

 

STB RELEASES REAUTHORIZATION ACT REPORTS
 

Today the Surface Transportation Board issued reports as part of its implementation of the STB Reauthorization Act of 2015, P.L. 114-110 (2015).

The Board issued four reports:
--the first quarterly report on rate case review metrics;
--the first quarterly report on formal and informal service complaints;
--the second quarterly report on unfinished regulatory proceedings; and
--a status report for the month of March showing the Board’s progress in implementing the key initiatives of the Reauthorization Act.

The Board also continues to make progress on implementing the Reauthorization Act’s provisions to improve the processing of rate reasonableness cases. The Board began this implementation with rules issued on March 9, 2016, regarding rate case procedural schedules. Pursuant to the Board’s announcement on March 15, 2016, meetings have been scheduled with practitioners, consultants, and stakeholders who have significant experience in rate reasonableness litigation, especially stand-alone cost cases, to share their views and ideas for expediting rate cases. The Board will conduct these meetings in April and will initiate a proceeding by June 15, 2016, in accordance with the Act.

The Board Members continue to hold meetings under the Board’s new collaborative discussion authority established by the Act. In March, the Board and staff members discussed modifying the agency’s existing arbitration rules consistent with the requirements of the Reauthorization Act. A summary of this meeting is posted in the Reauthorization Act section of the Board’s website. The Board intends to begin rulemakings on both the arbitration rules and its new investigative powers under the Act within the next quarter.

“The reports being transmitted to Congress today show that the Board is aggressively moving forward with the mandates of the STB Reauthorization Act and making steady progress on its key objectives,” said STB Chairman Daniel R. Elliott.

To view the STB’s status reports, and other reports required under the Reauthorization Act as they become available, click here. To read the full text of the STB Reauthorization Act of 2015, click here.

 

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#13 CNJRoss

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Posted 17 August 2016 - 01:45 PM

Progressive Railroading, 8/15:

 
STB Reauthorization Act will help expedite rate cases, FRCA says

The new Surface Transportation Reauthorization (STB) Act of 2015 may help assist shippers in rate cases before the board, a leader of the Freight Rail Customer Alliance (FRCA) told a U.S. Senate committee last week.

The new law, which President Barack Obama signed in December 2015, "is helping our entire nation better meet today's freight rail shipping demands and expectations," FRCA board member Thomas Heller told the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee during a hearing held last week in Sioux Falls, S.D.

 

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