8336 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 23 / Friday, February 5, 2021 / Proposed Rules 

Federal Communications Commission. 

Marlene Dortch, 

Secretary. 

[FR Doc. 2021–02437 Filed 2–4–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P 

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD 

49 CFR Part 1180 

[Docket No. EP 282 (Sub-No. 21)] 

Petition for Rulemaking—Railroad 

Consolidation Procedures—Exemption 

for Emergency Temporary Trackage 

Rights 

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board. 

ACTION: Petition for rulemaking. 

SUMMARY: The Board institutes a 

rulemaking proceeding to consider a 

proposal by the Association of 

American Railroads to establish a new 

emergency temporary trackage rights 

class exemption. 

DATES: Published in the Federal 

Register on February 5, 2021. The Board 

will provide an opportunity for 

additional public participation in a 

subsequent decision. 

ADDRESSES: Comments and replies may 

be filed with the Board via e-filing on 

the Board’s website at www.stb.gov and 

will be posted to the Board’s website. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Nathaniel Bawcombe at (202) 245–0376. 

Assistance for the hearing impaired is 

available through the Federal Relay 

Service at (800) 877–8339. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On 

October 9, 2020, the Association of 

American Railroads (AAR) filed a 

petition requesting that the Board 

initiate a rulemaking proceeding to 

establish a new emergency temporary 

trackage rights class exemption that 

could be invoked in specific situations 

and would allow emergency temporary 

trackage rights to take effect 

immediately, without need to waive the 

30-day notice requirement under 49 

CFR 1180.4(g)(1). AAR argues that the 

current two-step approach for obtaining 

temporary trackage rights that take effect 

on less than 30 days’ notice is 

inefficient, and AAR asserts that its 

proposed class exemption would benefit 

shippers, railroads, and the Board by 

providing a streamlined and simple 

approach for obtaining temporary 

trackage rights in emergency situations, 

ensuring the continued flow of 

commerce without any decrease in 

regulatory oversight. (Pet. 1–4.) On 

November 4, 2020, Samuel J. Nasca, for 

and on behalf of SMART-Transportation 

Division-New York State Legislative 

Board (SMART/TD–NY), filed a reply in 

opposition to AAR’s petition. 

The Board concludes that it is 

appropriate to institute a rulemaking 

proceeding to consider AAR’s proposal. 

The Board will provide an opportunity 

for additional public participation in a 

subsequent decision. 

List of Subjects in 49 CFR 1180 

Administrative practice and 

procedure, Railroads, Reporting and 

recordkeeping requirements. 

It is ordered: 

1. AAR’s request to initiate a 

rulemaking proceeding is granted, as 

discussed above. 

2. Notice of this decision will be 

published in the Federal Register. 

3. This decision is effective on its 

service date. 

Decided: February 1, 2021. 

By the Board, Board Members Begeman, 

Fuchs, Oberman, Primus, and Schultz. 

Kenyatta Clay, 

Clearance Clerk. 

[FR Doc. 2021–02452 Filed 2–4–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4915–01–P 


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