[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 19 (Monday, January 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2866-2867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1537]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board
[STB Ex Parte No. 526]


Notice of Establishment of Railroad-Shipper Transportation 
Advisory Council and Request for Recommendation of Candidates for 
Membership

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Request For Recommendation of Candidates For Membership on 
Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council.

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[[Page 2867]]


SUMMARY: As provided by section 726 of the ICC Termination Act of 1995, 
Public Law 104-88, 109 Stat. 803, the Railroad-Shipper Transportation 
Advisory Council (Council) is established to advise the Chairman of the 
Surface Transportation Board (Board), the Secretary of Transportation, 
and Congressional oversight committees with respect to rail 
transportation policy issues of particular importance to small shippers 
and small railroads. To fulfill the duty of the Chairman of the Board 
to appoint Council members, this notice requests recommendations for 
membership on the Council from rail carriers and rail shippers.

DATES: Recommendations for Council members are due on February 13, 
1996.

ADDRESSES: Send recommendations and supporting information (an original 
plus 3 copies) referring to STB Ex Parte No. 526, Railroad-Shipper 
Transportation Advisory Council to: Vernon A. Williams, Secretary, 
Surface Transportation Board, Room 1324, 1201 Constitution Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20423.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard S. Fitzsimmons, (202) 927-
6050. [TDD for the hearing impaired: (202) 927-5721.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory 
Council was established upon the enactment of the ICC Termination Act 
of 1995 (the Act), on December 29, 1995, to advise the Board's 
Chairman, the Secretary of Transportation, the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives with 
respect to rail transportation policy issues the Council considers 
significant. The Council will focus on issues of importance to small 
shippers and small railroads, including car supply, rates, competition, 
and procedures for addressing claims. The Act directs the Council to 
develop private-sector mechanisms to prevent, or identify and address, 
obstacles to the most effective and efficient transportation system 
practicable.
    The Secretary of Transportation and the Chairman of the Board will 
cooperate with the Council in providing research, technical, and other 
reasonable support. To the extent the Council addresses specific grain 
car issues, it will coordinate its activities with the National Grain 
Car Council. The Council must also prepare an annual report concerning 
its activities and recommendations on whatever regulatory or 
legislative relief it considers appropriate. The Council is not subject 
to the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
    Suggestions for candidates for membership on the Council and 
supporting information must be submitted to the Board by February 13, 
1996. Suggestions for members of the Council should be submitted in 
letter form, identifying the name of the candidate and including 
evidence of the interests the candidate will represent. Council members 
must be citizens of the United States and represent as broadly as 
practicable the various segments of the railroad and rail shipper 
industries. They may not be full-time employees of the United States. 
The Council will consist of 19 members. Of this number, 15 members will 
be appointed by the Chairman of the Board, and the remaining four 
members will be comprised of the Secretary of Transportation and the 
Members of the Board, who will serve as ex officio, nonvoting members 
of the Council. Of the 15 members to be appointed, nine members will be 
the voting members of the Council and be appointed from senior 
executive officers of organizations engaged in the railroad and rail 
shipping industries. At least four of the voting members must be 
representatives of small shippers as determined by the Chairman, and at 
least four of the voting members must be representatives of Class II or 
III railroads. The remaining six Council members to be appointed--three 
representing Class I railroads and three representing large shipper 
organizations--will serve in a nonvoting advisory capacity, but will be 
entitled to participate in Council deliberations.
    The members of the Council will be appointed for a term of 3 years, 
except that of the members first appointed, five members will be 
appointed for terms of 1 year, and five members will be appointed for 
terms of 2 years, as designated by the Chairman at the time of 
appointment. A member may serve after the expiration of his or her term 
until a successor has taken office. No member will be eligible to serve 
in excess of two consecutive terms.
    The Council will meet at least semi-annually and hold other 
meetings at the call of the Council Chairman. Federal facilities, where 
available, may be used for such meetings. The members of the Council 
shall receive no compensation for their services and, with regard to 
the availability of funding from the Board for support, the members 
will be required to provide for the expenses incidental to their 
service, including travel expenses, as the Board has limited 
appropriations and cannot at this time provide for these expenses. The 
Council Chairman, however, may request funding from the Department of 
Transportation to cover travel expenses, subject to certain 
restrictions in the Act. The Council also may solicit and use private 
funding for its activities, again subject to certain restrictions in 
the Act.


    Decided: January 23, 1996.

    By the Board, Linda J. Morgan, Chairman.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-1537 Filed 1-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P