Source: https://www.stb.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/9855c1fb354da09b85257f1f000b5f79/3526879c2c2c2873852583ad00652aaf?OpenDocument
Timestamp: 2019-06-18 16:01:32
Document Index: 408690217

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 11708', '§ 11708', '§ 11708', '§ 1108', '§ 1108', '§ 1108']

46826 - Decision
Approximate download time at 28.8 kb: 97 Seconds
46826 SERVICE DATE – FEBRUARY 27, 2019
Under section 13 of the Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act of 2015, Pub. L. No. 114-110, 129 Stat. 2228 (2015) (STB Reauthorization Act), codified at 49 U.S.C. § 11708, Congress directed the Board to “promulgate regulations to establish a voluntary and binding arbitration process to resolve rail rate and practice complaints” that are subject to the Board’s jurisdiction. 49 U.S.C. § 11708(a). It further provided that, unless otherwise agreed to by all parties to an arbitration, such arbitrations shall be conducted by an arbitrator or panel of arbitrators selected from a roster maintained by the Board. See 49 U.S.C. § 11708(f). To conform with the STB Reauthorization Act’s requirements, the Board adopted rules modifying its arbitration procedures, including its process for creating and maintaining a roster of arbitrators. The rules provide that the Board will update the roster of arbitrators annually. 49 C.F.R. § 1108.6(b); see also Revisions to Arbitration Procedures, EP 730, slip op. at 1, 3‑4 (STB served Oct. 11, 2016).
To begin its annual update of the roster, by decision served December 6, 2018, the Board sought applications from all interested persons who wished to be considered for inclusion on the roster. The Board also requested that current arbitrators who wished to remain on the roster notify the Board of their continued availability and confirm that their biographical information on file with the Board remains accurate and, if not, provide any necessary updates. The Board received notifications of continued availability from eight current arbitrators and two applications from persons requesting to be included on the roster.[2]
The Board has assessed the applicants’ qualifications in light of the criteria set forth in § 1108.6(b). Based on this assessment, and a review of the notifications of continued availability, the Board adopts a revised roster. The Board has added the two applicants to the roster, and, where appropriate, has updated the existing arbitrators’ biographical information. Four arbitrators who did not notify the Board of their continued availability have been removed from the roster. The revised roster of arbitrators is appended to this decision.
The roster will be published on the Board’s website, pursuant to § 1108.6(b). The Board will continue to update the roster annually and may modify the roster at any time through a no‑objection vote.
· Administrator of the NGFA Arbitration System; worked to establish the NGFA Rail Arbitration Rules for arbitration of specified rail issues; represented producer and agribusiness firms in arbitration before NGFA and the American Arbitration Association; member of the arbitration panel maintained by the National Futures Association; served as a mediator in a variety of cases, including court-ordered mediation cases in Ohio; completed the London-based Grain and Feed Trade Association’s Gafta Trade Foundation Course on international grain contracts and arbitration.
· Fee: $420/hour + costs and expenses incurred in serving as an arbitrator.
[2] The initial deadline for filing applications or notifications of continued availability was January 11, 2019. However, because of the partial shutdown of the Federal government from December 22, 2018, through January 25, 2019, the Board tolled all filing deadlines and provided a new filing deadline of February 4, 2019. See Filings Submitted or Due to Be Submitted During Partial Fed. Gov’t Shutdown, EP 751, slip op. at 1 (STB served Jan. 28, 2019). One of the two applications was filed late on February 19, 2019, but because there is no indication that the late-filed application will prejudice any party, it will be accepted.