FOR RELEASE
Contact:
Janie Sheng (202) 245-0221
03/12/2008 (Wednesday)
No. 08-07
FedRelay 1 (800) 877-8339
www.stb.gov
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD SEEKS COMMENT ON PROPOSAL TO REQUIRE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT IN DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED RAIL TRANSPORTATION CONTRACTS
The Surface Transportation Board (Board) today issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) seeking public comment on a proposal to require railroads to include a disclosure statement in any document they consider to be a rail transportation contract under 49 U.S.C. 10709.
After reviewing comments on an earlier proposal, contained in its March 29, 2007 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the proceeding entitled
Interpretation of the Term “Contract” in 49 U.S.C. 10709
, STB Ex Parte No. 669, the Board decided not to attempt to define the term “contract.” Instead, the Board decided to begin a new proceeding,
Rail Transportation Contracts Under 49 U.S.C. 10709
, STB Ex Parte No. 676, to consider imposing a “full disclosure/informed consent requirement” on railroads’ pricing practices. The Board welcomes comments on the proposal and suggestions from parties as to what specific language should be included in the disclosure statement.
Comments on the ANPR are due on or before
May 12, 2008
. The Board’s combined decision issued today in
Interpretation of the Term “Contract
”
in 49 U.S.C. 10709
, STB Ex Parte No. 669, and
Rail Transportation Contracts Under 49 U.S.C. 10709, STB Ex Parte No. 676
, is available for viewing and downloading via the Board's Web site at
http://www.stb.dot.gov
, under "E-Library," then under "Decisions & Notices," beneath the date "3/12/08.” A printed copy of the Board's decision also is available for a fee by contacting
ASAP Document Solutions, 9332 Annapolis Rd., Suite 103, Lanham, MD 20706, telephone (202) 306-4004 or via
asapdc@verizon
.
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