FOR RELEASE
Contact: Janie Sheng (202) 245-0221
06/18/2008 (Wednesday)
No. 08-19


FedRelay 1 (800) 877-8339
www.stb.gov
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD ADOPTS ANNUAL REVISIONS TO ITS USER FEES


The Surface Transportation Board (Board) announced today it has adopted its 2008 User Fee Update Schedule (2008 Update) for the processing of various transportation financial transactions and other types of proceedings filed with the agency. The changes in the 2008 Update—to become effective July 18, 2008—primarily are designed to offset Board expenses and to reflect changes to agency overhead costs. The 2008 Update complies with the Congressional directive that the Board assess fees to cover a portion of its budget and with the statutory requirement that the agency conduct a proceeding annually to update its user fee schedule to reflect the cost of the services it provides.


Fee increases in the 2008 Update generally were derived from the formula adopted by the Board (following public notice and comment) in the proceeding entitled Regulations Governing Fees for Services—1987 Update, 4 I.C.C.2d 137 (1987). In addition, the Board's fee update decision complies with the Congressional directive to maintain user fees for rate complaint cases at a level no higher than the filing fee for a federal lawsuit ($350 per complaint filing). In adopting the 2008 Update, the Board reiterated that the regulations provide for the waiver of a fee for any entity demonstrating that payment of such a fee will present a financial hardship.


The Board made its 2008 Update in the proceeding entitled Regulations Governing Fees for Services Performed in Connection with Licensing and Related Services—2008 Update, STB Ex Parte No. 542 (Sub-No. 15). That decision is available for viewing and downloading via the STB's Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov, under "E-Library," then under "Decisions & Notices," beneath the date "6/18/2008."


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