FOR RELEASE	Contact: Dennis Watson
03/12/2001 (Monday)	(202) 565-1596
No. 01-10	FIRS 1 (800) 877-8339
	www.stb.gov

Surface Transportation Board Issues Procedures to Govern Filing of Evidence in Stand-Alone Cost Rail Rate Cases

Surface Transportation Board (Board) Chairman Linda J. Morgan announced today that the Board has developed procedures that parties should follow in presenting evidence to the Board in large railroad rate-complaint cases in which the "stand-alone cost" (SAC) test is used.

In recent months, several new rate complaints have been filed with the Board challenging the reasonableness of rail rates charged for transporting large volumes of coal. Generally, such cases are evaluated using the SAC test developed in Coal Rate Guidelines, Nationwide, 1 I.C.C.2d 520 (1985). The SAC analysis is time-consuming and labor-intensive for parties and the Board. Thus, to process such cases more efficiently, the Board has developed procedural guidelines to govern the submission of evidence. The guidelines are designed to standardize the format for submitting written presentations, workpapers and electronic spreadsheets, and better focus the evidence so that the Board can more efficiently and effectively evaluate the public records in SAC rate cases.

The Board issued its decision today in General Procedures for Presenting Evidence in Stand-Alone Cost Rate Cases, STB Ex Parte No. 347 (Sub-No. 3). The decision is available for a fee by contacting D~-To-D~ Office Solutions, Room 405, 1925 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006, telephone (202) 466-5530. The decision also is available for viewing and downloading via the Board's Website at www.stb.dot.gov.

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