FOR RELEASE	Contact: Dennis Watson
03/27/2003 (Thursday)	(202) 565-1596
No. 03-14	FIRS 1 (800) 877-8339
	www.stb.gov

Public & Media Advisory: Surface Transportation Board To Hold April 16 Public Hearing On Challenges To Rail Rates In Small Cases

Surface Transportation Board (Board) Chairman Roger Nober today announced that the Board will hold a public hearing on April 16, 2003, at its offices in Washington, D.C., to provide a forum for the expression of views by interested persons concerning the Board's processing of railroad rate challenges in small cases that are not suitable for handling under the Board's constrained market pricing procedures.

The Board will hold the public hearing in the case entitled Rail Rate Challenges in Small Cases, STB Ex Parte 646, to provide a forum for rail shippers, railroads, and other interested persons to offer proposals for handling small cases involving challenges to the reasonableness of rates charged by a railroad.

Parties interested in participating in this hearing should file with the Board a written notice of intent to participate no later than April 8, 2003.

The public hearing will begin at 10:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 16, in Room 760, the Board's hearing room, on the 7th Floor at the agency's headquarters in the Mercury Building, 1925 K Street, N.W. (on the northeast corner of the intersection of 20th and K Sts.), Washington, D.C. Forthcoming official public notices and Board news releases will advise of procedures for official participation, a hearing agenda, attendance instructions, and other related matters.

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