FOR RELEASE
Contact: Janie Sheng (202) 245-0221
10/27/2006 (Friday)
No. 06-17


FedRelay 1 (800) 877-8339
www.stb.gov



PUBLIC & MEDIA ADVISORY: SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD PROVIDES SCHEDULE OF SPEAKERS' APPEARANCES FOR NOVEMBER 2 PUBLIC HEARING ON CERTAIN ISSUES RELATED TO RAIL TRANSPORTATION OF GRAIN


The Surface Transportation Board today provided a schedule of speakers' appearances and their time allocations for the STB's November 2, 2006 public hearing in the proceeding entitled Rail Transportation of Grain, STB Ex Parte No. 665.


The Thursday, November 2 hearing will begin at 10:00 a.m. in Room 760, the STB's hearing room, on the 7th Floor of the agency's headquarters in the Mercury Building, 1925 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.


The STB announced the public hearing in a decision issued to the public on October 11, 2006. That decision established due dates for those wishing to speak at the hearing to advise the agency of their intent to participate, to request a time allotment, and to submit summaries of written testimony and other written comments. Based on submissions received, the STB has set the hearing's schedule of speakers as shown on the Attachment to this news release. Written testimony and written comments are due on October 30, 2006.


Attendance instructions. The STB requests that all persons attending the hearing use the Mercury Building's main entrance at 1925 K Street (on the northeast corner of the intersection of 20th and K Streets). There will be no reserved seating. Please plan to arrive early enough to be seated no later than 9:45 a.m. For security reasons, all persons should be prepared to produce photo identification (such as a driver's license), pass through a metal detector, and submit to an inspection of all briefcases, handbags, and any other bags. Visitors must be cleared through security in the STB's Suite 100 (on the 1st Floor, at the top of the ramp to the left of the main lobby).


Quiet laptops and tape recorders may be brought into the hearing room, but absolutely no provision will be made for the connection of personal computers to agency telephone lines. Cellular telephone use is not permitted in the hearing room, or in the anteroom; cell phones may be used only outside the hearing room.


The STB's hearing room complies with the Americans With Disabilities Act, and persons needing such accommodations should telephone (202) 565-1500, or (202) 565-1653, by the close of business on October 30, 2006.


As the STB Members will have read written submissions in advance of the hearing, speakers should not read those submissions at the hearing but, instead, briefly summarize key points. If a party wishes to enhance its presentation by using projector-adaptable visual displays and/or handouts, it may do so. Agency staff will be available to demonstrate the hearing room's projection system on October 31, 2006, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Please telephone (202) 565-1500, or (202) 565-1653, to make arrangements.


The schedule of speakers' appearances and time allocations was provided in a decision issued to the public today, October 27, 2006, in STB Ex Parte No. 665. That decision is available for viewing and downloading via the agency's Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov. A printed copy of the agency'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.net.


A video broadcast of the hearing will be accessible via the STB's Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov, under "Information Center"/"Webcast"/"Live Video" on the home page.


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ATTACHMENT
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Attachment

Surface Transportation Board Public Hearing
RAIL TRANSPORTATION OF GRAIN, STB Ex Parte No. 665
November 2, 2006

SCHEDULE OF APPEARANCES
Party / Speaker / Time Allotted


Party

Panel I: Government

United States Department of Agriculture
The Honorable Bruce I. Knight, Under Secretary, Marketing and Regulatory Programs
10 minutes


Panel II A: Shippers/Trade Associations

National Grain & Feed Association
Kendell W. Keith and/or Dan Mack
Andrew P. Goldstein (Legal Counsel)
15 minutes

Wheat & Barley Commissions
Terry C. Whiteside
15 minutes

National Barley Growers Association
Evan Hayes
10 minutes

U.S. Dry Bean Council
Steve Brown
10 minutes

National Association of Wheat Growers
Dale Schuler
10 minutes


Panel II B: Shippers/Trade Associations

Alliance for Rail Competition
Michael W. Snovitch
10 minutes

Ag Processing Inc.
Terry J. Voss
5 minutes

Bunge North America
Darrell R. Wallace
5 minutes

The Scoular Company
Randal I. Linville
5 minutes


Panel III:

Government Accountability Office
JayEtta Z. Hecker, Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues
15 minutes


Panel IV: Labor

United Transportation Union-General Committee of Adjustment
Gordon P. MacDougal
3 minutes


Panel V: Railroads

BNSF Railway Company
Kevin D. Kaufman
15 minutes

Canadian National Railway Company
Jean-Jacques Ruest
10 minutes

Canadian Pacific Railway Company
Judy Harrower
10 minutes

Union Pacific Railroad Company
Douglas Martin
10 minutes