-----------------------------***----------------------------- >From the Surface Transportation Board, Washington, D.C. -----------------------------***----------------------------- Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Charles D. Nottingham today announced the STB’s establishment of a Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee (RETAC) to provide advice and guidance to the agency, and to serve as a forum for the discussion of emerging issues, regarding the railroad transportation of energy resources, particularly, but not limited to, coal and ethanol and other biofuels. The STB also is requesting public suggestions for candidates for RETAC membership. The STB is establishing RETAC to provide independent, candid policy advice to the agency and to foster open, effective communication among affected interests on issues such as rail performance, capacity constraints, infrastructure planning and development, and effective coordination among suppliers, railroads and energy-resource users. RETAC will function solely as an advisory body, and will comply with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and its implementing regulations. RETAC’s membership shall be allocated among affected interests as specified in the committee’s charter, which is appended to the Board’s decision. Suggestions for membership should be submitted to the STB in letter form, identifying the candidate’s name, evidence of the interests the candidate will represent, and a representation that the candidate is willing to serve a two-year term as an RETAC member. Suggestions may be submitted in electronic form according to the “E-Filing” link on the home page of the STB’s Web site at . Persons submitting suggestions on paper should send an original and 10 copies to: Attn: STB Ex Parte No. 670 Surface Transportation Board 393 E Street, S.W. Washington, DC 20423-0001 Further information may be obtained by contacting Scott M. Zimmerman, Acting Director of the STB’s Office of Congressional and Public Services and the agency’s liaison to the RETAC, at (202) 245-0202. The STB’s decision in Establishment of a Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee, STB Ex Parte No. 670, which includes the RETAC charter as an appendix, is available for viewing and downloading via the STB’s Web site at , under “E-Library,” then under “Decisions & Notices,” beneath the date “7/17/07.” 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@xxxxxxxxxxx . -----------------------------***----------------------------- If you have received this e-mail in error or wish to unsubscribe from STB News, please send an e-mail message to stbnewslistserver@xxxxxxxxxxx and place "unsubscribe stbnews" as the body of the message.
