-----------------------------***----------------------------- >From the Surface Transportation Board, Washington, D.C. -----------------------------***----------------------------- The Surface Transportation Board (Board) today issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) seeking public comment on a proposal to require railroads to include a disclosure statement in any document they consider to be a rail transportation contract under 49 U.S.C. 10709. After reviewing comments on an earlier proposal, contained in its March 29, 2007 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the proceeding entitled Interpretation of the Term “Contract” in 49 U.S.C. 10709, STB Ex Parte No. 669, the Board decided not to attempt to define the term “contract.” Instead, the Board decided to begin a new proceeding, Rail Transportation Contracts Under 49 U.S.C. 10709, STB Ex Parte No. 676, to consider imposing a “full disclosure/informed consent requirement” on railroads’ pricing practices. The Board welcomes comments on the proposal and suggestions from parties as to what specific language should be included in the disclosure statement. Comments on the ANPR are due on or before May 12, 2008. The Board’s combined decision issued today in Interpretation of the Term “Contract” in 49 U.S.C. 10709, STB Ex Parte No. 669, and Rail Transportation Contracts Under 49 U.S.C. 10709, STB Ex Parte No. 676( http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/WebDecisionID/38557?OpenDocument ) , is available for viewing and downloading via the Board's Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov, under "E-Library," then under "Decisions & Notices," beneath the date "3/12/08.” A printed copy of the Board'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. ### -----------------------------***----------------------------- 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.
