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>From the Surface Transportation Board, Washington, D.C.
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The Surface Transportation Board (Board) today announced that it has
adopted its 2009 User Fee Update Schedule ("2009 Update") setting forth
updated fees for each of the types of proceedings that can be filed with
the agency. The changes in the 2009 Update—to become effective June 4,
2009—primarily are designed to offset increased Board expenses, including
increased overhead costs. The 2009 Update complies with the Congressional
directive that the Board assess fees to cover a portion of its budget. It
also complies with the statutory requirement that the agency conduct a
proceeding annually to update its user fee schedule to reflect the cost of
the services it provides.
Fee increases in the 2009 Update generally were derived from the formula
adopted by the Board (following public notice and comment) in the
proceeding entitled Regulations Governing Fees for Services—1987 Update, 4
I.C.C.2d 137 (1987). The 2009 Update maintains user fees for
rate-complaint cases at a level no higher than the filing fee for a
federal lawsuit ($350 per complaint filing) pursuant to a Congressional
mandate. In adopting the 2009 Update, the Board reiterated that the
regulations provide for the waiver of a fee for any entity demonstrating
that payment of such a fee will present a financial hardship.
The Board issued its 2009 Update in the proceeding entitled Regulations
Governing Fees for Services Performed in Connection with Licensing and
Related Services—2009 Update, STB Ex Parte No. 542 (Sub-No. 16)(
http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/WebDecisionID/39783?OpenDocument
)
. That decision is available for viewing and downloading via the STB's
Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov, under "E-LIBRARY," then under "
Decisions & Notices," beneath the date "05/05/2009."
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