STB – Page 11 – Railfanning.org

STB to Discuss Christensen Study

October 24, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board will hold a public meeting Nov. 6 to discuss the independent study by Christensen Associates assessing the current state of competition in the freight railroad industry in the United States. The Board also announced that the Christensen study will be released to the public, via the Board’s website at www.stb.dot.gov, prior to the public meeting. At the meeting, the Board will discuss the study’s findings with Christensen researchers. While the public is invited to attend the meeting, they will not be permitted to testify, the STB said. The study was undertaken pursuant to a

CN Urges STB Approval of EJ&E Acquisition, Cites Overall Benefit to Chicago Region

October 1, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Canadian National is urging the Surface Transportation Board to promptly approve its proposed acquisition of the principal lines of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Co., pointing to planned mitigation efforts and the significant economic and environmental benefits to the overall Chicago region. CN’s said its supporting facts and conclusions are contained in comments filed regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the transaction issued on July 25, 2008, by the Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) of the STB. “Our filing underscores three important facts,” said CN President and Chief Executive Officer E. Hunter Harrison. “First, none of

STB Approves CP’s DM&E Purchase

September 30, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board approved Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s plan to buy the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad Corporation and its subsidiaries: Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad and Cedar American Rail Holdings. The official effective date of the final decision is Oct. 30. “The DM&E is an excellent fit for Canadian Pacific making this a strategic end-to-end addition to our network,” said Fred Green, President and Chief Executive Officer of CP. “This is also a positive development for CP, DM&E and IC&E customers. CP customers will have direct single line access to the Midwest US markets and the

House Approves Rail Safety Bill; Billions to go to Passenger Rail

September 27, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives has approved legislation that proponents say will improve the Nation’s intercity passenger rail system and the safety of the nation’s railroads. The Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 and the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 will increase funding for Amtrak over the next five years, require new safety controls on trains that help reduce crashes, allow states to regulate solid waste processing facilities along rail lines and allocate funding for improvements to Washington’s Metro transit system. The legislation sets “an aggressive deadline” of 2015 for implementation of positive train control (PTC)

STB’s Buttrey Leaving Government

August 29, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Surface Transportation Board Commissioner W. Douglas Buttrey announced that he plans to leave government service upon the completion of the Board’s work on several pending matters. Buttrey was nominated to serve on the Board by President George W. Bush on Nov. 17, 2003, for a five-year term expiring Dec. 31. He served as the agency’s Chairman from Jan. 5, 2006 until Aug. 14, 2006. Pursuant to the Board’s governing statute, a Board Member may continue to serve for up to one year after the termination of the Member’s term, unless a successor is appointed. Buttrey stated, in a

STB to Hold Public Hearing

August 1, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board announced that it will hold a public field hearing on Aug. 21, 2008, in Eugene, Ore., to hear public testimony related to two railroad proceedings currently before the Board. One proceeding involves an application by the Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad Inc. to abandon and discontinue railroad service over portions of a railroad line known as the Coos Bay Subdivision. The other proceeding concerns a separate application by the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay that instead would force CORP to sell those same portions of the line, as well as an additional line

Congressional Leaders Introduce Bill Directing STB to Consider Public Interest in Proposed Rail Transactions

August 1, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board (STB) would be required to take into account the safety and environmental effects on local communities when considering a merger or acquisition proposal by a railroad, under legislation introduced last night by Rep. James L. Oberstar, D-Minn., Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The Taking Responsible Action for Community Safety Act clarifies that, prior to approval of a merger or acquisition proposal by a Class I railroad of a Class II or Class III railroad, the STB must consider factors such as public safety, emergency response time, and noise impacts. The legislation

STB Announcers Hearing’s Speakers

July 16, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has provided a schedule of speakers appearances and their time allocations for the Board’s July 22, 2008 public hearing for the proceeding entitled, Common Carrier Obligation of Railroads—Transportation of Hazardous Materials, STB Ex Parte No. 677. The Tuesday, July 22 hearing will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the Board’s Hearing Room on the 1st Floor of the agency’s headquarters at Patriots Plaza, 395 E St., S.W., in Washington. The Board initially announced the public hearing in STB Ex Parte No. 677 (Sub-No. 1), in a decision issued to the public on June 4, 2008

STB Denies Nev.’s Request to Halt DOE Project

June 30, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has denied a request by the State of Nevada to reject the application of the United States Department of Energy for authority to construct and operate an approximately 300-mile railroad line in Nevada, in the Board proceeding entitled United States Department of Energy — Rail Construction and Operation — Caliente Rail Line in Lincoln, Nye, and Esmeralda counties. The Board found that DOE’s application was sufficiently complete for this stage of the proceeding. The proposed rail line, to be known as the Caliente Line, would connect an existing line near Caliente, Nev., to a

STB Reschedules Hazardous Materials Hearing

June 19, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board announced that it has rescheduled — to July 22 — its public hearing examining issues related to the common carrier obligation of railroads (the duty of railroads to provide transportation or service on reasonable request) relative to the transportation of hazardous materials. Notices of intent to participate, speakers’ written testimonies, and written submissions by interested persons not wishing to appear at the hearing are now due no later than July 8. The Board originally had scheduled the hearing for July 16 with submissions by hearing participants and by interested persons not wishing to appear