E9-3107. Notice of Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting

AGENCY:

Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION:

Notice of Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee meeting.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee (RETAC), pursuant to section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C., App. 2).

DATES:

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 4, 2009, beginning at 9 a.m., E.S.T.

ADDRESSES:

The meeting will be held in the Hearing Room on the first floor of the Surface Transportation Board's headquarters at Patriot's Plaza, 395 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Scott M. Zimmerman [phone]. [Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at: [phone].]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

RETAC arose from a proceeding instituted by the Board, in Establishment of a Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee, STB Ex Parte No. 670. RETAC was formed to provide advice and guidance to the Board, and to serve as a forum for discussion of emerging issues regarding the transportation by rail of energy resources, particularly, but not necessarily limited to, coal, ethanol, and other biofuels. The purpose of this meeting is to continue discussions regarding issues such as rail performance, capacity constraints, infrastructure planning and development, and effective coordination among suppliers, carriers, and users of energy resources. The Committee will hear reports from the four RETAC subcommittees (Best Practices, Capacity Planning, Communication, and Performance Measures), review a draft white paper prepared by the Capacity Planning subcommittee, and discuss the impacts of the economic downturn on the rail, utility and ethanol industries' short term outlook and planning.

The meeting, which is open to the public, will be conducted pursuant to RETAC's charter and Board procedures. Further communications about this meeting may be announced through the Board's Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov.

This action will not significantly affect either the quality of the human environment or the conservation of energy resources.

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 721, 49 U.S.C. 11101; 49 U.S.C. 11121.

Decided: February 10, 2009.

By the Board.

Anne K. Quinlan,

Acting Secretary.

Jeffrey Herzig,

Clearance Clerk.