03-7752. Rail Rate Challenges in Small Cases

AGENCY:

Surface Transportation Board, DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of public hearing.

SUMMARY:

The Surface Transportation Board (Board) will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, April 16, 2003, at its offices in Washington, DC, to provide interested persons an opportunity to express their views on the subject of Board processing of rail rate challenges that are not suitable for handling under the Board's constrained market pricing procedures. Persons wishing to speak at the hearing should notify the Board in writing.

DATES:

The public hearing will take place on Wednesday, April 16, 2003. Any person wishing to speak at the hearing should file with the Board a written notice of intent to participate, and should indicate a requested time allotment, as soon as possible but no later than April 8, 2003. Each speaker should also file with the Board his/her written testimony by April 11, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

An original and 10 copies of all notices of intent to participate and testimony should refer to STB Ex Parte No. 646, and should be sent to: Surface Transportation Board, Attn: STB Ex Parte No. 646, 1925 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20423-0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Beryl Gordon, [phone]. [Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) (Hearing Impaired): [phone].]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Board will hold a public hearing to provide a forum for the expression of views by rail shippers, railroads, and other interested persons, regarding rail rate challenges in small cases to be considered by the Board. This hearing will provide a forum for the oral discussion of any proposals that interested persons might wish to offer for handling small cases involving a challenge to the reasonableness of rates charged by a rail carrier. The Board is also interested in participants' views on how small rate cases should be defined or identified.

Date of Hearing

The hearing will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 16, 2003, in the 7th floor hearing room at the Board's headquarters in Washington, DC, and will continue, with short breaks if necessary, until every person scheduled to speak has been heard.

Notice of Intent To Participate

Any person wishing to speak at the hearing should file with the Board a written notice of intent to participate, and should indicate a requested time allotment, as soon as possible but no later than April 8, 2003.

Testimony

Each speaker should file with the Board his/her written testimony by April 11, 2003.

Paper Copies

Each person intending to speak at the hearing should submit an original and 10 paper copies of his/her notice of intent to participate (as soon as possible but no later than April 8, 2003) and testimony (by April 11, 2003).

Board Releases Available via the Internet

Decisions and notices of the Board, including this notice, are available on 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.

Dated: March 26, 2003.

Vernon A. Williams,

Secretary.