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SURFACE
TRANSPORTATION BOARD 1925 K Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20423-0001 Phone: (202)565-1500 |
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 400 Seventh Street, S.W. Washington, DC 20590 Phone: (202) 366-4000 |
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[For the Department of Transportation statement of Regulations,
Title 49, Part 1, Subpart A] organization, see the Code of Federal Regulations
The Surface Transportation Board (Board) was established on
January 1, 1996 as a decisionally independent, bipartisan, adjudicatory body
organizationally housed within the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), with
jurisdiction over certain surface transportation economic regulatory matters. It was
created by a December 29, 1995 Act of Congress (49 U.S.C. 10101 et seq.) known as
the ICC Termination Act of 1995 (ICCTA). The ICCTA terminated the Interstate Commerce
Commission (ICC) effective December 31, 1995; eliminated various functions previously
performed by the ICC; transferred licensing and certain non-licensing motor carrier
functions to the Federal Highway Administration within DOT; and transferred remaining rail
and non-rail functions to the Board. Passage of this legislation represented a further
step in the process of streamlining and reforming the Federal economic regulatory
oversight of the railroad, trucking, and bus industries that was initiated in the late
1970's and early 1980's.
The Board adjudicates disputes and regulates interstate surface transportation through
various laws pertaining to the different modes of surface transportation. In this regard,
the Board's general responsibilities include the oversight of firms engaged in
transportation in interstate and in foreign commerce to the extent that it takes place
within the United States, or between or among points in the contiguous United States and
points in Alaska, Hawaii, or U.S. territories or possessions. Surface transportation
matters under the Board's jurisdiction in general include railroad rate and service
issues, rail restructuring transactions (mergers, line sales, line construction, and line
abandonments) and labor matters related thereto; certain trucking company, moving van, and
non-contiguous ocean shipping company rate matters; certain intercity passenger bus
company structure, financial, and operational matters; and certain pipeline matters not
regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
The Board is headed by Board Members appointed by the President and confirmed by the
Senate. The Board is authorized to have three members, each with a five-year term of
office. The Board's Chairman is designated by the President from among the Members.
In the performance of its functions, the Board is charged with promoting, where
appropriate, substantive and procedural regulatory reform in the economic regulation of
surface transportation, and with providing an efficient and effective forum for the
resolution of disputes. Through the granting of exemptions from regulations where
warranted, the streamlining of its decisional process and the regulations applicable
thereto, and the consistent and fair application of legal and equitable principles, the
Board seeks to facilitate commerce by providing an effective forum for efficient dispute
resolution and facilitation of appropriate market-based business transactions. The Board
continues to strive to develop, through rulemakings and case disposition, new and better
ways to analyze unique and complex problems, to reach fully justified decisions more
quickly, to reduce the costs associated with regulatory oversight, and to encourage
private-sector negotiations and resolutions to problems where appropriate.
Public Records. Requests for access to
public records should be made to the
Office of the Secretary
Suite 700
Surface Transportation Board
1925 K St N.W.
Washington, DC 20423-0001
Phone: (202) 565-1674.
Public Assistance. Requests for public
assistance with pending or potential proceedings should be addressed to:
Office of Congressional and Public Services
Suite 840
Surface Transportation Board
1925 K St. N.W.
Washington, DC 20423-0001
(202) 565-1592.
For further information, contact:
Office of Congressional and External Affairs
Suite 840
Surface Transportation Board
1925 K St. N.W., Washington, DC 20423-0001
(202) 565-1594.
ICC Termination Act of 1995
Rail Regulation
(all administered by STB):
ICC Termination Act of 1995
Rail Regulation:
Tariffs.
Rate investigation and suspension process.
ZORF (Zone of rate freedom).
Minimum rate regulation.
Contract rate regulation for non-agricultural commodities, including:
Filing requirements.
Percentage limitations on equipment commitments.
Complaint and matching rights.
Joint rate surcharge and cancellation supervision.
Recyclables special rate standards.
Labor protection for:
Class III carriers.
Noncarrier line acquisitions.
Feeder line cases.
Intermodal ownership restrictions.
Commodities clause restrictions.
Interlocking officers and directors restrictions for Class III carriers.
State certification and regulatory authority.
Securities issuances.
Valuation.
Passenger train discontinuances.
Motor Carrier Regulation:
Licensing - need-based criteria (except for certain subsidized passenger carriers)
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permanent license (must now be renewed).
Contract carriage - limitations and restrictions removed.
Control and transfer transactions for trucking companies.
Collective activity - permanent approval (must now be renewed).
Tariff filing (except for noncontiguous domestic trade).
Rate regulation (except for residential household goods moves, noncontiguous domestic
trade, and collectively-set rates). Undercharges - Sept.30, 199O cut-off for unreasonable
practice provision.
Informal dispute resolution in the following areas:
Owner-operator leasing.
Lumping.
Loss and damage claims.
Duplicate payments and overcharges.
Household goods and auto-driveaway carriers.
Intercity bus route discontinuances.
Intrastate preemption -- Sunset date for Hawaii intrastate regulation.
Regulation of Domestic Water Carriage:
All regulation, except for noncontiguous domestic trade.
(Residual jurisdiction retained for preemption purposes.)
Regulation of Pipelines:
Tariff filing.
Rate investigation and suspension process.
Organizational:
Interstate Commerce Commission
Joint Boards
Rail Services Planning Office
Rail Public Counsel
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