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The United States Government Manual
Surface Transportation Board
395 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20423
202-245-0245
http://www.stb.gov/stb/index.html
Board
| CHAIR | Ann D. Begeman, Acting |
| Vice Chair | Debra L. Miller |
| Member | (vacancy) |
| Member | (vacancy) |
| Member | (vacancy) |
Directors
| Office of Economics | William J. Brennan |
| Office of Environmental Analysis | Victoria J. Rutson |
| Office of Proceedings | Scott Zimmerman, Acting |
| Office of Public Assistance, Governmental Affairs, and Compliance | Lucille L. Marvin |
| Office of the General Counsel | Craig Keats |
| Office of the Managing Director | Rachel D. Campbell, Acting |
The above list of key personnel was updated 2–2018.
The Surface Transportation Board adjudicates and resolves railroad rate and service disputes and reviews proposals for railroad mergers.
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is the successor agency to the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), which was created in 1887. The ICC Termination Act of 1995 established the STB as an independent adjudicatory body within the Department of Transportation. It remained administratively aligned with the Department for nearly two decades. On December 18, 2015, the Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act of 2015 established the STB as a wholly independent Federal agency (49 USC 1301 et seq.).
https://www.stb.gov/stb/about/overview.htmlThe STB comprises five members whom the President appoints and the Senate confirms for 5-year terms. The President also designates one of the members to serve as the Board's chair.
https://www.stb.gov/stb/about/board.htmlActivities
The STB adjudicates disputes and regulates interstate surface transportation through various laws governing the different modes of surface transportation. Its general responsibilities include the oversight of firms engaged in interstate and foreign commercial transportation—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. The STB’s jurisdiction generally extends over railroad rate and service issues, rail restructuring transactions, including mergers and line abandonments, construction, and sales, and labor matters related thereto; some moving van, trucking, and noncontiguous ocean shipping company rate matters; some intercity passenger bus company financial, operational, and structural matters; and pipeline matters that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission does not regulate.
The STB promotes substantive and procedural regulatory reform, provides a forum for the resolution of disputes, and facilitates appropriate market-based business transactions. Through rulemakings and case disposition, it develops improved and efficient ways of analyzing problems, reducing costs associated with regulatory oversight, and encouraging private sector negotiations and resolutions.
Sources of Information
Annual Reports
The STB posts activity reports that it prepares for Congress every few years and annual reports on its website.
https://www.stb.gov/stb/about/annual.htmlCareer Opportunities
Current job openings are posted online.
https://www.stb.gov/stb/about/jobs.htmlIn 2017, the STB ranked 18th among 28 small Government agencies in the Partnership for Public Service's Best Places To Work Agency Rankings.
http://bestplacestowork.org/BPTW/rankings/detail/TX00Electronic Filing
As an alternative to submitting paper filings, consider filing electronically. E-filing may not be used for initial filings in a proceeding, filings requiring a fee (with the exception of recordations), and large evidentiary filings.
https://www.stb.gov/stb/efilings.nsfEnvironment
The Office of Environmental Analysis's web page features links to cases, correspondence, rules, and other resources related to environmental matters.
https://www.stb.gov/stb/environment/sea.htmlFreedom of Information Act (FOIA)
The STB website features an online form for submitting FOIA requests. Phone, 202-245-0271. Fax, 202-245-0464.
https://www.stb.gov/stb/efilings.nsf/FOIARequest?OpenForm | Email: FOIA.privacy@stb.govFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The STB posts answers to FAQs on its website.
https://www.stb.gov/stb/faqs.htmlGlossary
The STB website has a glossary of terms associated with environmental issues.
https://www.stb.gov/glossary.nsf/emletterweb?OpenView&RestrictToCategory=aHistoric Preservation
The National Environmental Policy and National Historic Preservation Acts and other Federal environmental laws require the STB to consider the impact of its licensing decisions on historic properties. The Office of Environmental Analysis develops guidance that clarifies the STB's historic preservation review requirements and posts it on the STB's website.
https://www.stb.gov/stb/environment/preservation.htmlIndustry Data
The STB posts financial and statistical reports containing economic data on its website.
https://www.stb.gov/stb/industry/econ_reports.htmlRail carriers must file a summary of each contract entered into for the transportation of agricultural products. Beginning with the first quarter of 2008, filed contract summaries are available on the STB's website in Portable Document Format (PDF) and grouped by railroad.
https://www.stb.gov/econdata.nsf/8B5F6EFB897D7C2185257434003D44A2 | Email: rcpa@stb.govLibrary
The library is open to the public on weekdays, excluding Federal Holidays, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Phone, 202-245-0406.
http://www.stb.dot.gov/stb/public/inquiries_library.html | Email: rcpa@stb.govThe STB's website has an electronic library whose resources can be accessed by opening the "E–Library" drop-down menu on the home page.
https://www.stb.gov/stb/index.htmlMaps
The Railroad Map Depot features links to railroad maps. The railroad map information is based on publicly available maps and data that government agencies, railroads, and other stakeholders produce.
https://stb.maps.arcgis.com/home/index.htmlNews
The STB posts announcements and other noteworthy items on its "What's New" web page.
https://www.stb.gov/stb/news/whatsnew.htmlOrganizational Chart
An organizational chart is available in the "About STB" section of its website.
https://www.stb.gov/stb/about/orgchart.html#Publications
Consumer pamphlets are available in Portable Document Format (PDF) from the electronic library.
http://www.stb.dot.gov/stb/elibrary/epubs.htmlRailroad Rates
Experts in the Office of Economics monitor patterns of average rail rates that the Nation's railroads charge. Multiyear studies address the key factors behind rate increases and decreases and assess the effects on consumers, shippers, and the Nation as a whole. A small collection of rail rate studies in Portable Document Format (PDF) is available on the STB website.
https://www.stb.gov/stb/industry/econ_rateindex.htmlTestimony / Speeches
The Office of Public Assistance, Governmental Affairs, and Compliance posts the testimony and speeches of STB officials online.
https://www.stb.gov/stb/news/speeches_testimony.htmlFor further information, contact the Surface Transportation Board, Office of Public Assistance, Governmental Affairs, and Compliance, 395 E Street SW., Washington, DC, 20423. Phone, 202-245-0238.