FOR RELEASE
Contact: Dennis Watson (202) 245-0234
06/30/2017 (Friday)
Michael Higgins (202) 245-0238
No. 17-9


FedRelay 1 (800) 877-8339
www.stb.gov
STB MODERNIZES RULES FOR PUBLICATION OF RATE AND SERVICE INFORMATION FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND FERTILIZER


The Surface Transportation Board announced today that it is updating its regulations for Class I railroads to publish common carrier pricing and service terms for shipping agricultural products and fertilizer.

Under the ICC Termination Act of 1995, Congress eliminated tariff requirements applicable to railroads but imposed a requirement that railroads make available to the public their common carrier pricing and service terms for agricultural products and fertilizer. Today’s final rule modernizes the way that Class I railroads comply with this requirement so that Class I carriers will publish their pricing and service terms on their websites. This change reflects the fact that Class I railroads often use company websites or other applications to disseminate information to customers and the general public.

Under the final rule, the published information must be broadly available without charge to any person, regardless of whether a person is a current or potential customer or receiver of a railroad. The final rule allows railroads to implement user-registration requirements that are not unduly burdensome and that provide timely and unrestricted access to the information. Additionally, the Board encourages Class I railroads to provide, or continue to provide, online pricing portals. Persons encountering difficulty accessing the pricing and service information are encouraged to contact the STB’s Office of Public Assistance, Governmental Affairs, and Compliance. The rules do not impose any new requirements on Class II and II railroads.

The Board’s final rules in Publication Requirements for Agricultural Products, Docket No. EP 528 (Sub-No. 1), and Rail Transportation of Grain, Rate Regulation Review, Docket No. EP 665 (Sub-No. 1), may be viewed and downloaded at www.stb.gov, under "E-LIBRARY / Decisions & Notices / 06 / 30 / 17".