SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD TO HOLD HEARING ON RAIL COMPETITION

[STBNews@xxxxxxxxxxx]

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>From the Surface Transportation Board, Washington, D.C.
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The Surface Transportation Board announced today a public hearing on May 3
to explore the current state of competition in the railroad industry and
possible policy initiatives to promote more rail-to-rail competition.

           âI said last year that it was time for the Board to revisit the
           current rail regulatory framework and that is what we are
           doing,â said Board Chairman Daniel R. Elliott III. âWe need to
           strike a balance between providing access to competitive rail
           transportation for shippers while maintaining the rail
           industryâs impressive economic renaissance.â

           The hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m., in the Surface
           Transportation Board Hearing Room, at 395 E Street, SW in
           Washington. Written comments are due by February 18, and replies
           are due by March 18. Parties wishing to speak at the hearing
           must file a notice of intent to participate and written
           testimony by April 4.


           The Board's notice announcing the May 3 hearing was issued to
           the public today in the proceeding entitled Competition in the
           Railroad Industry, Docket No. EP 705
           ( http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/WebDecisionID/41166?OpenDocument )

           .  That notice will be published in the Federal Register and is
           available for viewing and downloading on the agency's website,
           www.stb.dot.gov.  The website will also have live video of the
           public hearing.
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