SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD TO REDUCE FILING FEES

[STBNews@xxxxxxxxxxx]

-----------------------------***-----------------------------
>From the Surface Transportation Board, Washington, D.C.
-----------------------------***-----------------------------


The Surface Transportation Board today moved to significantly reduce filing
fees for shipper complaints to $350. Currently, shippers are charged as
much as $20,600 to file a complaint.

                The proposed rulemaking, approved by the Board  today,
                would implement a new fee schedule that would charge
                shippers $350 to file a rate or unreasonable practice
                complaint.  The fee to file an expedited small rate case
                would remain $150.

                âCharging a small business more than $20,000 to bring a
                complaint is not right,ââ said STB Chairman Daniel R.
                Elliott III. âI am afraid that some meritorious cases were
                discouraged by the high filing fees.â

                Elliott said that while the new fee structure would make it
                easier to file formal cases at the STB, he hopes that
                shippers would first avail themselves of the agencyâs free
                informal mediation service, called the Rail Customer and
                Public Assistance Program. The Board also offers a
                successful program of formal mediation as well.

                The decision in Docket No. EP 542 (Sub-No.
                18)( http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/WebDecisionID/41377?OpenDocument )

                 can be found at www.stb.dot.gov.
                 -----------------------------***-----------------------------

                 If you have received this e-mail in error or wish to
                 unsubscribe from STB News, please send an e-mail message
                 to stbnewslistserver@xxxxxxxxxxx and place "unsubscribe
                 stbnews" as the body of the message.