STB extends deadline for additional feedback on proposed reciprocal switching rule

The Surface Transportation Board is extending the deadline for industry stakeholders to reply to feedback that the board received on its proposed rule for reciprocal switching.

Industry stakeholders can now take until Dec. 20 to respond to comments given by other stakeholders on the board’s notice for proposed rulemaking on reciprocal switching, which STB describes as a potential remedy to address poor rail service. STB extended the deadline by 14 days; the original deadline was Dec. 6. Meetings that stakeholders can conduct with the board will also be extended through Nov. 30. 

A group of rail shippers had approached the board last Thursday — with support from the Class I railroads — and asked for extending the reply deadline in light of all the comments that STB received on its proposal for reciprocal switching.

“The volume of comments submitted by the Railroads and other stakeholders is substantial. Stakeholders have submitted thousands of pages of documents in the opening round of comments that must be reviewed and considered by all interested parties, including the Board,” said attorneys representing the American Chemistry Council, The Fertilizer Institute and the National Industrial Transportation League (NITL). “A sufficient amount of time to respond to these opening comments is necessary to develop a record that will allow the Board to make a sound, informed decision.”