Action
Notice of proposed rulemaking; date and location of public hearing; extension of comment period.
Summary
By notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published on December 31, 1998 (63 FR 72225), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) proposed a joint rule establishing procedures for developing and implementing safety integration plans by railroads proposing to engage in certain specified merger, consolidation, or acquisition of control transactions with another railroad. In that notice, the agencies announced that they did not intend to convene a public hearing on the rulemaking action, but invited interested persons to request a public hearing to enable them to comment on issues addressed in the NPRM. One commenter timely filed a request for a public hearing, and pursuant to that request, FRA and the Board have agreed to convene a public hearing as an opportunity for oral comment. Consistent with this decision, FRA and the STB also will extend the comment period to the date of the public hearing to solicit additional written comments on the respective proposed rules. The agencies request interested persons not to re-submit comments or arguments advanced during the first comment period.