STB Announced Meeting of RETAC – 3-14-13

Today the Surface Transportation Board (STB) published a meeting announcement in the Federal Register (78 FR 13156-13157) for the upcoming meeting of the Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee (RETAC). The meeting will be held in Washington, D.C. on March 14^th, 2013.

According to the notice, RETAC was formed to provide advice and guidance to the Board, and to serve as a forum for discussion of emerging issues regarding the transportation by rail of energy resources, particularly, but not necessarily limited to, coal, ethanol, and other biofuels. With the oil industry considering the use of rail transportation to move crude oil where pipelines are not yet available, transportation of crude is certain to be added to the Committees plate.

The agenda for this meeting includes:

• Rail performance;

• Capacity constraints;

• Infrastructure planning and development;

• Effective coordination among suppliers, carriers, and users of energy resources;

• Introduction of new members;

• Review of applicable rules;

• Performance measures review;

• Discussion of domestic oil production and transportation;

• Discussion of the impact of increases in export coal;

• Industry segment reports by RETAC members; and

• Roundtable discussion.

This meeting is open to the public and the notice does not mention any requirement to register to attend. Neither does it mention any possibility of members of the public being allowed to make presentations, oral or written, to the Committee.