Electronic Filing Option for Certain Documents

AGENCY:

Surface Transportation Board, Transportation.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Surface Transportation Board (Board) is amending its regulations concerning filing of pleadings and other documents with the Board to give persons the option of filing certain types of pleadings and documents electronically instead of filing paper copies and to give persons the option of filing documents in formats other than WordPerfect.

DATES:

These rules are effective on April 8, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

John Sado, (202) 565-1661. (Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) for the hearing impaired: 1-800-877-8339.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Board is amending its regulations at 49 CFR part 1104 as needed to add the option of electronically filing (e-filing) certain types of pleadings and documents. If the e-filing option is chosen, it will eliminate the need for filing paper copies of those types of pleadings and documents that are eligible for e-filing.

The Board's updated Web site, http://www.stb.dot.gov,, has a link labeled “E-FILING”. Clicking on that link will open a series of prompts that will indicate what types of pleadings and documents are eligible for e-filing and will lead the e-filer, step-by-step, through the process of how to e-file. Formal filings, recordations, environmental comments, rail consumer complaints, FOIA requests and other correspondence may be submitted to the Board through the e-filing process. The e-filing process may not be used to file: (1) Initial filings in a proceeding; (2) filings requiring a fee (except recordations); or (3) large evidentiary filings (collectively, over 10 megabytes). Persons are not required to file electronically, but may choose the e-filing option at their discretion.

It should be noted that e-filing will not relieve a party of the obligation to serve other parties. Rather, e-filing pertains only to documents that are sent to the Board, and existing service requirements remain as to other parties. With respect to e-filings made with the Board, the service requirements of §1104.12(a) of the Board's rules may be met by simultaneously e-mailing a copy of the e-filed document to other parties if that means of service is acceptable to those other parties, or by simultaneous personal service of a paper copy of the document on the other parties, but if e-mail is not acceptable to the receiving party and personal service is not feasible, the service requirements may be met by service of a paper copy by first-class or express mail.

To e-file a formal filing or a recordation, the e-filer must first establish a login account. A login account can be obtained by clicking on the “Request Login Account” button found on the e-filing page. The user will be prompted to provide the information required to establish an account. The user's e-mail address will be the “user name” and the user will have the opportunity to choose a password.

E-filing is a file attachment process. Submissions are to be prepared in the same manner in which a filer would if filing on paper, except that extra copies will not be required. E-filings will be available for public viewing in the Board's Public Docket Room. They will also be on the Board's Web site, just as paper filings are on the Web site. When using e-filing for a formal filing, the e-filer must submit a document as a PDF-format document and also, if available, in the original document format. The document submitted must include the applicable docket number and the name and address of the person responsible for the filing. For purposes of e-filing, a typewritten name is considered the signature of the appropriate party if a signature is required by the Board's regulations. The original, handwritten signature must be maintained in the files of the filing party. E-filers will be able to indicate, as part of the e-filing process, if the filing is to be treated by the Board as confidential.

Documents received by e-filing before 5 p.m. eastern time on a business day will be considered filed on that day. Documents received by e-filing on a non-business day, or after 5 p.m. eastern time on a business day, will be considered filed on the next business day.

Additionally, the Board is revising its rules to delete a reference to the WordPerfect format for electronic submissions of textual material and thus to permit practitioners to file documents in formats other than WordPerfect.

Because these rule changes relate solely to the rules of agency practice and procedure, they will be issued as final rules without requesting public comment. See 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(A). It should be noted that public comment in this matter is unnecessary, as the new rule will permit but not require e-filing, and will not affect any person's ability to review agency filings. See 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B). Moreover, good cause is found for making these rules effective on less than 30 days' notice under 5 U.S.C. 553(d) to give interested persons the option to use this new filing method, which will reduce paperwork and ease filing burdens on parties before the agency, as soon as possible.

The Board certifies that the rules will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. As noted, the e-filing option should streamline and simplify the process of filing certain pleadings and documents with the Board. If the e-filing option is chosen, it will eliminate the need for multiple paper copies and also eliminate the time and expense associated with the physical delivery of paper copies to the Board by mail, messenger or other delivery service, which should be beneficial to entities of all sizes. This action will not significantly affect either the quality of the human environment or the conservation of energy resources.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 1104

• Administrative practice and procedure

For the reasons set forth in the preamble, part 1104 of title 49, chapter X, of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:

PART 1104—FILINGS WITH THE BOARD—COPIES—VERIFICATION—SERVICE—PLEADINGS, GENERALLY

1. The authority citation for part 1104 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 553 and 559; 18 U.S.C. 1621; 21 U.S.C. 862; and 49 U.S.C. 721.

2. Revise the heading for § 1104.1 and add new paragraph (e) to read as follows:

3. Amend the first sentence in § 1104.2(a) by adding the words “, except electronic filings,” after the word “Documents”.

4. Amend § 1104.3 as follows:

A. In paragraph (a), in the first sentence, remove the words “of every pleading,” and add in their place “of every paper pleading,”.

B. In paragraph (b), add the words “accompanying paper filings” after the words “Electronic submissions”.

C. In paragraph (b)(1), remove the words “in WordPerfect 9.0 format or earlier releases”.

5. Amend § 1104.6 by adding the following sentence at the end of the section:

6. Amend §1104.12 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows: