Dozens of ships anchored outside of America’s busiest ports, steadily spiking freight rates, and frustrated consumers inheriting both the paralyzing delays and the exorbitant price increases: these have been the painful...more
As has been well-publicized, on July 9, 2021, President Biden issued an “Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy” (the “EO” or “Order”).1 As the preamble articulates, the EO’s focus is to “promote the...more
The United States Surface Transportation Board (“STB”) issued a Decision on December 29th addressing a preemption issue related to the Clean Water Act. See Association of American Railroads – Petition for Declaratory Order,...more
As noted in Part 1, during the presidential campaign, candidate Joe Biden called for "Sparking the second great railroad revolution." Biden pledged to "make sure that America has the cleanest, safest, and fastest rail system...more
During the presidential campaign, candidate Joe Biden called for "Sparking the second great railroad revolution." Biden pledged to "make sure that America has the cleanest, safest, and fastest rail system in the world – for...more
A proposed high-speed passenger railroad between Dallas and Houston has successfully convinced the federal Surface Transportation Board (STB) that it has jurisdiction over the proposed Texas rail line. While STB jurisdiction...more
The United States Surface Transportation Board (“STB”) instituted a Declaratory Order proceeding on February 19th that will address whether 49 U.S.C. 10501(b): . . . preempts the Clean Water Act’s (CWA) discharge...more
The Surface Transportation Board reaffirms that its regulatory processes must be followed in order to extinguish a railroad's common carrier obligation. Lack of use of a rail line and removal of tracks are not sufficient...more
• The Clean Water Act imposes permitting obligations on "point sources." • Should those obligations apply to railroad cars, which move freely from state to state? • The U.S. railroad industry has asked the Surface...more
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (“ISRI“) entered testimony on May 8th before the United States Surface Transportation Board (“STB“) addressing the impact of rail charges on the recycling industry. The STB is...more
As railroads across the country continue to feel intense pressure to drive down costs and operate more efficiently, opportunities abound for friction to develop between participants in the rail network. Because railroads...more
A federal agency has, for the time being at least, refused to intervene in a dispute between Amtrak and Metra over Metra’s use of Chicago Union Station. Back in April, this blog reported on a budding conflict between...more
The unintended consequences of regulatory action may sometimes come as a surprise, but often there are clues that could inform decision makers—if they know where to look. Two colossuses of the rail industry, Union Pacific...more
On April 30, 2018, the United States Supreme Court denied the petition for writ of certiorari filed in North Coast Railroad Authority v. Friends of the Eel River, U.S. Supreme Ct. Case No. 17-915, which presented this issue: ...more
A recent filing at the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) reveals a potential, budding conflict between Metra and Amtrak involving Metra's use of the Chicago Union Station. Amtrak owns the station and Metra is its...more
On Jan. 11, 2018, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) handed a win to a coal shipper in a maximum rate reasonableness case. In the first rate case victory by a shipper in seven years, the STB has ordered CSX...more
In a recent preemption decision, the Surface Transportation Board (“STB”) rejected a city’s attempt to mandate that a railroad reinstall a grade crossing. The STB’s order appears to call into question the enforceability of...more
On November 16, 2017, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit joined the First, Fifth and Sixth Circuits in ruling that claims arising from the Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act (“ICCTA”) can be...more
Many states and municipalities have (or used to have) laws that limit the amount of time a railroad may block a traffic intersection. Time and again, courts have determined that these laws are preempted by either the...more
On November 16, 2017, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit determined that claims arising from the Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act (“ICCTA”) can be litigated in the federal courts or at the...more
In July 2017, the California Supreme Court determined the federal Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act of 1995 (49 U.S.C. § 10101 et seq.) (“ICCTA”) does not preempt the application of the California Environmental...more
The California Supreme Court has issued its decision in Friends of the Eel River v. North Coast Railroad, an important case regarding preemption of state environmental law by the Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act...more
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Cal. Pub. Res. Code §21000 et seq., imposes significant procedural and substantive requirements on private and public projects throughout the state. However, even a state law...more
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has found that efforts by the city of Ozark, Ark., to force the reinstallation of a highway-rail at-grade crossing are pre-empted by federal law....more
In Union Pacific Railroad Company v. Surface Transportation Board, No. 16-3307, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has held that the Surface Transportation Board (STB) exceeded its authority when it promulgated...more