FACACLASSIC

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”

STB - 33452 - Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee - Agency Authority

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee	Agency Name	Surface Transportation Board
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	33452
Original Establishment Date	9/24/2007	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://www.stb.gov/resources/stakeholder-commi...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	Unlimited
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	DFO
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Current Charter Date	9/20/2023	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Elizabeth
Date Of Renewal Charter	9/20/2025	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	McGrath
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(202) 748-4566
Establishment Authority*	Agency Authority	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(202) 245-
Specific Establishment Authority*	Establishment of a Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee, STB Ex Parte No. 670	Designated Federal Officer Email*	elizabeth.mcgrath@stb.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	7/17/2007
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	National Policy Issue Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The Committee accomplishes its purpose by meeting at least twice a year to review industry sector reports related to rail transportation of energy resources and to discuss current and emerging issues.
How is membership balanced?*	The full Committee consists of approximately 27 voting members (excluding governmental representatives, who are non-voting members). The balanced membership is represented by individuals experienced in issues affecting the transportation of energy resources, including no fewer than: 4 representatives from the Class I railroads; 3 representatives from Class II and III railroads; 3 representatives from coal producers; 5 representatives from electric utilities (including at least one rural electric cooperative and one state- or municipally-owned utility); 4 representatives from biofuel feedstock growers or providers and biofuel refiners, processors, and distributors; 2 representatives from private car owners, car lessors, or car manufacturers; 1 representative from the petroleum shipping industry; 2 representatives from renewable energy sources; and 1 representative from a labor organization. The Committee may also include up to 2 members with relevant experience but not necessarily affiliated with one of the aforementioned industries or sectors. All voting members of the Committee, as described in this subsection serve on the Committee in a representative capacity on behalf of their respective industry or stakeholder group.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The RETAC charter directs the Committee to meet no less than twice a year. Through 2009, the Committee met quarterly. Starting in 2010, and going forward, it has met twice a year, typically in March and September. The Committee provides an important forum for representatives of different elements of the energy transportation supply chain to meet and explore issues involving the transportation of energy resources. Regular reports on energy supply chain performance measures and updates from members of the different industry segments represented on the Committee ensure that the work of the Committee remains timely and consistent with the the Committee's purpose and goals.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The Board views the reliability of the nation’s energy supply as crucial to this nation’s economic and national security, and the transportation by rail of coal and other energy resources as a vital link in the energy supply chain. The Board established RETAC as an advisory committee consisting of a balanced cross-section of energy and rail industry stakeholders to provide independent, candid policy advice to the Board and to foster open, effective communication among the affected interests on issues such as rail performance; capacity constraints; infrastructure planning and development; and effective coordination among suppliers, carriers, and users of energy resources.
Why close or partially close meetings?	N/A
Recommendation Remarks	The Board has continued to support RETAC as a forum that facilitates industry discussions to improve long-term demand forecasts and promotes dialogue on rail transportation issues of importance within the energy supply chain. Robert Primus began his term on 01/07/2021, but was inadvertently not reported in the FY21-FY23 ACRs. The following Council members joined the committee on April 1, 2023, but they were inadvertently not reported in FY 2023 ACR: Adam Anderson, John Bridson, James Grech, John Haysbert, Paul Lang, Vern Lund, David Slade and Ben Sweat.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	No	Action Reorganize Priorities*	No
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	No
Outcome Major Policy Changes	No	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	No	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	Not Applicable
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	No	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed
Outcome Comment	Not Applicable	Number Of Grants Recommended
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended
Cost Savings Comment	Not Applicable	Grants Review Comment	Not Applicable
Number Of Recommendations*	8	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	RETAC, which was established in late 2007, issued a Capacity Planning White Paper in March 2009. The paper addressed the following issues: (1) How can large investments for energy source development, rail infrastructure, locomotives and rolling stock be made when the political and regulatory climate create so much uncertainty regarding the future use of coal as a primary fuel source in electric generation and renewable fuels as an additional energy source? (2) What is the nature and extent of the reserve capacity that railroads need in order to meet surges in volume and/or geographic and modal changes in sourcing regions for domestic energy transportation needs? (3) What mechanism is necessary to ensure that investments in capacity are made where and when needed? The full text of the white paper is available on the Board’s website at this link:https://www.stb.gov/wp-content/uploads/files/docs/railEnergyTransportationAdvisoryCommittee/Capacity%20White%20Paper%203-4-09.pdf Included in the white paper are approximately 8 recommendations of varying specificity directed to the STB.RETAC issued a Best Practices White Paper in September 2010, which focused on determining how the entire energy supply chain could be improved by identifying and analyzing best practices amongthe participants (coal producers, railroads, and electric utilities). The full text of the white paper is available on the Board’s website at this link: https://www.stb.gov/wp-content/uploads/files/docs/railEnergyTransportationAdvisoryCommittee/Best%20Practices%20White%20Paper.pdf The white paper did not include any recommendations directed specifically at the agency, but recommended that the information in the report be discussed in as many forums as possible. There were no recommendations provided in FY 2024.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	50.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	RETAC’s activities have provided the Board an important forum and source of information on issues affecting the rail transportation of energy resources. Of the eight recommendations referred to above, STB is implementing one directly (continued support of RETAC as a mechanism for promoting industry dialogue, discussion and forecasting within the energy supply chain), and implementing several others indirectly—(1) promoting the development of industry best practices, (2) promoting the development of supply chain monitoring and reporting, and (3) facilitating methodologies within the energy supply chain to determine necessary levels and locations of needed and justified reserve transportation capacity—by encouraging the work of RETAC in the areas of best practices, performance measures, and capacity planning, respectively.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	25.00%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	One of the white-paper recommendations was to promote longer term policies that allow the railroads to earn sufficient revenues to permit them to build up to the reasonable reserve target levels. The Board implements this policy recommendation, in part, by carrying out in its decisionmaking process, as appropriate, the statutory policy directive of allowing rail carriers to earn adequate revenues. Another recommendation is to “develop methodologies to ensure STB regulatory action supports adequate transportation capacity to respond to reasonable changes in demand or source regions.” The Board implements this policy recommendation, in part, by carrying out in its decisionmaking process, as appropriate, the statutory policy directive to “ensure the development and continuation of a sound rail transportation system . . . to meet the needs of the public.”	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	N/A
Agency Feedback Comment*	As ex officio members of the Committee, the Board Members routinely attend and participate in RETAC meetings and have the opportunity to provide informal feedback to the Committee. In addition, Board members provided feedback via periodic individual conferences with the RETAC Co-chairs. Feedback from the agency is recorded in the minutes which are available following each meeting on the website.	Narrative Description*	This Committee provides a forum for the discussion of emerging issues and concerns regarding the transportation by rail of energy resources, particularly, but not necessarily limited to coal, ethanol, petroleum, and other biofuels. The Committee must, on request by the Board, and may, on request by the public, suggest to the Board appropriate policies or regulations with regard to the efficiency and reliability of the transportation of energy resources by rail.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*		3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	2/25/2025 9:18 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Energy Fuel Transportation Transportation Railroads

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