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 - 1953 - National Grain Car Council - Agency Authority

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	National Grain Car Council	Agency Name	Surface Transportation Board
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	1953
Original Establishment Date	12/29/1995	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*	Economist
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Mr.
Current Charter Date	9/20/2023	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Jeremy
Date Of Renewal Charter	9/20/2025	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name	A
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Lutes
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority	Agency Determination	Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(202) 900-5226
Establishment Authority*	Agency Authority	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(202) 900-5226
Specific Establishment Authority*	Establishment of National Grain Car Council, Ex Parte 519 (Sub-No. 1), 59 Fed. Reg. 60828, 64433	Designated Federal Officer Email*	jeremy.lutes@stb.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	12/29/1995
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 National Grain Car Council (NGCC or Council) functions under the auspices of the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to address grain car supply and grain transportation issues. The STB has statutory authority to ensure that rail carriers provide adequate service and car supply to meet the demands of customers. However, the STB believes that these goals can be advanced when shippers and receivers, railroads, and car owners and suppliers work together to craft market-based solutions. Through the NGCC, these private parties come together for discussions that facilitate private sector solutions to ensure that rail carriers provide the facilities and equipment necessary to reasonably meet demand. Because grain is a major commodity for domestic and export markets, and is a major source of revenue for the railroads, members are encouraged to find workable solutions for improving grain car supply and utilization. Promoting a full understanding of the issues that each membership sector faces enhances the opportunity for reaching private sector solutions.
How is membership balanced?*	The NGCC consists of approximately 40 voting members, (excluding governmental representatives). The balanced is based on the representation of executives knowledgeable in the transportation of grain, including no fewer than 12 members from the Class I railroads (one marketing and one car management representative from each Class I), 7 representatives from Class II and III carriers, 14 representatives from grain shippers and receivers, and 7 representatives from private car owners and car manufacturers. All voting members of the Committee, as described in this subsection shall serve on the Committee in a representative capacity on behalf of their respective industry or stakeholder group. The members of the Board shall serve as ex officio (non-voting) members of the Council, and they serve as regular government employees. The Committee members will consist of representatives, regular government employees, and, in some circumstances, special government employees.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The NGCC charter directs that the committee to meet no less than once a year. Because of the cyclical nature of the demand for grain transportation, the timing of the annual meeting is intended to predate the anticipated peak demand period by several weeks to ensure that the industry is prepared to address demand issues as well as potential problems. The NGCC provides a forum for grain-transportation stakeholders to discuss and resolve potential problems concerning rail transportation of grain. The annual meeting is typically held at a location in the Midwestern United States rather than in Washington, DC to maximize public participation by industry stakeholders.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	Congress has long emphasized the need to reduce the regulatory burden. The NGCC serves that purpose by allowing the parties involved in the transportation of grain to engage in discussions that may lead to private sector solutions. Historically, the agency has been called upon to address car-supply issues through hearings and regulatory decisions. However, the forum established by the creation of the NGCC allows grain-transportation stakeholders to resolve certain important issues with minimal public and private cost. The NGCC continues to have the active support of the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service and Transportion Services Divisions, as well as the support of the STB.
Why close or partially close meetings?	N/A
Recommendation Remarks	The annual meetings consist of short verbal presentations by members on the preparedness of their companies for the upcoming major grain harvest and/or presentations by knowledgeable speakers pertaining to the upcoming harvest. STB Board Members in attendance receive these updates and can then better anticipate rail-car supply and rail-service problems, before they happen each year. No written reports, other than meeting minutes, are typically generated. The following Council members had terms set to expire on August 20, 2024, but they resigned during FY 2023: Dustin Buntrick; Lindsey Fisher; Michael Haeg; Ryan Leonard; and Charley Moore.

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	N/A
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	No	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	Yes	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	The council supplies the STB with critical information about U.S. grain markets and the ability of the U.S. railroad system to meet demand.	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	N/A	Grants Review Comment	N/A
Number Of Recommendations*	0	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	NGCC verbally identifies problems and facilitates private sector solutions through the discussions at its annual meeting.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	0.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	N/A	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	0.00%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	N/A	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Not Applicable	Access Comment	N/A
Agency Feedback Comment*	N/A	Narrative Description*	Among the goals of the Surface Transportation Board is the promotion of efficient rail transportation. The NGCC provides a forum in which grain-transportation stakeholders can address issues and problems related to the rail transportation of grain.

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 Agriculture Agriculture Business Business and Domestic Commerce Government Federal Government Legislation Regulations Transportation Surface and Vehicular Transportation Railroads

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