Federal Register: August 14, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 156)

DOCID: fr14au09-87 FR Doc E9-19452

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

NOTICE: NOTICES

DOCID: fr14au09-87

SUBJECT CATEGORY:

Indexing the Annual Operating Revenues of Railroads

DATES: Effective Date: January 1, 2008.

DOCUMENT SUMMARY:

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is publishing the annual inflationadjusted index factors for 2008. These factors are used by the railroads to adjust their gross annual operating revenues for classification purposes. This indexing methodology insures that railroads are classified based on real business expansion and not from the affects of inflation. Classification is important because it determines the extent to which individual railroads must comply with STB reporting requirements.

The STB's annual inflationadjusted factors are based on the annual average Railroad's Freight Price Index which is developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The STB's deflator factor is used to deflate revenues for comparison with established revenue thresholds.

The base year for railroads is 1991. The inflation index factors are presented as follows:
STB Railroad InflationAdjusted Index and Deflator Factor Table Year Index Deflator 1991.............................................. 409.50 \1\ 100.00 1992.............................................. 411.80 99.45 1993.............................................. 415.50 98.55 1994.............................................. 418.80 97.70 1995.............................................. 418.17 97.85 1996.............................................. 417.46 98.02 1997.............................................. 419.67 97.50 1998.............................................. 424.54 96.38 1999.............................................. 423.01 96.72 2000.............................................. 428.64 95.45 2001.............................................. 436.48 93.73 2002.............................................. 445.03 91.92 2003.............................................. 454.33 90.03 2004.............................................. 473.41 86.40 2005.............................................. 522.41 78.29 2006.............................................. 567.34 72.09 2007.............................................. 588.27 69.52 2008.............................................. 656.78 62.28 \1\ Ex Parte No. 492, Montana Rail Link, Inc., and Wisconsin Central Ltd., Joint Petition For Rulemaking With Respect To 49 CFR 1201, 8 I.C.C. 2d 625 (1992), raised the revenue classification level for Class I railroads from $50 million (1978 dollars) to $250 million (1991 dollars), effective for the reporting year beginning January 1, 1992. The Class II threshold was also raised from $10 million (1978 dollars) to $20 million (1991 dollars).

SUMMARY:

Indexing the Annual Operating Revenues of Railroads

DOCUMENT BODY 2:

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is publishing the annual inflationadjusted index factors for 2008. These factors are used by the railroads to adjust their gross annual operating revenues for classification purposes. This indexing methodology insures that railroads are classified based on real business expansion and not from the affects of inflation. Classification is important because it determines the extent to which individual railroads must comply with STB reporting requirements.

The STB's annual inflationadjusted factors are based on the annual average Railroad's Freight Price Index which is developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The STB's deflator factor is used to deflate revenues for comparison with established revenue thresholds.

The base year for railroads is 1991. The inflation index factors are presented as follows:
STB Railroad InflationAdjusted Index and Deflator Factor Table Year Index Deflator 1991.............................................. 409.50 \1\ 100.00 1992.............................................. 411.80 99.45 1993.............................................. 415.50 98.55 1994.............................................. 418.80 97.70 1995.............................................. 418.17 97.85 1996.............................................. 417.46 98.02 1997.............................................. 419.67 97.50 1998.............................................. 424.54 96.38 1999.............................................. 423.01 96.72 2000.............................................. 428.64 95.45 2001.............................................. 436.48 93.73 2002.............................................. 445.03 91.92 2003.............................................. 454.33 90.03 2004.............................................. 473.41 86.40 2005.............................................. 522.41 78.29 2006.............................................. 567.34 72.09 2007.............................................. 588.27 69.52 2008.............................................. 656.78 62.28 \1\ Ex Parte No. 492, Montana Rail Link, Inc., and Wisconsin Central Ltd., Joint Petition For Rulemaking With Respect To 49 CFR 1201, 8 I.C.C. 2d 625 (1992), raised the revenue classification level for Class I railroads from $50 million (1978 dollars) to $250 million (1991 dollars), effective for the reporting year beginning January 1, 1992. The Class II threshold was also raised from $10 million (1978 dollars) to $20 million (1991 dollars).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

Scott Decker 202-245-0330. [Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) for the hearing impaired: 1800877 8339.]

[[Page 41181]]

By the Board, Leland L. Gardner, Director, Office of Economics, Environmental Analysis, and Administration.
Kulunie L. Cannon,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. E919452 Filed 81309; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 491501P