(a) Except as provided in § 1115.7, pleadings should be addressed to the “Chief, Section of Administration, Office of Proceedings, Surface Transportation Board, Washington, DC 20423-0001,” and should designate the docket number and title of the proceeding, if known.

(b) The address of the person filing the pleading should be included on the first page of the pleading.

(c) All envelopes in which a pleading is being submitted should be marked in the lower left hand corner with the docket number, if known, (not the full title) and the pleading type.

(d) All multi-volume pleadings must be sequentially numbered on the cover of each volume to indicate the volume number of the pleading and the total number of volumes filed (e.g., the first volume in a 4-volume set should be labeled “volume 1 of 4,” the second volume “volume 2 of 4” and so forth).

(e) Unless otherwise directed by the Board, persons filing pleadings and documents with the Board have the option of electronically filing (e-filing) pleadings and documents instead of filing paper copies. Details regarding file size limitations, permissible formats, procedures to be followed, acceptable signature formats, and other pertinent information are available on the Board's website, www.stb.gov. If the e-filing option is chosen, then the applicable requirements will be those specified on the Board's website, and any requirements of this part that specifically apply to filing of paper copies will not apply to the e-filed pleadings and documents (these requirements include, but are not limited to, stapling or binding specifications, signature “in ink,” etc.). Persons are not required to e-file and may continue to use the Board's processes for filing paper copies.

[47 FR 49554, Nov. 1, 1982, as amended at 48 FR 34475, July 29, 1983; 53 FR 20854, June 7, 1988; 61 FR 52711, Oct. 8, 1996; 69 FR 18498, Apr. 8, 2004; 74 FR 52906, Oct. 15, 2009; 83 FR 15078, Apr. 9, 2018; 84 FR 12943, Apr. 3, 2019]

(a) Documents, except electronic filings, filed with the Board must be on white paper not larger than 8 1/2 by 11 inches, including any tables, charts, or other documents that may be included. Ink must be dark enough to provide substantial contrast for scanning and photographic reproduction. Text must be double-spaced (except for footnotes and long quotations, which may be single-spaced), using type not smaller than 12 point. Printing may appear only on one side of the paper for original documents, but copies of filings may be printed on both sides of the paper.

(b) In order to facilitate automated processing in document sheet feeders, original documents of more than one page may not be bound in any permanent form (no metal, plastic, or adhesive staples or binders) but must be held together with removable metal clips or similar retainers. Original documents may not include divider tabs, but copies must if workpapers or expert witness testimony are submitted. All pages of original documents, and each side of pages that are printed on both sides, must be paginated continuously, including cover letters and attachments. Where, as a result of assembly processes, such pagination is impractical, documents may be numbered within the logical sequences of volumes or sections that make up the filing and need not be renumbered to maintain a single numbering sequence throughout the entire filing.

(c) Some filings or portions of filings will not conform to the standard paper specifications set forth in paragraph (a) of this section and may not be scannable. For example, electronic spreadsheets are not susceptible to scanning, but oversized documents, such as oversized maps and blueprints, may or may not be scannable. Filings that are not scannable will be referenced on-line and made available to the public at the Board's offices. If parties file oversized paper documents, they are encouraged to file, in addition to the oversized documents, representations of them that fit on the standard paper, either through reductions in size that do not undermine legibility, or through division of the oversized whole into multiple sequential pages. The standard paper representations must be identified and placed immediately behind the oversized documents they represent.

(d) Color printing may not be used for textual submissions. Use of color in filings is limited to images such as graphs, maps and photographs. To facilitate automated processing of color pages, color pages may not be inserted among pages containing text, but may be filed only as appendices or attachments to filings. Also, the original of any filing that includes color images must bear an obvious notation, on the cover sheet, that the filing contains color.

[67 span 5514, Feb. 6, 2002, as amended at 69 span 18499, Apr. 8, 2004]

(a) The executed original of a paper pleading or document permitted or required to be filed under this subchapter, including correspondence, must be furnished for the use of the Board. Textual submissions of 20 or more pages must be accompanied by an electronic version. Details regarding electronic submissions, including evidence, workpapers, and other pertinent information are available on the Board's website, www.stb.gov.

(b) The Board may, at its discretion, request paper copies of a pleading, document, or paper filed or e-filed with the Board. Any such copies must be clear and legible. Appropriate notes or other indications shall be used so that matters shown in color on the original, but in black and white on copies, will be accurately identified on all copies.

[84 FR 12944, Apr. 3, 2019]

(a) Signature of attorney or practitioner. If a party is represented by a practitioner or an attorney, the original of each paper filed should be signed in ink by the practitioner or attorney, whose address should be stated. The signature of a practitioner or attorney constitutes a certification that the representative:

(1) Has read the pleading, document or paper;

(2) Is authorized to file it;

(3) Believes that there is good ground for the document;

(4) Has not interposed the document for delay;

A pleading, document or paper thus signed need not be verified or accompanied by affidavit unless required elsewhere in these rules.

(b) Signature by one not authorized to represent others before the Board. The original of each document not signed by a practitioner or attorney must be:

(1) Signed in ink;

(2) Accompanied by the signer's address; and

(3) Verified, if it contains allegations of fact, under oath by the person, in whose behalf it is filed, or by a duly authorized officer of the corporation in whose behalf it is filed. If the pleading is a complaint, at least one complainant must sign and verify the pleading.

[47 FR 49554, Nov. 1, 1982, as amended at 61 FR 52711, Oct. 8, 1996]

(a) An affirmation will be accepted in lieu of an oath.

(b) Whenever any rule of this Board requires or permits matter to be supported, evidenced, established, or proved by sworn declaration, verification, certificate, statement, oath, or affidavit, in writing of the person making the same (other than a deposition, oath of office, or an oath required to be taken before a special official other than a notary public), such matter may, with like force and effect, be supported, evidenced, established, or proven by the unsworn declaration, certificate, verification, or statement, in writing of such person which is subscribed by him, as true under penalty of perjury and dated, in the following form:

I ______________, declare (certify, verify, or state) under penalty of perjury (“under the laws of the United States,” if executed outside of the United States) that the foregoing is true and correct. Further, I certify that I am qualified and authorized to file this (specify type of document). Executed on (date).

Signature

(c) Knowing and willful misstatements or omissions of material facts constitute federal criminal violations punishable under 18 U.S.C. 1001. Additionally, these misstatements are punishable as perjury under 18 U.S.C. 1621.

[47 FR 49554, Nov. 1, 1982, as amended at 61 FR 52711, Oct. 8, 1996; 81 FR 8853, Feb. 23, 2016]

Documents must be received for filing at the Board's offices in Washington, DC within the time limits set for filing. The date of receipt at the Board, and not the date of deposit in the mail, determines the timeliness of filing. However, if a document is mailed by United States express mail, postmarked at least one day prior to the due date, it will be accepted as timely. Other express mail, received by the private express mail carrier at least one day prior to the due date, also will be accepted as timely filed. The term express mail means that the carrier or delivery service offers next day delivery to Washington, DC. If the e-filing option is chosen (for those pleadings and documents that are appropriate for e-filing, as determined by reference to the information on the Board's Web site), then the e-filed pleading or document is timely filed if the e-filing process is completed before 11:59 p.m. eastern time on the due date.

[47 FR 49554, Nov. 1, 1982, as amended at 61 FR 52711, Oct. 8, 1996; 69 FR 18499, Apr. 8, 2004; 81 FR 8853, Feb. 23, 2016]

(a) Computation. In computing any period of time, the day of the act, event, or default upon which the designated period of time begins to run is not included. The last day of the period is included unless it is Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday in the District of Columbia, in which event the period runs until the end of the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or holiday. This rule applies to forward and backward measurement of time.

(b) Extensions. Any time period, except those provided by law or specified in these rules respecting informal complaints seeking damage, may be extended by the Board in its discretion, upon request and for good cause. Requests for extensions must be served on all parties of record at the same time and by the same means as service is made on the Board. However, if service is made on the Board in person and personal service on other parties is not feasible, service on other parties should be made by first class or express mail. A request for an extension must be filed not less than 10 days before the due date, except that in cases seeking expedited relief for service emergencies under part 1146 of this chapter, a request for an extension must be made within 24 hours of service of the petition, reply, or other filing or procedural order of the Board as applicable. Only the original of the request and certificate of service need be filed with the Board. If granted, the party making the request should promptly notify all parties to the proceeding of the extension and so certify to the Board, except that this notification is not required in rulemaking proceedings.

(c) Exception to time computation rules. See 49 CFR part 1152 for special abandonment rules.

[47 FR 49554, Nov. 1, 1982, as amended at 61 FR 52711, Oct. 8, 1996; 89 FR 4578, Jan. 24, 2024]

The Board may order that any redundant, irrelevant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter be stricken from any document.

[47 FR 49554, Nov. 1, 1982, as amended at 61 FR 52711, Oct. 8, 1996]

(a) The Board may reject a document, submitted for filing if the Board finds that the document does not comply with the rules.

(b) The Board may either return the material unfiled or tentatively accept the material for filing and advise the person tendering it of the deficiency and require that the deficiency be corrected.

[47 FR 49554, Nov. 1, 1982, as amended at 61 FR 52711, Oct. 8, 1996]

Leave to amend any document is a matter of the Board's discretion.

[47 FR 49554, Nov. 1, 1982, as amended at 61 FR 52711, Oct. 8, 1996]

(a) Generally. Every document filed with the Board should include a certificate showing simultaneous service upon all parties to the proceeding. Service on the parties should be by the same method and class of service used in serving the Board, with charges, if any, prepaid. One copy should be served on each party. If service is made on the Board in person, and personal service on other parties is not feasible, service should be made by first-class or express mail. If a document is filed with the Board through the e-filing process, a copy of the e-filed document should be emailed to other parties if that means of service is acceptable to those other parties, or a paper copy of the document should be personally served on the other parties, but if email is not acceptable to the receiving party and personal service is not feasible, service of a paper copy should be by first-class or express mail. When a party is represented by a practitioner or attorney, service upon the practitioner is deemed to be service upon the party. If a document is filed with the Board through the e-filing process, a copy of the e-filed document should be emailed to other parties, or a paper copy of the document should be personally served on the other parties, but if neither email nor personal service is feasible, service of a paper copy should be by first-class or express mail.

(b) Exceptions. Copies of letters to the Board relating to oral argument under part 1116, and subpoenas under § 1113.2, need not be served on other parties of the proceeding. Service of comments in rulemaking proceedings is not required, unless specifically directed by the Board.

(c) Sample Certificate of Service.

I certify that I have this day served copies of document upon all parties of record in this proceeding, by (here state the method of making service which must be consistent with this part).

Signature Date (49 U.S.C. 721, 5 U.S.C. 553)

(d) Service by the Board. Service of decisions and other Board issuances as appropriate generally will be made by electronic means (e-service), except in the case of paper filers that have not consented to e-service, in which case service upon that recipient will be made by first-class mail. Paper filers that include email contact information on their filing and do not opt out of e-service via written notification will be deemed to have consented to e-service.

[47 FR 49554, Nov. 1, 1982, as amended at 48 FR 44827, Sept. 30, 1983; 61 FR 52711, Oct. 8, 1996; 69 FR 18499, Apr. 8, 2004; 81 FR 8853, Feb. 23, 2016; 84 FR 12944, Apr. 3, 2019]

(a) Time. A party may file a reply or motion addressed to any pleading within 20 days after the pleading is filed with the Board, unless otherwise provided.

(b) Number of copies. The original of a reply or motion should be accompanied by the same number of copies required to be filed with the pleading to which the reply or motion is addressed.

(c) Reply to a Reply. A reply to a reply is not permitted.

[47 FR 49554, Nov. 1, 1982, as amended at 61 FR 52711, Oct. 8, 1996]

(a) An individual who is applying in his or her name for a certificate, license or permit to operate as a rail carrier must complete the certification set forth in paragraph (b) of this section. This certification is required if the transferee in a finance proceeding under 49 U.S.C. 11323 and 11324 is an individual. The certification also is required if an individual applies for authorization to acquire, to construct, to extend, or to operate a rail line.

(b) Certification:

I ___ (Name) ___, certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States, that I have not been convicted, after September 1, 1989, of any Federal or State offense involving the distribution or possession of a controlled substance, or that if I have been so convicted, I am not ineligible to receive Federal Benefits, either by court order or by operation of law, pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 862.

[54 FR 48250, Nov. 22, 1989, as amended at 61 FR 52711, Oct. 8, 1996; 64 FR 53268, Oct. 1, 1999; 67 FR 5515, Feb. 6, 2002]