Elliott nominated for second STB term

It’s now up to the Senate to confirm the chairman for another four-year term.    President Obama has nominated Daniel Elliott for a second four-year term with the Surface Transportation Board.
   Elliott was confirmed by the Senate to serve his first term on Aug. 7, 2009. He was sworn in as chairman of the STB later that month.
   This fall, an STB reauthorization bill entered the Senate that will broaden the board’s authority. It has passed out of committee and will be taken up when the new Senate convenes in January.   
   The American Chemistry Council, which has been very involved in board proceedings, said in a statement that it “looks forward to continuing our work with Chairman Elliott and the entire board on reforms that will promote reliable and competitive freight rail service.”
   It continued, “The board has before it several cases that are critical to the efficient movement of goods that are essential to the U.S. economy, including chemicals. We encourage the board to take action in 2015 to allow greater rail-to-rail competition, update the board’s rate review process, and enact meaningful reforms that will help grow our economy and improve the nation’s freight rail system.”