STB TO POST CASE-RELATED FILINGS ON WEB SITE
The U.S. Surface Transportation Board said Wednesday it will begin posting all substantive and procedural paper document and correspondence filings with the board in formal proceedings to its Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov.
The documents and correspondence will be scanned and placed on the site, accessible via the 'Filings' link on the board's home page. Users will e able to search filings by filing date or docket number and view, print and download documents.
Filings marked 'confidential' will also be scanned and will be searchable on the board's Web site, so that users will be able to tell that a confidential filing exists. However, Internet users will not be able to view, print or download confidential filings — only board members and staff will be able to do so.
The STB said it processes nearly 3,000 filings — many totaling tens or hundreds of pages each — from law firms, businesses, governmental agencies, and the public. Prior to the electronic posting, most filings could only be viewed at STB headquarters in their original, paper form, or from 45 days after their filing date, via microfiche.
As part of the change to electronic filings, the STB has announced a rulemaking on new filing procedures. Details of the decision are available in the proceeding entitled 'Electronic Access to Case Filings,' Ex Parte No. 576, available on the Web site.