WASHINGTON — The legal community provided more than 100 ideas for improving Surface Transportation Board processes during a series of recent listening sessions conducted by Vice Chair Michelle Schultz, the regulatory body has announced.
The sessions are part of an effort by Chairman Patrick Fuchs to enhance the agency’s efficiency and effectiveness, and involved dozens of attorneys who regularly practice before the board.
“The level of participation went far beyond what I had hoped for,” Schultz said in a press release. “I found the conversations to be incredibly helpful, offering insight that could only be provided by those who are regularly engaged with the Board’s procedures, practices, and regulations. The practitioners put forth many thoughtful ideas for our consideration which I think will help further Chairman Fuchs’ goal of increasing the Board’s efficiency.”
Based on a review of the suggestions, Schultz has recommended five potential areas for board action: ex parte communications and the use of staff liasons; delegation of authority; discovery; technical conferences; and replies to replies.
“I am grateful to Vice Chairman Schultz for her swift, diligent review and strong process improvement recommendations,” said Fuchs said. “I intend for the Board to consider the recommendations expeditiously and take appropriate action to advance our mission.”
This is good, a regulatory body asking their petitioners representatives how to improve things. Would love to see this in some other bodies of our federal government largesse.