advertisement

---

On Aug. 27, Surface Transportation Board named former Congressman John Thune as mediator for a rate dispute between the AEP Texas North Co. and Burlington Northern Santa Fe — the first time the board has used mediation in a rate dispute since STB earlier this year adopted expedited procedures to resolve rate cases.

Thune serves as senior government relations advisor for law and
lobbying firm Arent Fox, and chairman for consulting firm Thune
Group. Between 1997 and 2003, he served as a U.S. representative for South Dakota, where he previously served as state railroad director.

"[Thune] has tremendous experience, and everyone who has worked with him will attest to his diligence, fairness and impartiality," said STB Chairman Roger Nober in a prepared statement.

AEP Texas North is challenging the reasonableness of BNSF's rate to move coal from a Rawhide mine in Wyoming's Powder River Basin to a generating station in Vernon, Texas.