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On Feb. 14, Surface Transportation Board revised its delegation of authority rules to enable Chairman Roger Nober to take necessary actions in emergency situations when he's the only "reasonably available" board member and to ensure continuity in carrying out board functions during crisis situations.


The revisions also pass authority to the vice chairman if the chairman is unavailable, and to the remaining commissioner if the chairman and vice chairman are unavailable.


The board can direct certain traffic during a war or threatened war, and manage the handling, routing and movement of rail traffic in emergency situations. But in the event of a terrorist attack, or other public health or safety emergency, it's possible that only one board member would be available to act on a matter at any given time, according to a written decision.