STB Fee Updates, Cook Inlet OCS Lease Sale, and Chicago River Safety Zones Top Federal Register

Surface Transportation Board: 2026 User-Fee Update

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has issued a final rule updating the fees that the public must pay to file certain cases and pleadings with the Board, effective November 12, 2026. The rule amends 49 CFR Part 1002 and was decided on October 7, 2026, by Board Members Fuchs, Hedlund, Kloster, and Schultz.

The Board's regulations at 49 CFR 1002.3(a) provide for an annual update of the Board's entire user-fee schedule. The document states that fees are generally revised based on the cost study formula set forth at 49 CFR 1002.3(d), which looks to changes in salary costs, publication costs, and Board overhead cost factors. Applying that formula, 87 of the Board's 135 fees will be increased and 48 will remain at their current levels.

The amended schedule covers a wide range of proceedings. Among the updated rates: services involved in examination of tariffs or schedules for preparation of certified copies are set at $56.00 per hour, and services involved in checking records to determine authenticity are set at $39.00 per hour. Filing fees in the revised schedule include, for example, $116,500 for an application involving the construction of a rail line or a petition for exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502 involving rail line construction; $43,000 for an application for approval of a non-rail rate association agreement; $19,500 for a petition for exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502 in rail licensing proceedings; $11,200 for an application for a certificate authorizing the extension, acquisition, or operation of lines of railroad; and $6,900 for an application for the pooling or division of traffic, among others.

Cook Inlet OCS Lease Sale Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

The Interior Department's Marine Minerals Administration (MMA) — which, according to the notice, was established by Secretary's Order 3451 and incorporated the authorities and functions of the former Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) — has announced the availability of the Proposed Notice of Sale (NOS) for the Cook Inlet Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas One Big Beautiful Bill Act Lease Sale 2 (Lease Sale BBC2). The notice is published pursuant to 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq. and 30 CFR 556.304, and this specific sale is held pursuant to the requirements of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).

The Proposed NOS describes the proposed size, timing, and location of the sale, including lease stipulations, terms and conditions, minimum bids, royalty rates, and rental rates, which the notice states are required by Section 50102 of the OBBBA for this sale. Pursuant to Section 19 of the OCS Lands Act, the Secretary of the Interior is providing Governors of affected States and the executives of any affected local governments the opportunity to review and comment on the Proposed NOS.

What to Watch

• December 14, 2026: Deadline for Governors and executives of affected local governments to submit comments to MMA on the size, timing, and location of Lease Sale BBC2. The notice states BOEM will publish the Final NOS in the Federal Register at least 30 days prior to the date of bid opening, with bid opening currently scheduled for March 3, 2027.
• November 12, 2026: Effective date of the STB's 2026 fee schedule update to 49 CFR Part 1002.

Coast Guard Safety Zones: Lake Street Bridge Repair, Chicago River

The Coast Guard issued three sequential enforcement notifications under 33 CFR 165.930, covering a multi-phase repair of the Lake Street Bridge on the South Branch of the Chicago River for the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT). Each action is taken, as the notices state, to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waterway.

Phase 1 — Demolition (October 13, 2026): The Coast Guard enforced a fixed safety zone across the entire width of the South Branch of the Chicago River between Mile Marker 325.5 and the Randolph Street Bridge at Mile Marker 325.4, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on October 13, 2026, under 33 CFR 165.930(a)(3).

Phase 2 — Bridge Leaf Float-Down (October 14, 2026): The Coast Guard enforced a moving safety zone on the South Branch of the Chicago River between the Lake Street Bridge at Mile Marker 325.5 and South Damen Avenue at Mile Marker 321, from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on October 14, 2026, under 33 CFR 165.930(a)(2) and (3). The notice describes this as a moving safety zone creating a 500-foot buffer forward and aft of the vessel carrying the bridge leaf. Alternate inclement weather enforcement dates were designated as October 15, 16, and 17, 2026, each from 9:30 a.m. through 6:00 p.m.

Phase 3 — Bridge Assembly (October 20, 2026): The Coast Guard will enforce a fixed safety zone on the South Branch of the Chicago River across the entire width of the river, from Mile Marker 325.5 to the Randolph Street Bridge at Mile Marker 325.4, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on October 20, 2026, under 33 CFR 165.930(a)(3), for assembly of the Lake Street Bridge. Alternate inclement weather enforcement dates are October 18, 19, 21, and 22, 2026, each from 6:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m.

Across all three phases, the notices state that entry into, transiting, mooring, laying-up, or anchoring within the safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or a designated on-scene representative. The Coast Guard also states it will provide the maritime community with notification via Broadcast Notice to Mariners. The COTP Lake Michigan may be reached by contacting the Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan Command Center at (833) 900-2247, and an on-scene designated representative may be reached via VHF-FM Channel 16.

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