Schedule at a Glance

Please note that times and locations are subject to change.

*held jointly with the Eastern & Southern Region Meeting.

General Counsel Symposium Moderators

Tuesday, September 9

10:00 a.m.-6:30 p.m. — Registration

12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. — General Counsel Committee Meeting with Lunch
Onna Houck, Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Iowa Interstate Railroad, and Chair, ASLRRA General Counsel Committee

1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. — FRA and Plant Railroads
Rob Wimbish, Fletcher & Sippel LLC

Within the sweeping reach of the Federal Railroad Administration’s jurisdiction over railroad transportation safety in the U.S., the modal administration has offered a narrow and little-understood exception to its regulatory oversight – the plant railroad.  This presentation will explore this rather unique island of FRA de-regulation, its application, limitations, the challenges of navigating the FRA’s plant railroad policy, and whether the FRA’s current guidelines should be clarified or adjusted.

2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. — Environmental Regulatory Requirements for Brownfield Sites
Brittany Barrientos, Partner, Stinson LLP, and David Schneidewind, Partner, Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice LLC
Crystal Zorbaugh, Partner, Mullins Law Group, Moderator

This session will discuss opportunities that come with Brownfields development, including strategies to mitigate environmental risk and efficiently get projects over the finish line. Our presenters will weave in first-hand experiences and case law to provide a comprehensive discussion and practical considerations for Brownfields development.

3:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. — Networking Break

3:30 p.m.-4:15 p.m. — STB Year in Review
Stephen Laudone, Senior Managing Associate, Sidley Austin LLP, and Spencer M. Naake, Associate, Mullins Law Group
Crystal Zorbaugh, Partner, Mullins Law Group, Moderator

This presentation will highlight recent Board decisions from 2025.  These proceedings cover a variety of topics of potential interest to short line railroads, including merger review and condition enforcement, abandonments and Trails Act proceedings, construction and operation licensing, preemption, and practice and procedure before the agency. Be sure to attend to stay ahead of the changes.

4:15 p.m.-5:00 p.m. — The Current STB and What it Means for Short Lines
Allison Davis, Partner, Sidley Austin LLP, and Matt Warren, Partner, Sidley Austin LLP

Our plan is to provide an overview of the Board’s functions, the current membership, recent structural changes, current policy priorities, and what all of that means for short lines.

5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. — Opening Reception*

Tuesday Speakers

Wednesday, September 10

7:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. — Registration

7:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m. — Networking Breakfast*

8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. — Whistleblower Legal Update
Tracey Donesky, Partner, Stinson LLP

9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. — The New NEPA — Understanding (and Implementing) Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County
Jay Johnson, Partner, Venable LLP, and Kevin Keller, PG, CGWP, Intermodal Transportation Planning Practice Leader, HDR, Inc.

Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County was the first U.S. Supreme Court case in 20 years to address the scope and meaning of the National Environmental Policy Act. In this session, two people who were directly involved will take you from the early days of the project at issue in Seven County — the Uinta Basin Railway — all the way through the Court’s landmark opinion. You’ll learn how the Court’s decision could change the playing field for anyone who faces a NEPA review, especially at the Surface Transportation Board.

10:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. — Networking Break*

10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. — Critical Incident Response
Mike Scully, Assistant Vice President, Risk Management/Law Department, CSX Transportation, Inc. , and Mimi Dennis, Partner, Crowell & Moring LLP

A thoughtful discussion that focuses on helping companies respond honorably after a crisis by providing conscious, compassionate care to survivors, families, and employees.  While these events in our industry are extremely rare, it is still very important to train and prepare for them. Remember, whether it is a derailment with an evacuation with no injuries, or an accident with multiple injuries and fatalities, the core response will be to act swiftly to offer practical help to those affected by providing a compassionate response.

12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. — Networking Lunch*

Wednesday Speakers