The Eastern Logistics and Planning Committee met at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club in Ponte Vedra, Florida on October 22, 2009. The weather was perfect, the meeting was packed with information, and the discussion was lively. In addition to the presentations posted below, attendees also heard from Terah Burdette, Permitting/Quality Assurance Engineer for Arch Coal, Inc. on the challenges for Central Appalachian coal mines and from Bud Para, Director of Government Relations with the Jacksonville Electric Authority on climate change legislation including cap and trade. A insufficient block of time was left at the end of the session for the Audience Response System questions so the audience was treated to an update on the barge traffic and the waterways system from a man in the know, Mike Brashier of AEP River Operations. Lunch was hosted by Genesee & Wyoming Inc./Rail Link. We thank them for their generous support of the NCTA.
- Meeting Agenda
- CSX Strategies for the Coal Market presented by Chris Jenkins - CSXT
- NS Update presented by Alan Shaw - Norfolk Southern
- CSXT Update presented by Jack Burgess - CSXT
The Eastern Logistics & Planning Committee met March 12th at the The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center in Roanoke, Virginia. The meeting included rail updates, Ameren's 2009 Coal Outlook, Waterways funding and the always popular interactive Audience Response System. The NCTA would like to thank FreightCar America and Alpha Natural Resources who were our hosts for this meeting.
- CSXT Update presented by Jack Burgess - CSXT
- 2009 Coal Outlook presented by Bob Neff - Ameren Energy
- Waterways Funding via 2009 Omnibus Bill, 2010 Budget & Stimulus Bill presented by Cornel Martin - Waterways Council
- Audience Response System Results - March 12, 2009
The Eastern Logistics & Planning Committee met October 30th at the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort & Spa in Lexington, Kentucky. The EL&P Committee continued to emphasize process improvements in this session. The meeting also featured rail and waterways updates and also took advantage of the Audience Response System. The CSX and Rhino Energy were our hosts for this meeting.The NCTA appreciates their support and commitment to education,
- NS Update presented by Steve Padis - Norfolk Southern
- CSXT Update presented by Jack Burgess - CSXT
- West Olive Modifications presented by Brian Gallaway - Consumers Energy and Jim Quinlan - CSXT
- Great Lakes Navigation presented by Wayne Schloop - US Army Corps of Engineers
- Audience Response System Results - October 30, 2008
The NCTA Eastern L & P met on May 15, 2008 at the Atlanta Marriott Northwest in Atlanta, GA. Trinity Rail was the host for this meeting. Our thanks go to the entire Trinity team involved in making this a successful event.
- Meeting Agenda
- Norfolk Southern Update presented by Ken Joyner - Norfolk Southern
- CSXT Update presented by Jack Burgess - CSXT
- Coal Transportation Enhancements presented by Darrel Allen - Seminole Electric
- Waterways Update presented by Barb Porter - Arch Coal Sales
- Eastern L&P Audience Response Graphs
- CSXT Presentation to CTA Membership - December 2007 presented by Jack Burgess - CSXT
The National Coal Transportation Association's Eastern L & P Group met November 1, 2007 in Charleston, West Virginia. Our thanks go to Peabody Energy for hosting this event. Transportation updates were presented both Eastern rail carriers. The group again utilized an audience response system in a combined effort to educate participants as well as identify future trends in coal sourcing and transportation. The presentations and results of the audience response discussion are available in pdf format below:
- Meeting Agenda
- CSXT Update presented by Jack Burgess - CSXT
- Norfolk Southern Update presented by Ken Joyner - Norfolk Southern
- Eastern L&P Audience Response Graphs
The National Coal Transportation Association's Eastern L & P Group met in a unique session utilizing an interactive wireless audience response system. Attendees were able to anonymously weigh in on a variety of issues using numeric keypads that were linked with computer software. The responses to the previously-distributed questions were gathered, the data was instantly analyzed, and the results (available using the link below) formed the basis for a good discussion among the meeting participants. This was the first time the NCTA has tried this in any of its meetings and by all indications, it was a success. The process appeared to increase the level of participation and provide focus to the issues while maintaining the confidentiality of individual organizations.
Our thanks also go to the NS, CSXT and Hill & Associates who also made presentations at the meeting.
- US Market Outlook presented by John Hanou - Hill & Associates
- CSXT Update presented by Jack Burgess- CSXT
- Norfolk Southern Update presented by Alan Shaw - Norfolk Southern
- CSXT Outlook presented by Jack Burgess - CSXT
- Flue Gas Desulfurization - 101 presented by Tom Hart - AEP
- U.S. Coal Markets presented by Dr. Perry Bissell - John T. Boyd Company
- River Operations presented by Bob Blocker - MEMCO Barge Line
- Norfolk Southern's Coal Franchise presented by Alan Shaw - Norfolk Southern
The National Coal Transportation Association's Eastern L & P Group met at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Richmond, Virginia on May 17, 2006. The NCTA would like to express its appreciation to Foundation Energy Sales for hosting the luncheon for meeting attendees. Presentations given at the session are available here:
The mission of the Eastern Logistics and Planning (Eastern L&P) is to gather information for all parts of the Coal Transportation Infrastructure and to facilitate the resolution of issues and problems within the infrastructure in a beneficial manner. All gatherings and initiatives are undertaken on a voluntary basis with due consideration to avoid all anti-competitive activities. The group is open to all interested parties with a stake in the coal transportation infrastructure and a desire to improve the infrastructure.
Transportation entities such as rail carriers, barge companies, river terminal operators, and export terminal operators are active participants. Coal producers, electric utilities, industrial consumers of coal, and railcar owners are participants who complete the group of necessary parties to continuous improve the coal transportation and delivery system.
The eastern rail carriers graciously provide reports and data on rail performance each meeting. These reports become a basis for discussion and suggestions for group initiatives. There is a subcommittee called the Rapid Response Team that meets by conference call at the direction of the Chairperson (after notable dislocations to the infrastructure such as flooding, major derailments, service interruptions, etc.) to quickly disseminate information and, if required, to recommend action items to the entire group.
Scott Clayton of Southern Company is Chairman of the Eastern L&P and Jan Figgins of American Electric Power is Vice-Chairman. Patty White of Patriot Coal is the Chairman of the Eastern Rapid Response Team. The following is typical of Action Items for the Committee:
- Implement a more robust standard metrics page for the railroad web sites that would provide key data for shipper and railroad decision making.
- Improve the shipper forecasting. Information to provided by the 25th of the preceding month and a forecasted three month schedule would be provided to the rail carriers.
- A Coal Carry Back Task Force has been formed and will propose recommended procedures and technology to minimize the carry back coal.
- The group is investigating the utilization of unique identifiers for unit trains that is to be traded to help in tracking and financial clearing.
- Provide independent, aggregate, macro market analysis forecasting for the possible use by all parties.
To learn more about the NCTA Eastern Logistics and Planning Committee, please contact Scott Clayton, Chairperson, at jsclayto@southernco.com or at 205-257-7337, or call Tom Canter at 303-979-2798.