30-Day Notice of Intent To Seek Extension of Approval: Information Collection-Rail Depreciation Studies, 11441-11442 [2020-03992]
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lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 39 / Thursday, February 27, 2020 / Notices
minimize the burden of the collection of
information on the respondents,
including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology, when
appropriate; and (4) whether the
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of the Board, including
whether the collection has practical
utility. Submitted comments will be
summarized and included in the
Board’s request for OMB approval.
Dated: February 24, 2020.
Kenyatta Clay,
Clearance Clerk.
Description of Collection
ACTION:
Title: Arbitration ‘‘Opt-in’’ Notices.
OMB Control Number: 2140–0020.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Extension without
change.
Respondents: All regulated rail
carriers.
Number of Respondents: 2.
Estimated Time per Response: 0.5
hours.
Frequency: Annually.
Total Burden Hours (annually
including all respondents): 1.0 hours.
Total ‘‘Non-hour Burden’’ Cost: None
identified. Filings are submitted
electronically to the Board.
Needs and Uses: Under the Interstate
Commerce Act, as amended by the ICC
Termination Act of 1995, the Board is
responsible for the economic regulation
of common carrier rail transportation.
Under 49 CFR 1108.3, rail carriers
subject to the Board’s jurisdiction may
agree to participate in the Board’s
arbitration program by filing a notice
with the Board to ‘‘opt in.’’ Once a rail
carrier is participating in the Board’s
arbitration program, it may discontinue
its participation only by filing with the
Board a notice to ‘‘opt out,’’ which
would become effective 90 days after its
filing.
Under the PRA, a federal agency that
conducts or sponsors a collection of
information must display a currently
valid OMB control number. A collection
of information, which is defined in 44
U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c),
includes agency requirements that
persons submit reports, keep records, or
provide information to the agency, third
parties, or the public. Section 3507(b) of
the PRA requires, concurrent with an
agency’s submitting a collection to OMB
for approval, a 30-day notice and
comment period through publication in
the Federal Register concerning each
proposed collection of information,
including each proposed extension of an
existing collection of information.
As required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the
Surface Transportation Board (STB or
Board) gives notice of its intent to seek
approval from the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for an extension of
the collection of Rail Depreciation
Studies, described below. The Board
previously published a notice about this
collection in the Federal Register on
December 12, 2019 (84 FR 67,990). That
notice allowed for a 60-day public
review and comment period. No
comments were received.
DATES: Comments on this information
collection should be submitted by
March 30, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should
be identified as ‘‘Paperwork Reduction
Act Comments, Surface Transportation
Board: Rail Depreciation Studies.’’
These comments should be directed to
the Office of Management and Budget,
Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Attention: Michael J. McManus,
Surface Transportation Board Desk
Officer: By email at oira_submission@
omb.eop.gov; by fax at (202) 395–1743;
or by mail to Room 10235, 725 17th
Street NW, Washington, DC 20503.
Please also direct comments to Chris
Oehrle, PRA Officer, Surface
Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW,
Washington, DC 20423–0001, or to
PRA@stb.gov. For further information
regarding this collection, contact Pedro
Ramirez at (202) 245–0333 or
pedro.ramirez@stb.gov. Assistance for
the hearing impaired is available
through the Federal Relay Service at
(800) 877–8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments
are requested concerning: (1) The
accuracy of the Board’s burden
estimates; (2) ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the
information collected; (3) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of
information on the respondents,
including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology, when
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[FR Doc. 2020–03989 Filed 2–26–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915–01–P
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD
30-Day Notice of Intent To Seek
Extension of Approval: Information
Collection—Rail Depreciation Studies
Surface Transportation Board.
Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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11441
appropriate; and (4) whether the
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of the Board, including
whether the collection has practical
utility. Submitted comments will be
summarized and included in the
Board’s request for OMB approval.
Description of Collection
Title: Rail Depreciation Studies.
OMB Control Number: 2140–0028.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Extension without
change.
Respondents: Class I railroads.
Number of Respondents: 7.
Estimated Time per Response:
Approximately 250 hours per study
(estimating that studies will require
between 125 hours and 375 hours
depending on the extent to which the
carriers assist outside consultants
perform the study).
Frequency of Response: Bi-annual.
(Under 49 CFR part 1201, section 4–1 to
4–4, the Board requires all Class I (large)
carriers to submit depreciation studies
no less than every three years for
equipment property and every six years
for road property. That means that for
any given six-year period, the Class I
railroads must submit no less than three
depreciation reports, or the equivalent
of 0.5 depreciation reports per year.)
Total Annual Hour Burden: 875 hours
(250 hours × 0.5 studies/year × 7 Class
I railroads).
Total Annual ‘‘Non-Hour Burden’’
Cost: Approximately $175,000 per year.
Board staff estimates that each study
will cost between $20,000 and $80,000,
which equals a cost of approximately
$10,000–$40,000 per year. Using an
average cost ($25,000 per year × 7 Class
I railroads), the non-hour burden cost is
estimated to be approximately $175,000
per year.
Needs and Uses: Under 49 CFR part
1201, section 4–1 to 4–4, the Board is
required to identify those classes of
property for which rail carriers may
include depreciation charges under
operating expenses, and the Board must
also prescribe a rate of depreciation that
may be charged to those classes of
property. Under 49 U.S.C. 11145, Class
I rail carriers are required to submit
depreciation studies to the Board.
Information in these studies is not
available from any other source. The
Board uses the information in these
studies to prescribe depreciation rates.
These depreciation rate prescriptions
state the period for which the
depreciation rates therein are
applicable. Class I railroads apply the
prescribed depreciation rates to their
investment base to determine a monthly
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11442
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 39 / Thursday, February 27, 2020 / Notices
AGENCY:
December 12, 2019 (84 FR 67,991). That
notice allowed for a 60-day public
review and comment period. No
comments were received.
DATES: Comments on these information
collections should be submitted by
March 30, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should
be identified as ‘‘Paperwork Reduction
Act Comments, Surface Transportation
Board: Recordations (Rail and Water
Carrier Liens), Water Carrier Tariffs, and
Agricultural Contract Summaries.’’
These comments should be directed to
the Office of Management and Budget,
Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Attention: Michael J. McManus,
Surface Transportation Board Desk
Officer: by email at oira_submission@
omb.eop.gov; by fax at (202) 395–1743;
or by mail to Room 10235, 725 17th
Street NW, Washington, DC 20503.
Please also direct comments to Chris
Oehrle, PRA Officer, Surface
Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW,
Washington, DC 20423–0001, or to
PRA@stb.gov. For further information
regarding this collection, contact
Michael Higgins, Deputy Director,
Office of Public Assistance,
Governmental Affairs, and Compliance
at (202) 245–0284 or at
michael.higgins@stb.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments
are requested concerning: (1) The
accuracy of the Board’s burden
estimates; (2) ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the
information collected; (3) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of
information on the respondents,
including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology, when
appropriate; and (4) whether the
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of the Board, including
whether the collection has practical
utility. Submitted comments will be
summarized and included in the
Board’s request for OMB approval.
ACTION:
Description of Collections
As required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the
Surface Transportation Board (STB or
Board) gives notice of its intent to seek
approval from the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for an extension of
the collections required by statute for
rail or water carrier equipment liens
(recordations), water carrier tariffs, and
rail agricultural contract summaries,
described below. The Board previously
published a notice about these
collections in the Federal Register on
Collection Number 1
Title: Agricultural Contract
Summaries.
OMB Control Number: 2140–0024.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Extension without
change.
Number of Respondents:
Approximately 10 (seven Class I [large]
railroads and a limited number of other
railroads).
Frequency: On occasion. (Over the
last three years, respondents have filed
an average of 150 agricultural contract
and annual depreciation expense. This
expense is included in the railroads’
operating expenses, which are reported
in their R–1 reports (OMB Control
Number 2140–0009). Operating
expenses are used to develop operating
costs for application in various
proceedings before the Board, such as in
rate reasonableness cases and in the
determination of railroad ‘‘revenue
adequacy.’’
Under the PRA, a federal agency that
conducts or sponsors a collection of
information must display a currently
valid OMB control number. A collection
of information, which is defined in 44
U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c),
includes agency requirements that
persons submit reports, keep records, or
provide information to the agency, third
parties, or the public. Section 3507(b) of
the PRA requires, concurrent with an
agency’s submitting a collection to OMB
for approval, a 30-day notice and
comment period through publication in
the Federal Register concerning each
proposed collection of information,
including each proposed extension of an
existing collection of information.
Information from certain schedules
contained in these reports is available at
the Board’s website at www.stb.gov by
navigating to ‘‘Reports & Data’’ and
clicking on ‘‘Economic Data.’’
Information in these reports is not
available from any other source.
Dated: February 24, 2020.
Kenyatta Clay,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2020–03992 Filed 2–26–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915–01–P
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD
30-Day Notice of Intent To Seek
Extension of Approval: Information
Collection Activities—Recordations
(Rail and Water Carrier Liens), Water
Carrier Tariffs, and Agricultural
Contract Summaries
Surface Transportation Board.
Notice and request for
comments.
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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summaries per year. The same number
of filings is expected during each of the
next three years.)
Estimated Time per Response:
Approximately 0.25 hours.
Total Burden Hours (annually
including all respondents): 37.5 hours
(150 submissions × 0.25 hours estimated
per submission).
Total Annual ‘‘Non-hour Burden’’
Cost (such as start-up and mailing
costs): There are no non-hourly burden
costs for this collection.
Needs and Uses: Under 49 U.S.C.
10709(d), railroads are required to file a
summary of the nonconfidential terms
of any contract for the transportation of
agricultural products.
Collection Number 2
Title: Recordations (Rail and Water
Carrier Liens).
OMB Control Number: 2140–0025.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Extension without
change.
Respondents: Parties holding liens on
rail equipment or water carrier vessels,
and carriers filing proof that a lien has
been removed.
Number of Respondents:
Approximately 50 respondents.
Frequency: On occasion. (Over the
last three years, respondents have filed
an average of 1,750 responses per year.
The same number of filings is expected
during each of the next three years.)
Estimated Time per Response:
Approximately 0.25 hours.
Total Burden Hours (annually
including all respondents): 437.5 hours
(1,750 submissions × 0.25 hours
estimated per response)
Total ‘‘Non-hour Burden’’ Cost (such
as start-up and mailing costs): There are
no non-hourly burden costs for this
collection. The collection may be filed
electronically.
Needs and Uses: Under 49 U.S.C.
11301 and 49 CFR part 1177, liens on
rail equipment or water carrier vessels
must be filed with the STB in order to
perfect a security interest in the
equipment. Subsequent amendments,
assignments of rights, or release of
obligations under such instruments
must also be filed with the agency. This
information is maintained by the Board
for public inspection. Recordation at the
STB obviates the need for recording the
liens in individual States.
Collection Number 3
Title: Water Carrier Tariffs.
OMB Control Number: 2140–0026.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Extension without
change.
E:\FR\FM\27FEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11441-11442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-03992]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD
30-Day Notice of Intent To Seek Extension of Approval:
Information Collection--Rail Depreciation Studies
AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the
Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) gives notice of its intent
to seek approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an
extension of the collection of Rail Depreciation Studies, described
below. The Board previously published a notice about this collection in
the Federal Register on December 12, 2019 (84 FR 67,990). That notice
allowed for a 60-day public review and comment period. No comments were
received.
DATES: Comments on this information collection should be submitted by
March 30, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be identified as ``Paperwork
Reduction Act Comments, Surface Transportation Board: Rail Depreciation
Studies.'' These comments should be directed to the Office of
Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Attention: Michael J. McManus, Surface Transportation Board Desk
Officer: By email at [email protected]; by fax at (202) 395-
1743; or by mail to Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC
20503. Please also direct comments to Chris Oehrle, PRA Officer,
Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20423-
0001, or to [email protected]. For further information regarding this
collection, contact Pedro Ramirez at (202) 245-0333 or
[email protected]. Assistance for the hearing impaired is available
through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments are requested concerning: (1) The
accuracy of the Board's burden estimates; (2) ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; (3) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of information on the
respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology, when appropriate; and (4)
whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the Board, including whether the
collection has practical utility. Submitted comments will be summarized
and included in the Board's request for OMB approval.
Description of Collection
Title: Rail Depreciation Studies.
OMB Control Number: 2140-0028.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Extension without change.
Respondents: Class I railroads.
Number of Respondents: 7.
Estimated Time per Response: Approximately 250 hours per study
(estimating that studies will require between 125 hours and 375 hours
depending on the extent to which the carriers assist outside
consultants perform the study).
Frequency of Response: Bi-annual. (Under 49 CFR part 1201, section
4-1 to 4-4, the Board requires all Class I (large) carriers to submit
depreciation studies no less than every three years for equipment
property and every six years for road property. That means that for any
given six-year period, the Class I railroads must submit no less than
three depreciation reports, or the equivalent of 0.5 depreciation
reports per year.)
Total Annual Hour Burden: 875 hours (250 hours x 0.5 studies/year x
7 Class I railroads).
Total Annual ``Non-Hour Burden'' Cost: Approximately $175,000 per
year. Board staff estimates that each study will cost between $20,000
and $80,000, which equals a cost of approximately $10,000-$40,000 per
year. Using an average cost ($25,000 per year x 7 Class I railroads),
the non-hour burden cost is estimated to be approximately $175,000 per
year.
Needs and Uses: Under 49 CFR part 1201, section 4-1 to 4-4, the
Board is required to identify those classes of property for which rail
carriers may include depreciation charges under operating expenses, and
the Board must also prescribe a rate of depreciation that may be
charged to those classes of property. Under 49 U.S.C. 11145, Class I
rail carriers are required to submit depreciation studies to the Board.
Information in these studies is not available from any other source.
The Board uses the information in these studies to prescribe
depreciation rates. These depreciation rate prescriptions state the
period for which the depreciation rates therein are applicable. Class I
railroads apply the prescribed depreciation rates to their investment
base to determine a monthly
[[Page 11442]]
and annual depreciation expense. This expense is included in the
railroads' operating expenses, which are reported in their R-1 reports
(OMB Control Number 2140-0009). Operating expenses are used to develop
operating costs for application in various proceedings before the
Board, such as in rate reasonableness cases and in the determination of
railroad ``revenue adequacy.''
Under the PRA, a federal agency that conducts or sponsors a
collection of information must display a currently valid OMB control
number. A collection of information, which is defined in 44 U.S.C.
3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c), includes agency requirements that persons
submit reports, keep records, or provide information to the agency,
third parties, or the public. Section 3507(b) of the PRA requires,
concurrent with an agency's submitting a collection to OMB for
approval, a 30-day notice and comment period through publication in the
Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information,
including each proposed extension of an existing collection of
information.
Information from certain schedules contained in these reports is
available at the Board's website at www.stb.gov by navigating to
``Reports & Data'' and clicking on ``Economic Data.'' Information in
these reports is not available from any other source.
Dated: February 24, 2020.
Kenyatta Clay,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2020-03992 Filed 2-26-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P
