30-Day Notice of Intent To Seek Extension of Approval of Collection: Rail Depreciation Studies, 33955-33956 [2023-11198]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 101 / Thursday, May 25, 2023 / Notices (Rail and Water Carrier Liens), Water Carrier Tariffs, and Agricultural Contract Summaries.’’ For further information regarding this collection, contact Mike Higgins at (866) 254–1792 (toll-free) or 202–245–0238, or by emailing rcpa@stb.gov. Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board previously published a notice about this collection in the Federal Register (88 FR 16513 (March 17, 2023)). That notice allowed for a 60-day public review and comment period. No comments were received. Comments are requested concerning each collection as to (1) whether the particular collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Board, including whether the collection has practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the Board’s burden estimates; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (4) 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. Submitted comments will be included and summarized in the Board’s request for OMB approval. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Description of Collections 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 (six 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 172 agricultural contract 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): 43 hours (172 submissions × 0.25 hours estimated per submission). Total Annual ‘‘Non-hour Burden’’ Cost: There are no non-hourly burden costs for this collection. The collection is filed electronically. 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. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:04 May 24, 2023 Jkt 259001 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 1,850 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): 462.5 hours (1,850 submissions × 0.25 hours estimated per response) Total ‘‘Non-hour Burden’’ Cost: 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. Hawaii, or the U.S. territories or possessions (Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands) to or from the mainland U.S.) may file an annual certification with the Board that includes the internet address of a website containing a list of current and historical tariffs (including prices and fees that the water carrier charges to the shipping public). 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. Dated: May 22, 2023. Stefan Rice, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. 2023–11197 Filed 5–24–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915–01–P SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD 30-Day Notice of Intent To Seek Extension of Approval of Collection: Rail Depreciation Studies Collection Number 3 AGENCY: Title: Water Carrier Tariffs. OMB Control Number: 2140–0026. Form Number: None. Type of Review: Extension without change. Respondents: Water carriers that provide freight transportation in noncontiguous domestic trade. Number of Respondents: Approximately 22. Frequency: Annual certification. Total Burden Hours (annually including all respondents): 77 hours (22 annual filings × 3.5 hours estimated time per certification). Total ‘‘Non-Hour Burden’’ Cost: There are no non-hourly burden costs for this collection. The annual certifications will be submitted electronically. Needs and Uses: Under 49 U.S.C. 13702(b) and 49 CFR part 1312, in lieu of individual tariffs, water carriers that provide freight transportation in noncontiguous domestic trade (i.e., shipments moving to or from Alaska, ACTION: PO 00000 Frm 00096 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 33955 Surface Transportation Board. Notice and request for comments. 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. DATES: Comments on this information collection should be submitted by June 26, 2023. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be identified as ‘‘Paperwork Reduction Act Comments, Surface Transportation Board, Rail Depreciation Studies.’’ Written comments for the proposed information collection should be submitted via www.reginfo.gov/public/ do/PRAMain. This information collection can be accessed by selecting ‘‘Currently under Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or by using the SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\25MYN1.SGM 25MYN1 33956 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 101 / Thursday, May 25, 2023 / Notices lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 search function. As an alternative, written comments may be directed to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Michael J. McManus, Surface Transportation Board Desk Officer: via 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 all comments to Chris Oehrle, PRA Officer, Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20423–0001, or to PRA@stb.gov. When submitting comments, please refer to ‘‘Paperwork Reduction Act Comments, Rail Depreciation Studies.’’ 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: The Board previously published a notice about this collection in the Federal Register (88 FR 16512 (March 17, 2023)). That notice allowed for a 60-day public review and comment period. No comments were received. Comments are requested concerning each collection as to (1) whether the particular collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Board, including whether the collection has practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the Board’s burden estimates; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (4) 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. Submitted comments will be included and summarized in the Board’s request for OMB approval. Subjects: In this notice, the Board is requesting comments on the extension of the following information collection: 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: Seven. 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 carrier provides assistance to outside consultants performing the study for them). VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:04 May 24, 2023 Jkt 259001 Frequency of Response: Bi-annual. (Under 49 CFR part 1201, sections 4–1 to 4–4, the Board requires all Class I (large) carriers to submit depreciation studies no less frequently 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 fewer 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 $210,000 per year. Board staff estimates that each biennial study will cost between $20,000 and $100,000 to reflect recent price escalation, which converts to an annual cost of approximately $10,000-$50,000 per year. Using an average cost ($30,000 per year X 7 Class I railroads), the nonhour burden cost is estimated to be approximately $210,000 per year. Needs and Uses: Under 49 CFR part 1201, sections 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 monthly 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 PO 00000 Frm 00097 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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: May 22, 2023. Stefan Rice, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. 2023–11198 Filed 5–24–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915–01–P SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD 30-Day Notice of Intent To Seek Extension of Approval of Collection: Arbitration ‘‘Opt-In’’ Notices Surface Transportation Board. Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: ACTION: 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 Arbitration ‘‘Opt-in’’ Notices, described below. DATES: Comments on this information collection should be submitted by June 26, 2023. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be identified as ‘‘Paperwork Reduction Act Comments, Arbitration ‘Opt-In’ Notices.’’ Written comments for the proposed information collection should be submitted via www.reginfo.gov/ public/do/PRAMain. This information collection can be accessed by selecting ‘‘Currently under Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or by using the search function. As an alternative, written comments may be directed to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Michael J. McManus, Surface Transportation Board Desk Officer: via 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 all comments to Chris Oehrle, PRA Officer, Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20423–0001, or to PRA@stb.gov. When submitting comments, please refer to ‘‘Paperwork SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\25MYN1.SGM 25MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 101 (Thursday, May 25, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33955-33956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11198]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD


30-Day Notice of Intent To Seek Extension of Approval of 
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.

DATES: Comments on this information collection should be submitted by 
June 26, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be identified as ``Paperwork 
Reduction Act Comments, Surface Transportation Board, Rail Depreciation 
Studies.'' Written comments for the proposed information collection 
should be submitted via www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. This 
information collection can be accessed by selecting ``Currently under 
Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the

[[Page 33956]]

search function. As an alternative, written comments may be directed to 
the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Michael J. McManus, Surface 
Transportation Board Desk Officer: via 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 all comments to Chris Oehrle, PRA Officer, 
Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20423-
0001, or to [email protected]. When submitting comments, please refer to 
``Paperwork Reduction Act Comments, Rail Depreciation Studies.'' 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: The Board previously published a notice 
about this collection in the Federal Register (88 FR 16512 (March 17, 
2023)). That notice allowed for a 60-day public review and comment 
period. No comments were received.
    Comments are requested concerning each collection as to (1) whether 
the particular collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the Board, including whether the 
collection has practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the Board's 
burden estimates; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity 
of the information collected; and (4) 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. Submitted comments will be included and 
summarized in the Board's request for OMB approval.
    Subjects: In this notice, the Board is requesting comments on the 
extension of the following information collection:

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: Seven.
    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 carrier provides assistance to 
outside consultants performing the study for them).
    Frequency of Response: Bi-annual. (Under 49 CFR part 1201, sections 
4-1 to 4-4, the Board requires all Class I (large) carriers to submit 
depreciation studies no less frequently 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 fewer 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 $210,000 per 
year. Board staff estimates that each biennial study will cost between 
$20,000 and $100,000 to reflect recent price escalation, which converts 
to an annual cost of approximately $10,000-$50,000 per year. Using an 
average cost ($30,000 per year X 7 Class I railroads), the non-hour 
burden cost is estimated to be approximately $210,000 per year.
    Needs and Uses: Under 49 CFR part 1201, sections 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 monthly 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: May 22, 2023.
Stefan Rice,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2023-11198 Filed 5-24-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P
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