Surface Transportation Board 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Surface Transportation Board's (Board) Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) in response to a petition filed by the Ameren Energy Generating Company. The petition seeks an exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502 from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10901 for authority to construct and operate one of two rail lines: An approximately 13.5-mile line in Montgomery County, Illinois, or an approximately 4.6-mile line in Montgomery and Bond Counties, Illinois. The EA identifies the natural and man-made resources in the area of the proposed rail lines and analyzes the potential impacts of the proposal and alternatives to the proposal on these resources. Based on the information provided from all sources to date and its independent analysis, SEA preliminarily concludes that construction and operation of either of the proposed rail lines would have no significant environmental impacts if the Board imposes and the Ameren Electric Generating Company implements the recommended measures set forth in the EA. Copies of the EA have been served on all interested parties and will be made available to additional parties upon request. The entire EA is also available on the Board's Web site (https://www.stb.dot.gov) by clicking on the ``Decisions & Notices'' button that appears in the drop down menu for ``E-LIBRARY,'' and searching by Service Date (May 25, 2005) or Docket Number (FD 34435). SEA will consider all comments received when making its final environmental recommendations to the Board. The Board will then consider SEA's final recommendations and the complete environmental record in making its final decision in this proceeding.

The Surface Transportation Board (Board), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. (PRA), gives notice that the Board proposes to request approval of the seven existing information collections described below. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control numbers were obtained in the past, but have expired, for six of the seven information collections that are the subject of this notice. For the most part, the collections listed below continue current Board reporting requirements without revision. As described below, a minor revision has been made to Collection No. 1, Class I Railroad Annual Report. Comments are requested regarding any of the collections of information described below concerning (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 summarized and included in the Board's request for OMB approval.

The Surface Transportation Board (Board), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. (PRA), gives notice that the Board proposes to request reinstatement without change of a previously approved information collection that has expired. Comments are requested concerning (1) Whether the particular collection of information described below 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 summarized and included in the Board's request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. In this notice the Board is requesting comments on the following information collection: Title: Application to Open an Account for Billing Purposes. OMB Control Number: 2104-0006. Form Number: STB Form 1032. Number of Respondents: 20. Affected Public: Mail carriers, shippers, and others doing business before the agency. Estimated Time Per Response: Less than .08 hours. This estimate is based on actual past survey information. Frequency of Response: The form will only have to be completed once by each account holder. Total Annual Burden Hours: Less than 1.6 hours. Total Annual ``Non-Hour Burden'' Cost: No ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with this collection have been identified. Needs and Uses: The Board is, by statute, responsible for the economic regulation of surface transportation carriers operating in interstate commerce. This form is for use by applicants who wish to open an account with the Board to charge fees for records search, review, copying, certification of records, filing fees, and related services rendered. The account holder would be billed on a monthly basis for payment of accumulated fees. Data provided will also be used for debt collection activities. The form requests information as required by OMB and U.S. Department of Treasury regulations for the collection of fees. This information is not duplicated by any other agency. In accordance with the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. 552a, all taxpayer identification and social security numbers will be secured and used only for credit management and debt collection activities.

The Board adopts its 2005 User Fee Update and revises its fee schedule to recover the costs associated with the January 2005 Government salary increases and to reflect changes in overhead costs to the Board.