[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 217 (Thursday, November 12, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58368-58369]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27149]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board


 Notice and Request for Comments

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: 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 will seek from the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) an extension of approval for the two currently approved 
collections described below. The Board is seeking comments regarding 
one or both of these collections concerning (1) Whether the collection 
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 addressed in a subsequent notice and will also be 
submitted to OMB with the Board's request for OMB approval.
    Deadline: Persons wishing to comment on one or both of these 
information collections should submit comments by January 11, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Direct all comments to Marilyn R. Levitt, Office of the 
General Counsel, Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street, SW., Suite 
1260, Washington, DC 20423, [email protected], or by fax at (202) 
245-0460. Comments should be identified as ``Paperwork Reduction Act 
Comments,'' and should refer to the title and control number of the 
specific collection(s) commented upon.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia T. Brown, (202) 245-0350. For 
a copy of the regulations pertaining to the information collection(s), 
contact Cynthia T. Brown at (202) 245-0350 or [email protected].

Collection Number One

    Title: Maps Required in Abandonment Exemption Proceedings.
    OMB Control Number: 2140-0008.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension without change.
    Respondents: Railroads initiating abandonment exemption 
proceedings.
    Number of Respondents: 80.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour, based on average time reported 
in informal survey of respondents conducted in 2009.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 80.
    Total Annual ``Non-Hour Burden'' Cost: None have been identified.
    Needs and Uses: Under 49 CFR 1152.50(d)(2) and 1152.60(b), the 
Board

[[Page 58369]]

requires in each abandonment exemption proceeding a detailed map of the 
rail line, depicting the line's relation to other rail lines, roads, 
water routes, and population centers. The Board uses this information 
to determine the scope and the impact of the proposed abandonment. In 
addition, this information is posted on the Board's Web site and serves 
as a form of notice to current and/or potential shippers, and to 
persons who might want to make an offer of financial assistance under 
49 U.S.C. 10904; acquire the line as a trail under the National Trails 
System Act, 16 U.S.C. 1247(d); or acquire the line for another public 
purpose under 49 U.S.C. 10905.

Collection Number Two

    Title: System Diagram Maps (or, in the case of small carriers, the 
alternative narrative description of rail system).
    OMB Control Number: 2140-0003.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension without change.
    Respondents: Common carrier freight railroads that are either new 
or reporting changes in the status of one or more of their rail lines.
    Number of Respondents: 3.
    Estimated Time per Response: 7.1 hours, based on average time 
reported in informal survey of respondents conducted in 2009.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 21 hours.
    Total Annual ``Non-Hour Burden'' Cost: None have been identified.
    Needs and Uses: Under 49 CFR 1152.10-1152.13, all railroads subject 
to the Board's jurisdiction are required to keep current system diagram 
maps on file, or alternatively in the case of a Class III carrier (a 
carrier with assets of not more than $20 million in 1991 dollars), to 
submit the same information in narrative form. The information sought 
in this collection identifies all lines in a particular railroad's 
system, categorized to indicate the likelihood that service on a 
particular line will be abandoned and/or whether service on a line is 
currently provided under the financial assistance provisions of 49 
U.S.C. 10904. Carriers are obligated to amend these maps as the need to 
change the category of any particular line arises. The Board uses this 
information to facilitate informed decision making, and this 
information, which is available to the public from the carrier by 
request, 49 CFR 1152.12(c)(3), may serve as notice to the shipping 
public of the carrier's intent to abandon or retain a line.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA, a Federal agency conducting 
or sponsoring 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. Under section 3506(c)(2)(A) 
of the PRA, Federal agencies are required to provide a 60-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, before 
submitting the collection to OMB for approval.

    Dated: November 4, 2009.
Cynthia T. Brown,
Chief, Section of Administration, Office of Proceedings.
[FR Doc. E9-27149 Filed 11-10-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P