[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 146 (Monday, July 30, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44710-44711]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18428]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board


Information Collection Activities (Depreciation Studies)

ACTION: 60-day notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: 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-
3519 (PRA), the Surface Transportation Board (Board) gives notice of 
its intent to request from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
the information collection--Rail Depreciation Studies--further 
described below.
    Comments are requested concerning (1) whether this 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/or summarized in the Board's request for 
OMB approval.

DATES: Written comments are due on September 28, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Direct all comments to Marilyn Levitt, Surface 
Transportation Board, Suite 1260, 395 E Street SW., Washington, DC 
20423-0001, or to [email protected]. Comments should be identified as 
``Paperwork Reduction Act Comments,'' and should refer to the title of 
the collection commented upon.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies 
of the information collection(s) contact Paul Aguiar at (202) 245-0323 
or [email protected]. [Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) for 
the hearing impaired: (800) 877-8339.]
    Subjects: In this notice the Board is requesting comments on the 
following information collection:
    Title: Rail Depreciation Studies.
    OMB Control Number: 2140-XXXX.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Collection in existence without a Control Number.
    Respondents: Class I railroads.
    Number of Respondents: 7.
    Estimated Time per Response: Between 500 and 540 hours annually, 
depending on whether the rail-carrier respondent has significant 
assistance from outside consultants, resulting in an average of 515 
hours per response.
    Frequency of Response: Every 3 years for equipment; every 6 years 
for other depreciable property.
    Total Annual Hour Burden: 3,605 hours (515 hours x 7 Class I 
railroads).
    Total Annual ``Non-Hour Burden'' Cost: Between $8,340 and $30,000 
annually, depending on whether the rail-carrier respondent has 
significant assistance from outside consultants, resulting in an annual 
average of $20,500 and a cumulative total for all 7 Class I railroads 
of $143,500.
    Needs and Uses: Under 49 U.S.C. 11145, 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. Pursuant to the Board's authority under Sec.  11145, Class 
I (large) rail carriers are required to submit to the Board 
Depreciation Studies. 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

[[Page 44711]]

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.

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 Sec.  3506(c)(2)(A) of 
the PRA, Federal agencies are required, prior to submitting a 
collection to OMB for approval, 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.

    Dated: July 24, 2012.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2012-18428 Filed 7-27-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P