[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 84 (Monday, May 2, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26303-26304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10192]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD


Notice and Request for Comments

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: 60-day notice of intent to seek extension of approval: 
Arbitration Option Notices.

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SUMMARY: As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 
3501-3521 (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 process for filing Arbitration 
Option Notices. This information collection is described in detail 
below.
    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: Arbitration Option Notices.
    OMB Control Number: 2140-0020.
    STB Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension with change.
    Respondents: All regulated rail carriers.
    Number of Respondents: 1.
    Estimated Time per Response: .5 hours.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours (annually including all respondents): .5 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, Public Law 104-88, 109 Stat. 803 
(1995), the Board is responsible for the economic regulation of common 
carrier rail transportation. Under 49 CFR 1108.3, rail carriers 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 a notice to ``opt out'' with the 
Board, which would become effective 90 days after its filing.

DATES: Comments on this information collection should be submitted by 
July 1, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Direct all comments to Chris Oehrle, Surface Transportation 
Board, 395 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001, or to 
[email protected]. When submitting comments, please refer to 
``Arbitration Option Notice.'' 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 [email protected]. [Assistance for the hearing impaired is 
available through the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-
800-877-8339.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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. Under Sec.  
3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, federal agencies are required to provide, 
prior

[[Page 26304]]

to an agency's submitting a collection to OMB for approval, 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: April 27, 2016.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2016-10192 Filed 4-29-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4915-01-P