[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 3 (Thursday, January 5, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1421-1422]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31956]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD


60-Day Notice of Intent To Seek Approval of an Existing 
Collection in Use Without an OMB Control Number: Dispute Resolution 
Procedures Under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act of 
2015

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: 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 (PRA), the 
Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) gives notice that it is 
requesting from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of a 
new collection to implement a directive of the Fixing America's Surface 
Transportation Act of 2015, FAST Act). Title XI of the FAST Act, 
entitled ``Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015,'' gives 
the Board jurisdiction to resolve cost allocation and access disputes 
between National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), the states, 
and potential non-Amtrak operators of intercity passenger rail service. 
The FAST Act directs the Board to establish procedures for the 
resolution of these disputes, ``which may include the provision of 
professional mediation services.'' The Board adopted final rules to 
implement these procedures in Dispute Resolution Procedures Under the 
Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act of 2015, EP 734 (STB served 
Nov. 29, 2016). Due to a technical omission in the notice of proposed 
rulemaking in EP 734 under the PRA, the Board is seeking OMB approval 
for this collection in this notice.

DATES: Comments on this information collection should be submitted by 
March 6, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Direct all comments to Chris Oehrle, PRA Officer, Surface

[[Page 1422]]

Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001, or 
to [email protected]. When submitting comments, please refer to 
``Paperwork Reduction Act Comments, Dispute Resolution Procedures Under 
the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act of 2015.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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: 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: Dispute Resolution Procedures Under the Fixing America's 
Surface Transportation Act of 2015.
    OMB Control Number: 2140-XXXX.
    STB Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Existing collection in use without an OMB control 
number.
    Respondents: Parties seeking the Board's informal assistance.
    Number of Respondents: Approximately 3.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours (annually including all respondents): 3 
(estimated hours per response (1) x total number of responses (3)).
    Total ``Non-hour Burden'' Cost: None identified. Filings may be 
submitted electronically to the Board.
    Needs and Uses: Under the new 49 CFR 1109.5, parties to a dispute 
involving the State-Sponsored Route Committee or the Northeast Corridor 
Committee would, even in the absence of a formal complaint before the 
Board, be permitted to request, by letter submitted to the Board's 
Office of Public Assistance, Governmental Affairs, and Compliance, the 
Board's informal assistance in securing outside professional mediation 
services. The letter shall include a concise description of the issues 
for which outside professional mediation services are sought. The 
collection by the Board of these request letters enables the Board to 
meet its statutory duty under the FAST Act.
    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 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A), federal 
agencies are required to provide, prior 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: December 29, 2016.
Brendetta S. Jones,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2016-31956 Filed 1-4-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4915-01-P