[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 16 (Thursday, January 26, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8560-8561]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-01797]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD


60-Day Notice of Intent To Seek Extension of Approval and Merger 
of Collections: Statutory Licensing Authority

ACTION: Notice and Request for Comments.

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AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

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-
3521 (PRA), the Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) gives 
notice that it is requesting from the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) an extension of approval for the information collections required 
from those seeking licensing authority under 49 U.S.C. 10901-03 and 
consolidation authority under sections 11323-26. The Board is also 
seeking approval to merge into this collection (OMB Control Number: 
2140-0023) the collection of information about interchange commitments 
(OMB Control Number: 2140-0016).

DATES: Comments on this information collection should be submitted by 
March 27, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Direct all comments to Chris Oehrle, PRA Officer, Surface 
Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001, or 
to [email protected]. When submitting comments, please refer to ``Paperwork 
Reduction Act Comments, Statutory Licensing Authority.''

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: The Board currently collects information 
from those seeking licensing authority under OMB Control Number 2140-
0023 and, under that collection, requires the disclosure of information 
about rail interchange commitments, which is also

[[Page 8561]]

addressed under OMB Control Number 2140-0016. This request proposes to 
combine collections under Control Numbers 2140-0016 and 2140-0023, with 
2140-0023 being the survivor. The Board will request to discontinue 
Control Number 2140-0016 upon OMB approval of the merger.
    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 1

    Title: Statutory Licensing Authority.
    OMB Control Number: 2140-0023.
    STB Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension with change.
    Respondents: Rail carriers and non-carriers seeking statutory 
licensing or consolidation authority or an exemption from filing an 
application for such authority.
    Number of Respondents: 76.\1\
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    \1\ Approximately 40% of the filings are additional filings 
submitted by railroads that had already submitted filings during the 
time period.
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    Estimated Time per Response:

                      Estimated Hours per Response
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                                                             Number of
                                                             hours per
                                                          response under
                     Type of filing                          49 U.S.C.
                                                           10901-03 and
                                                             11323-26
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Applications............................................             524
Petitions *.............................................              58
Notices *...............................................              19
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    Frequency: On occasion.

                     Number of Responses in FY 2015
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                                                             Number of
                                                           filings under
                     Type of filing                          49 U.S.C.
                                                           10901-03 and
                                                             11323-26
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applications............................................               1
Petitions *.............................................              12
Notices *...............................................             113
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Under section 10502, petitions for exemption and notices of exemption
  are permitted in lieu of an application.

    Total Burden Hours (annually including all respondents): 3,367 (sum 
total of estimated hours per response x number of responses for each 
type of filing).
    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 No. 104-88, 109 Stat. 803 
(1995), persons seeking to construct, acquire or operate a line of 
railroad and railroads seeking to abandon or to discontinue operations 
over a line of railroad or, in the case of two or more railroads, to 
consolidate their interests through merger or a common-control 
arrangement are required to file an application for prior approval and 
authority with the Board. See 49 U.S.C. 10901-03, 11323-26. Under 49 
U.S.C. 10502, persons may seek an exemption from many of the 
application requirements of sections 10901-03 and 11323-26 by filing 
with the Board a petition for exemption or notice of exemption in lieu 
of an application. The collection by the Board of these applications, 
petitions, and notices (including collection of disclosures of rail 
interchange commitments under 49 CFR 1150.43(h)) enables the Board to 
meet its statutory duty to regulate the referenced rail transactions.

Description of Collection 2

    Title: Disclosure of Rail Interchange Commitments.
    OMB Control Number: 2140-0016.
    STB Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension without change.
    Respondents: Noncarriers and carriers seeking an exemption to 
acquire (through purchase or lease) or to operate a rail line, if the 
proposed transaction would create an interchange commitment.
    Number of Respondents: 4.
    Estimated Time per Response: 8 hours.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours (annually including all respondents): 32 hours.
    Total ``Non-hour Burden'' Cost: None identified. Filings may be 
submitted electronically to the Board.
    Needs and Uses: Under 49 U.S.C. 10502, noncarriers and carriers may 
seek an exemption from the prior approval requirements of sections 
10901, 10902, and 11323 to acquire (through purchase or lease) or to 
operate a rail line. These transactions may create agreements with 
interchange commitments. If the interchange commitments limit the 
future interchange of traffic with third parties, then certain 
information must be disclosed to the Board about those commitments. 49 
CFR 1150.43(h). The collection of this information facilitates the 
case-specific review of interchange commitments and enables the Board's 
monitoring of their usage generally.
    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: January 23, 2017.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2017-01797 Filed 1-25-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4915-01-P