[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 239 (Thursday, December 12, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67989-67990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26782]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD


60-Day Notice of Intent To Seek Extension of Approval: 
Arbitration ``Opt-In'' Notices

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (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 collection of Arbitration ``Opt-in'' Notices, 
described below.

DATES: Comments on this information collection should be submitted by 
February 10, 2020.

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 ``Paperwork Reduction Act 
Comments, Arbitration ``Opt-in'' 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 Relay Service at 
(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

[[Page 67990]]

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 ``Opt-in'' Notices.
    OMB Control Number: 2140-0020.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension without change.
    Respondents: All regulated rail carriers.
    Number of Respondents: 2.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.5 hours.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours (annually including all respondents): 1.0 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 No. 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 subject 
to the Board's jurisdiction 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.
    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 9, 2019.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2019-26782 Filed 12-11-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4915-01-P