[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11440-11441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-03989]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD


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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.
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. The Board previously published a notice about this 
collection in the Federal Register on December 12, 2019. That notice 
allowed for a 60-day public review and comment period. No comments were 
received.

DATES: Comments on this information collection should be submitted by 
March 30, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be identified as ``Paperwork 
Reduction Act Comments, Surface Transportation Board: Arbitration `Opt-
in' Notices.'' These comments should be directed to the Office of 
Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Attention: Michael J. McManus, Surface Transportation Board Desk 
Officer: by email at [email protected]; by fax at (202) 395-
1743; or by mail to Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 
20503. Please also direct comments to Chris Oehrle, PRA Officer, 
Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20423-
0001, or to [email protected]. 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].

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

[[Page 11441]]

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 ``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, 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 with the Board a notice to ``opt out,'' 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. Section 3507(b) of the PRA requires, 
concurrent with an agency's submitting a collection to OMB for 
approval, a 30-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: February 24, 2020.
Kenyatta Clay,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2020-03989 Filed 2-26-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4915-01-P