[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11442-11443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-03991]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD


30-Day Notice of Intent To Seek Extension of Approval: 
Information Collection Activities--Recordations (Rail and Water Carrier 
Liens), Water Carrier Tariffs, and Agricultural Contract Summaries

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 collections required by statute for rail or water 
carrier equipment liens (recordations), water carrier tariffs, and rail 
agricultural contract summaries, described below. The Board previously 
published a notice about these collections in the Federal Register on 
December 12, 2019 (84 FR 67,991). That notice allowed for a 60-day 
public review and comment period. No comments were received.

DATES: Comments on these information collections should be submitted by 
March 30, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be identified as ``Paperwork 
Reduction Act Comments, Surface Transportation Board: Recordations 
(Rail and Water Carrier Liens), Water Carrier Tariffs, and Agricultural 
Contract Summaries.'' 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 
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 Collections

Collection Number 1

    Title: Agricultural Contract Summaries.
    OMB Control Number: 2140-0024.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension without change.
    Number of Respondents: Approximately 10 (seven Class I [large] 
railroads and a limited number of other railroads).
    Frequency: On occasion. (Over the last three years, respondents 
have filed an average of 150 agricultural contract summaries per year. 
The same number of filings is expected during each of the next three 
years.)
    Estimated Time per Response: Approximately 0.25 hours.
    Total Burden Hours (annually including all respondents): 37.5 hours 
(150 submissions x 0.25 hours estimated per submission).
    Total Annual ``Non-hour Burden'' Cost (such as start-up and mailing 
costs): There are no non-hourly burden costs for this collection.
    Needs and Uses: Under 49 U.S.C. 10709(d), railroads are required to 
file a summary of the nonconfidential terms of any contract for the 
transportation of agricultural products.

Collection Number 2

    Title: Recordations (Rail and Water Carrier Liens).
    OMB Control Number: 2140-0025.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension without change.
    Respondents: Parties holding liens on rail equipment or water 
carrier vessels, and carriers filing proof that a lien has been 
removed.
    Number of Respondents: Approximately 50 respondents.
    Frequency: On occasion. (Over the last three years, respondents 
have filed an average of 1,750 responses per year. The same number of 
filings is expected during each of the next three years.)
    Estimated Time per Response: Approximately 0.25 hours.
    Total Burden Hours (annually including all respondents): 437.5 
hours (1,750 submissions x 0.25 hours estimated per response)
    Total ``Non-hour Burden'' Cost (such as start-up and mailing 
costs): There are no non-hourly burden costs for this collection. The 
collection may be filed electronically.
    Needs and Uses: Under 49 U.S.C. 11301 and 49 CFR part 1177, liens 
on rail equipment or water carrier vessels must be filed with the STB 
in order to perfect a security interest in the equipment. Subsequent 
amendments, assignments of rights, or release of obligations under such 
instruments must also be filed with the agency. This information is 
maintained by the Board for public inspection. Recordation at the STB 
obviates the need for recording the liens in individual States.

Collection Number 3

    Title: Water Carrier Tariffs.
    OMB Control Number: 2140-0026.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension without change.

[[Page 11443]]

    Respondents: Water carriers that provide freight transportation in 
noncontiguous domestic trade.
    Number of Respondents: Approximately 20.
    Frequency: Annual certification.
    Total Burden Hours (annually including all respondents): 80 hours 
(20 annual filings x 4 hours estimated time per certification).
    Total ``Non-Hour Burden'' Cost (such as start-up costs and mailing 
costs): There are no non-hourly burden costs for this collection. The 
annual certifications will be submitted electronically.
    Needs and Uses: Under 49 U.S.C. 13702(b) and 49 CFR part 1312, in 
lieu of individual tariffs, water carriers that provide freight 
transportation in noncontiguous domestic trade (i.e., shipments moving 
to or from Alaska, Hawaii, or the U.S. territories or possessions 
(Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the 
Northern Mariana Islands) to or from the mainland U.S.) may file an 
annual certification with the Board that includes the internet address 
of a website containing a list of current and historical tariffs 
(including prices and fees that the water carrier charges to the 
shipping public).
    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. 2020-03991 Filed 2-26-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4915-01-P