[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 99 (Thursday, May 21, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 31020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11002]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD


60-Day Notice of Intent To Seek Extension of Approval: Complaints

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 Complaints, as described below.

DATES: Comments on this information collection should be submitted by 
July 20, 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, Complaints.'' 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 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: Complaints under 49 CFR 1111.
    OMB Control Number: 2140-0029.
    STB Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension without change.
    Respondents: Affected shippers, railroads and communities that seek 
redress for alleged violations related to unreasonable rates, 
unreasonable practices, service issues, and other statutory claims.
    Number of Respondents: Four.
    Estimated Time per Response: 467 hours.
    Frequency: On occasion. For years 2017-2019, respondents filed an 
average of four complaints of this type with the Board.
    Total Burden Hours (annually including all respondents): 1,876 
(estimated hours per complaint (467) x average number of complaints 
(4)).
    Total ``Non-hour Burden'' Cost: $5,848 (estimated non-hour burden 
cost per complaint ($1,462) x average number of complaints (4)).
    Needs and Uses: Under the Board's regulations, persons may file 
complaints before the Board pursuant to 49 CFR part 1111 seeking 
redress for alleged violations of provisions of the Interstate Commerce 
Act, 49 U.S.C. 10101 et seq. The required content of a complaint is 
outlined at 49 CFR 1111.1(a). Generally, the most significant 
complaints filed at the Board allege that railroads are charging 
unreasonable rates or that they are engaging in unreasonable practices. 
The collection by the Board of these complaints, and the agency's 
action in conducting proceedings and ruling on the complaints, enables 
the Board to meet its statutory duty to regulate the rail industry.
    In two notices of proposed rulemakings, Final Offer Rate Review, EP 
755 et al. (84 FR 48872 (Sept. 17, 2019)); and Market Dominance 
Streamlined Approach, EP 756 (84 FR 48882 (Sept. 17, 2019)), the Board 
is proposing new rules that are intended to simplify and streamline 
certain complaint proceedings. The Board has submitted to OMB an 
interim request for modification and extension of the existing 
collection and has received comments, which it is reviewing. The Board 
will submit its requests for modification of this collection once the 
final rules are decided.
    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: May 18, 2020.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2020-11002 Filed 5-20-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4915-01-P