[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 135 (Tuesday, July 14, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42481-42482]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-15091]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD


30-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 approval for the information collection required from 
those seeking to file complaints, as described below. The Board 
previously published a notice about this collection in the Federal 
Register on May 21, 2020. 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 
August 13, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be identified as ``Paperwork 
Reduction Act Comments, Surface Transportation Board: Complaints.'' 
Written comments for the proposed information collection should be 
submitted via www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. This information 
collection can be accessed by selecting ``Currently under Review--Open 
for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. As an 
alternative, written comments may 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 and to 
[email protected]. For further information regarding this collection, contact 
Michael Higgins, Deputy Director, Office of Public Assistance, 
Governmental Affairs (OPAGAC), and Compliance, at (202) 245-0284 or 
[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.
    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: 469 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 (469) 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.

[[Page 42482]]

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 
proposed 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 in 
connection with those proceedings, and has received comments, which it 
is reviewing. The Board will need to submit another request for 
modification of the collection for complaints, and address comments 
received in those proceedings, should final rules be adopted in those 
proceedings.
    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: July 8, 2020.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2020-15091 Filed 7-13-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P