[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 21, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10501-10502]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-03497]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

[Docket ID: USA-2023-HQ-0006]


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense (DoD).

ACTION: 60-Day information collection notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announces a proposed public information 
collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments 
are invited on: whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information shall have practical utility; the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the 
burden of the information collection on respondents, including through 
the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.

DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received by April 
24, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number and 
title, by any of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    Mail: Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant to the 
Secretary of Defense for Privacy, Civil Liberties, and Transparency, 
4800 Mark Center Drive, Mailbox #24, Suite 08D09, Alexandria, VA 22350-
1700.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency 
name, docket number and title for this Federal Register document. The 
general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the 
public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the 
internet at http://www.regulations.gov as they are received without 
change, including any personal identifiers or contact information.

[[Page 10502]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on this 
proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and 
associated collection instruments, please write to the U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers, 441 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20314-1000, ATTN: Ms. 
Kathryn Nevins, or call 703-428-6440.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title; Associated Form; and OMB Number: Red River Navigation 
Transportation Rate Survey; OMB Control Number 0710-RRNS.
    Needs and Uses: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) operates 
and maintains much of the nation's inland navigation infrastructure of 
locks, dams, and channels. Inland navigation improvement studies 
conducted by the Corps typically use surveys of shippers, carriers, and 
others to estimate the impacts on proposed waterway traffic of 
alternative capital and operations and maintenance investment 
strategies. The data are used to estimate, among other things, 
alternative mode cost, shipper response to changes in waterway 
transportation cost and reliability. This information is used in 
planning studies for evaluated of projected benefits associated with 
various plans. The USACE Tulsa District (SWT) and the Red River 
Waterway Commission request approval of a survey instrument that 
collects information from business owners to analyze potential benefits 
associated with a proposed navigation channel along the Red River from 
Denison Dam to Index, AR. The survey will assist in analyzing how 
businesses in the region currently transport their commodities and how 
the option of a navigable waterway would affect these movements. The 
primary questions to be answered are:
     What are the commodities currently being shipped?
     What modes of transport do regional shippers currently 
use?
     Would shippers use a waterway transport if available and 
to what degree would they use it?
    Respondents will be businesses in the study area that could use the 
proposed navigation channel. Respondents will be identified based on 
analysis of data from the Surface Transportation Board and with the 
assistance of the Red River Valley Association, which has numerous 
contacts with regional business and industry groups. These businesses 
will be selected based on primary types and volume of commodities 
shipped and surveys will be provided to respondents with the 
opportunity to respond. SWT will conduct follow-up phone calls if 
necessary. Surveys will be conducted using telephone and in-person 
interviews, as well as via an online survey platform. The Red River 
Valley Association will assist in garnering industry support for 
completion of the survey.
    Information from the questionnaire items for the collection of 
planning data is needed to formulate and evaluate alternative water 
resources development plans in accordance with the Principles and 
Guidelines for Water Related Land Resources Implementation Studies, 
promulgated by the U.S. Water Resources Council, 1983, which 
specifically identifies interviews with shippers, carriers and port 
officials as well as commodity consultants and experts to; identify 
commodity types, study area, commodity flow, estimate transportation 
cost and forecast waterway use. In the Corps of Engineers Engineering 
Regulation 1105-2-100, ``Planning Guidance Notebook,'' benefits are 
defined as transportation cost reduction benefits, including shift of 
mode and shift of origin-destination and new movement benefits. Failure 
to gather this information would result in Corps studies relying on 
incomplete or dated information regarding the cost and use of the 
navigation systems and the impacts of proposed capital improvements.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit.
    Annual Burden Hours: 100.
    Number of Respondents: 100.
    Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Annual Responses: 100.
    Average Burden per Response: 1 hour.
    Frequency: Once.

    Dated: February 14, 2023.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2023-03497 Filed 2-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P