[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 125 (Friday, June 30, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42415-42416]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13919]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD


30-Day Notice of Intent To Seek Extension of Approval: 
Classification Index Survey Form

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 
existing collection without an OMB Control Number of a Classification 
Index Survey Form, as described below.

DATES: Comments on this information collection should be submitted by 
July 31, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be identified as ``Paperwork 
Reduction Act Comments, Surface Transportation Board, Classification 
Index Survey Form.'' 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: via 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 all comments to Chris Oehrle, PRA Officer, 
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, Classification Index Survey Form.'' 
For further information regarding this collection, contact Pedro 
Ramirez at (202) 245-0333 or [email protected]. Assistance for the 
hearing impaired is available through the Federal Relay Service at 
(800) 877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board previously published a notice 
about this collection in the Federal Register (88 FR 26639 (May 1, 
2023)). That notice allowed for a 60-day public review and comment 
period. No comments were received.
    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.
    Subjects: In this notice, the Board is requesting comments on the 
following information collection:

Description of Collection

    Title: Classification Index Survey Form.
    OMB Control Number: 2140-00XX.
    Form Number: Classification Index Survey Form.
    Type of Review: Existing Collection without an OMB Control Number.
    Respondents: All railroad companies that are not required to file 
an Annual Report (Form R-1) and find that their classification has 
changed (e.g., a change from Class III railroad, i.e., a small 
railroad, to a Class II railroad, i.e., a medium-sized railroad).
    Number of Respondents: One per year.
    Estimated Time per Response: Less than 24 hours. For any railroad 
changing classification, this estimate includes time spent reviewing 
instructions; searching existing data sources; gathering and 
maintaining the data needed; completing and reviewing the collection of 
information; and converting the data from the carrier's

[[Page 42416]]

individual accounting system. (Generally, railroads will know whether 
they are close to changing among the three classifications.)
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Total Annual Hour Burden: Less than 24 hours annually.
    Total Annual ``Non-Hour Burden'' Cost: The Classification Index 
Survey Form may be submitted electronically without non-hourly costs.
    Needs and Uses: Railroads are classified by size into groups of 
large, medium, and small carriers. The Board must determine the 
classification of each rail carrier as a Class I, Class II, or Class 
III railroad. Railroads with a Class I classification (large railroads) 
must file Annual Reports (Form R-1) under 49 U.S.C. 11145. See OMB 
Control Number 2140-0009 (Class I Railroad Annual Reports). These 
reports are used by the Board, other Federal agencies, and industry 
groups to monitor and assess railroad industry growth, financial 
stability, traffic, and operations, and to identify industry changes 
that may affect national transportation policy. All other railroads 
(those not required to file an (R-1) Annual Report) shall annually 
compute their adjusted revenues using the ``railroad revenue deflator 
formula,'' and, if the computation derived from that formula indicates 
a change in a carrier's classification, that carrier must submit a 
``Classification Index Survey Form'' to the Board pursuant to 49 CFR 
part 1201 General Instructions 1-1 and Sec.  1241.15.
    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: June 26, 2023.
Kenyatta Clay,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2023-13919 Filed 6-29-23; 8:45 am]
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