[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 134 (Friday, July 14, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45264-45265]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-14941]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD


30-Day Notice of Intent To Seek Extension of Approval of 
Collection: Dispute Resolution Procedures Under the Fixing America's 
Surface Transportation Act

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 ``FAST Act'' Dispute Resolution 
Procedures, as described below.

DATES: Comments on this information collection should be submitted by 
August 14, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be identified as ``Paperwork 
Reduction Act Comments, Surface Transportation Board, FAST Act Dispute 
Resolution Procedures.'' 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, FAST Act Dispute Resolution 
Procedures.'' For further information regarding this collection, 
contact Michael Higgins, Deputy Director, Office of Public Assistance, 
Governmental Affairs, and Compliance (OPAGAC), at (866) 254-1792 (toll-
free) or 202-245-0238, or by emailing to [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 30829 (May 12, 
2023)). That notice allowed for a 60-day public review and

[[Page 45265]]

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.

Description of Collection

    Title: FAST Act Dispute Resolution Procedures.
    OMB Control Number: 2140-0036.
    STB Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension without change.
    Respondents: Parties seeking the Board's informal assistance under 
Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act, Public Law 114-94 (signed 
Dec. 4, 2015) (FAST Act).
    Number of Respondents: Approximately three.
    Estimated Time per Response: One hour.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours (annually including all respondents): Three 
hours (estimated hours per response (1) x total number of responses 
(3)).
    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: Title XI of the FAST Act, entitled ``Passenger Rail 
Reform and Investment Act of 2015,'' gives the Board authority to 
resolve cost allocation and access disputes between the National 
Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), the states, and potential non-
Amtrak operators of intercity passenger rail service. The FAST Act 
directs the Board to establish procedures for the resolution of these 
disputes, ``which may include the provision of professional mediation 
services.'' 49 U.S.C. 24712(c)(2), 24905(c)(4). Under 49 CFR 1109.5, 
the Board provides that parties to a dispute involving the State-
Sponsored Route Committee or the Northeast Corridor Committee may, by a 
letter submitted to OPAGAC, may request the Board's informal assistance 
in securing outside professional mediation services. The letter shall 
include a concise description of the issues for which outside 
professional mediation services are sought. The collection by the Board 
of these request letters enables the Board to meet its statutory duty 
under the FAST Act.
    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 10, 2023.
Kenyatta Clay,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2023-14941 Filed 7-13-23; 8:45 am]
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