[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 146 (Monday, July 30, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44710-44711]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18428]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board
Information Collection Activities (Depreciation Studies)
ACTION: 60-day notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens,
and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-
3519 (PRA), the Surface Transportation Board (Board) gives notice of
its intent to request from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
the information collection--Rail Depreciation Studies--further
described below.
Comments are requested concerning (1) whether this collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the Board, including whether the collection has practical utility; (2)
the accuracy of the Board's burden estimates; (3) ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (4)
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. Submitted
comments will be included and/or summarized in the Board's request for
OMB approval.
DATES: Written comments are due on September 28, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Direct all comments to Marilyn Levitt, Surface
Transportation Board, Suite 1260, 395 E Street SW., Washington, DC
20423-0001, or to [email protected]. Comments should be identified as
``Paperwork Reduction Act Comments,'' and should refer to the title of
the collection commented upon.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies
of the information collection(s) contact Paul Aguiar at (202) 245-0323
or [email protected]. [Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) for
the hearing impaired: (800) 877-8339.]
Subjects: In this notice the Board is requesting comments on the
following information collection:
Title: Rail Depreciation Studies.
OMB Control Number: 2140-XXXX.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Collection in existence without a Control Number.
Respondents: Class I railroads.
Number of Respondents: 7.
Estimated Time per Response: Between 500 and 540 hours annually,
depending on whether the rail-carrier respondent has significant
assistance from outside consultants, resulting in an average of 515
hours per response.
Frequency of Response: Every 3 years for equipment; every 6 years
for other depreciable property.
Total Annual Hour Burden: 3,605 hours (515 hours x 7 Class I
railroads).
Total Annual ``Non-Hour Burden'' Cost: Between $8,340 and $30,000
annually, depending on whether the rail-carrier respondent has
significant assistance from outside consultants, resulting in an annual
average of $20,500 and a cumulative total for all 7 Class I railroads
of $143,500.
Needs and Uses: Under 49 U.S.C. 11145, the Board is required to
identify those classes of property for which rail carriers may include
depreciation charges under operating expenses and the Board must also
prescribe a rate of depreciation that may be charged to those classes
of property. Pursuant to the Board's authority under Sec. 11145, Class
I (large) rail carriers are required to submit to the Board
Depreciation Studies. Information in these studies is not available
from any other source. The Board uses the information in these studies
to prescribe depreciation rates. These depreciation rate prescriptions
state the period for which the depreciation rates therein are
applicable. Class I railroads apply the prescribed depreciation rates
to their investment base to determine monthly and annual depreciation
expense. This expense is included in the railroads' operating expenses,
which are reported
[[Page 44711]]
in their R-1 reports (OMB Control Number 2140-0009). Operating expenses
are used to develop operating costs for application in various
proceedings before the Board, such as in rate reasonableness cases and
in the determination of railroad revenue adequacy.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA, a Federal agency conducting
or sponsoring 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 Sec. 3506(c)(2)(A) of
the PRA, Federal agencies are required, prior to submitting a
collection to OMB for approval, to provide 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: July 24, 2012.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2012-18428 Filed 7-27-12; 8:45 am]
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