[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 59 (Wednesday, March 27, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18675-18676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-07056]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board


Information Collection Activities

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, Transportation.

ACTION: Notice and Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: The Surface Transportation Board (Board or STB), 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), is 
submitting a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
approval of the information collections required under 49 U.S.C. 11301 
and 49 CFR 1177 (rail or water carrier equipment liens (recordations)); 
under 49 U.S.C. 10747 and 49 CFR 1313 (rail agricultural contract 
summaries); and under 49 U.S.C. 13702(b) and 49 CFR 1312 (water carrier 
tariffs). The Board previously published a notice about this collection 
in the Federal Register on October 19, 2012, at 77 Fed. Reg. 64376. 
That notice allowed for a 60-day public review and comment period. No 
comments were received. The relevant information

[[Page 18676]]

collections are described in more detail below.
    For each collection, 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.

DATES: Comments on this information collection should be submitted by 
April 26, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be directed to the Office of 
Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Attention: Patrick Fuchs, Surface Transportation Board Desk Officer, by 
fax at (202) 395-5167; by mail at OMB, Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20500; or by email at [email protected] and 
refer to the title of the collection(s) commented upon.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marilyn Levitt at [email protected] 
or (202) 245-0269. [Assistance for the hearing impaired is available 
through the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-
8339.] Relevant STB regulations may be viewed on the STB's Web site 
under E-Library > Reference: STB Rules, http://www.stb.dot.gov/stb/elibrary/ref_stbrules.html.
    Subjects: In this notice the Board is requesting comments on the 
following information collections:

Collection Number 1

    Title: Recordations (Rail and Water Carrier Liens).
    OMB Control Number: 2140-00XX.
    STB Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Existing collection in use without an OMB control 
number.
    Respondents: Parties holding liens on rail equipment or water 
carrier vessels, carriers filing proof that a lien has been removed.
    Number of Respondents: An annual average of 2125 recordations was 
filed during the last three years by 50 respondents.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours (annually including all respondents): 1,240 
hours (estimated 35 minutes per response x 2125 responses).
    Total ``Non-hour Burden'' Cost (such as start-up and mailing 
costs): There are no non-hourly burden costs for this collection. The 
collection may be filed electronically.
    Needs and Uses: Under the Interstate Commerce Act, 49 U.S.C. 11301 
and related regulations at 49 CFR 1177, liens on rail equipment must be 
filed with the STB in order to perfect a security interest in the 
equipment. Subsequent assignments of rights or release of obligations 
under such instruments must also be filed with the agency. This 
information is maintained by the Board for public inspection. 
Recordation at the STB obviates the need for recording such a lien in 
individual States.
    Retention Period: Recordations of liens are destroyed 60 years 
after the last filing.

Collection Number 2

    Title: Water Carrier Tariffs
    OMB Control Number: 2140-00XX.
    STB Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Existing collection in use without an OMB control 
number.
    Respondents: Water carriers that provide freight transportation in 
noncontiguous domestic trade.
    Number of Respondents: Approximately 25.
    Frequency: On occasion, for an annual total of 1917 tariffs filed.
    Total Burden Hours (annually including all respondents): 1,254 
hours (1672 filings x .75 hour (estimated time per filing)).
    Total ``Non-hour Burden'' Cost (such as start-up costs and mailing 
costs): There are no non-hourly burden costs for this collection. The 
collection may be filed electronically.
    Needs and Uses: While rail carriers are no longer required to file 
rate tariffs at the STB, a statutory requirement exists for water 
carriers that provide freight transportation in noncontiguous domestic 
trade (i.e., domestic (as opposed to international) shipments moving to 
or from Alaska, Hawaii, or the U.S. territories or possessions (Puerto 
Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern 
Mariana Islands)). A tariff provides a list of prices and fees that the 
carrier charges to the shipping public.
    Retention Period: After cancellation, tariffs are placed in a 
``Cancelled Tariffs'' file. They are destroyed five years after the end 
of the year in which they were cancelled.

Collection Number 3

    Title: Agricultural Contract Summaries.
    OMB Control Number: 2140-00XX.
    STB Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Existing collection in use without an OMB control 
number.
    Number of Respondents: Approximately 10.
    Frequency: On occasion, for a total from all respondents of 
approximately 141 submissions per year (which must be submitted as soon 
as possible, but not longer than seven days after effective date of 
contract or amendment).
    Total Burden Hours (annually including all respondents): 106 hours 
(141 submissions x .75 hours (45 minutes) estimated per submission).
    Total Annual ``Non-hour Burden'' Cost (such as start-up and mailing 
costs): There are no non-hourly burden costs for this collection. The 
collection is filed electronically.
    Needs and Uses: While the terms of a rail transportation contract 
are treated as confidential, railroads are required by statute to file 
a summary of the nonconfidential terms of any contract for the 
transportation of agricultural products.
    Retention Period: Paper copies of this collection are destroyed six 
months after the expiration of the referenced contract.

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. 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: March 22, 2013.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2013-07056 Filed 3-26-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P