2017-10419. 30-Day Notice of Intent To Seek Extension of Approval: Information Collection Activities (Report of Fuel Cost, Consumption, and Surcharge Revenue)

AGENCY:

Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) gives notice that it is requesting from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) an extension of approval for the collection of the Report of Fuel Cost, Consumption, and Surcharge Revenue. The Board previously published a notice about this collection in the Federal Register on March 8, 2017. That notice allowed for a 60-day public review and comment period. No comments were received.

DATES:

Comments on this information collection should be submitted by June 22, 2017.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments should be identified as “Paperwork Reduction Act Comments, Surface Transportation Board: Report of Fuel Cost, Consumption, and Surcharge Revenue.” These comments should be directed to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Chad Lallemand, Surface Transportation Board Desk Officer, by email at [e-mail]; by fax at [phone]; or by mail to Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503. Please also direct comments to Chris Oehrle, PRA Officer, Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001, or to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For further information regarding this collection, contact Pedro Ramirez at [phone] or at [e-mail]. Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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.

Description of Collection

Title: Report of Fuel Cost, Consumption, and Surcharge Revenue 49 CFR 1243.3.

OMB Control Number: 2140-0014.

STB Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Extension without change.

Respondents: Class I railroads (carriers having revenues more than 250 million dollars in 1991 dollars).

Number of Respondents: Seven.

Estimated Time per Response: One hour.

Frequency: Quarterly.

Total Burden Hours (annually including all respondents): 28.

Total “Non-hour Burden” Cost: None identified.

Needs and Uses: Under 49 U.S.C. 10702, the Board has the authority to address the reasonableness of a rail carrier's practices. This information collection brings transparency to the use of fuel surcharges by Class I carriers and permits the Board to monitor this practice. Under 49 CFR 1243.3, the Board monitors the current fuel surcharge practices of Class I carriers in order to provide an overall picture of the use of fuel surcharges and bring some transparency to the use of fuel surcharges by rail carriers. Failure to collect this information would impede the Board's ability to fulfill its statutory responsibilities. The Board has authority to collect information about rail costs and revenues under 49 U.S.C. 11144 and 11145.

Under the PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521, 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.

Dated: May 17, 2017.

Jeffrey Herzig,

Clearance Clerk.