80 FR 32201 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 108 (June 5, 2015)
Surface Transportation Board
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 108 (June 5, 2015)
| Page Range | 32201-32203 | |
| FR Document | 2015-13705 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 108 (Friday, June 5, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 32201-32203] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-13705] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Surface Transportation Board Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board. ACTION: 60-day 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, 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) approval without change of the six existing collections described below. Comments are requested concerning each collection as to (1) whether the particular 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 August 4, 2015. ADDRESSES: Direct all comments to Marilyn Levitt, Surface Transportation Board, Suite 1260, 395 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001, or to levittm@stb.dot.gov. Comments should be identified as ``Paperwork Reduction Act Comments,'' and should refer to the title and control number of the specific collection(s) commented upon. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies of the information collection(s) contact Pedro Ramirez at (202) 245- 0333 or ramirezp@stb.dot.gov [Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) for the hearing impaired: (800) 877-8339]. In this notice the Board is requesting comments on the following information collections: Subjects: Collection Number 1 Title: Quarterly Report of Revenues, Expenses, and Income-- Railroads (Form RE&I). OMB Control Number: 2140-0013. Form Number: None. Type of Review: Extension without change. Respondents: Class I railroads. Number of Respondents: Seven. Estimated Time per Response: 6 hours. Frequency of Response: Quarterly. Total Annual Hour Burden: 168 hours annually. Total Annual ``Non Hour Burden'' Cost: No ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with this collection have been identified. Needs and Uses: This collection is a report of railroad operating revenues, operating expenses and income items; it is a profit and loss statement, disclosing net railway operating income on a quarterly and year-to-date basis for the current and prior years. See 49 CFR 1243.1. The Board uses the information in this report to ensure competitive, efficient, and safe transportation through general oversight programs that monitor and forecast the financial and operating condition of railroads, and through regulation of railroad rate and service issues and rail restructuring proposals, including railroad mergers, consolidations, acquisitions of control, and abandonments. Information from these reports is used by the Board, other Federal agencies, and industry groups to monitor and assess industry growth and operations, detect changes in carrier financial stability, and identify trends that may affect the national transportation system. Some of the information from these reports is compiled by the Board in our quarterly Selected Earnings Data Report, which is published on the Board's Web site, http://www.stb.dot.gov/stb/industry/econ_reports.html. The information contained in these reports is not available from any other source. Collection Number 2 Title: Quarterly Condensed Balance Sheet--Railroads (Form CBS). OMB Control Number: 2140-0014. Form Number: None. Type of Review: Extension without change. Respondents: Class I railroads. Number of Respondents: Seven. Estimated Time per Response: Six hours. Frequency of Response: Quarterly. Total Annual Hour Burden: 168 hours annually. Total Annual ``Non-Hour Burden'' Cost: No ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with this collection have been identified. Needs and Uses: This collection shows the balance, quarterly and cumulative, for the current and prior year of the carrier's assets and liabilities, gross capital expenditures, and revenue tons carried. See 49 CFR 1243.2. The Board uses the information in this report to ensure competitive, efficient, and safe transportation through general oversight programs that monitor and forecast the financial and operating condition of railroads, and through specific regulation of railroad rate and service issues and rail restructuring proposals, including railroad mergers, consolidations, acquisitions of control, and abandonments. Information from these reports is used by the Board, other Federal agencies, and industry groups to assess industry growth and operations, detect changes in carrier financial stability, and identify trends that may [[Page 32202]] affect the national transportation system. Revenue ton-miles, which are reported in these reports, are compiled and published by the Board in its quarterly Selected Earnings Data Report, which is published on the Board's Web site, http://www.stb.dot.gov/stb/industry/econ_reports.html. The information contained in these reports is not available from any other source. Collection Number 3 OMB Control Number: 2140-0004. Title: Report of Railroad Employees, Service and Compensation (Wage Forms A and B). Form Number: None. Type of Review: Extension without change. Respondents: Class I railroads and the Association of American Railroads. Number of Respondents: Eight. Estimated Time per Response: No more than 30 hours per quarterly report and 40 hours per annual summation. Frequency of Response: Quarterly, with an annual summation. Total Annual Hour Burden: No more than 1,280 hours annually. Total Annual ``Non-Hour Burden'' Cost: No ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with this collection have been identified. Needs and Uses: This collection shows the number of employees, service hours, and compensation, by employee group (e.g., executive, professional, maintenance-of-way and equipment, and transportation), of the reporting railroads. See 49 CFR 1245. The information is used by the Board to forecast labor costs and measure the efficiency of the reporting railroads. The information is also used by the Board to evaluate proposed regulated transactions that may impact rail employees, including mergers and consolidations, acquisitions of control, purchases, and abandonments. Other Federal agencies and industry groups, including the Railroad Retirement Board, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Association of American Railroads, use the information contained in the reports to monitor railroad operations. Certain information from these reports is compiled and published on the Board's Web site, http://www.stb.dot.gov/stb/industry/econ_reports.html. The information contained in these reports is not available from any other source. Collection Number 4 Title: Monthly Report of Number of Employees of Class I Railroads (Wage Form C). OMB Control Number: 2140-0007. Form Number: STB Form 350. Type of Review: Extension without change. Respondents: Class I railroads and the Association of American Railroads. Number of Respondents: Eight. Estimated Time per Response: 1.25 hours. Frequency of Response: Monthly. Total Annual Hour Burden: 120 hours annually. Total Annual ``Non-Hour Burden'' Cost: No ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with this collection have been identified. Needs and Uses: This collection shows, for each reporting carrier, the average number of employees at mid-month in the six job- classification groups that encompass all railroad employees. See 49 CFR 1246. The information is used by the Board to forecast labor costs and measure the efficiency of the reporting railroads. The information is also used by the Board to evaluate the impact on rail employees of proposed regulated transactions, including mergers and consolidations, acquisitions of control, purchases, and abandonments. Other Federal agencies and industry groups, including the Railroad Retirement Board, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Association of American Railroads, use the information contained in these reports to monitor railroad operations. Certain information from these reports is compiled and published on the Board's Web site, www.stb.dot.gov/stb/industry/urcs.html. The information contained in these reports is not available from any other source. Collection Number 5 Title: Annual Report of Cars Loaded and Cars Terminated . OMB Control Number: 2140-0011. Form Number: Form STB-54. Type of Review: Extension without change. Number of Respondents: Seven. Estimated Time per Response: Four hours. Frequency of Response: Annual . Total Annual Hour Burden: 28 hours annually. Total Annual ``Non Hour Burden'' Cost: No ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with this collection have been identified. Needs and Uses: This collection reports the number of cars loaded and cars terminated on the reporting carrier's line. See 49 CFR 1247. Information in this report is entered into the Board's Uniform Rail Costing System (URCS), which is a cost measurement methodology. URCS, which was developed by the Board pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 11161, is used as a tool in rail rate proceedings, in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 10707(d), to calculate the variable costs associated with providing a particular service. The Board also uses URCS to carry out more effectively other of its regulatory responsibilities, including: acting on railroad requests for authority to engage in Board-regulated financial transactions such as mergers, acquisitions of control, and consolidations, see 49 U.S.C. 11323-11324; analyzing the information that the Board obtains through the annual railroad industry waybill sample, see 49 CFR 1244; measuring off-branch costs in railroad abandonment proceedings, in accordance with 49 CFR 1152.32(n); developing the ``rail cost adjustment factors,'' in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 10708; and conducting investigations and rulemakings. This collection is compiled and published on the Board's Web site, http://www.stb.dot.gov/stb/industry/econ_reports.html. There is no other source for the information contained in this report. Collection Number 6 OMB Control Number: 2140-0001. Title: Quarterly Report of Freight Commodity Statistics (Form QCS). Form Number: None. Type of Review: Extension without change. Respondents: Class I railroads. Number of Respondents: Seven. Estimated Time per Response: 217 hours. Frequency of Response: Quarterly, with an annual summation. Total Annual Hour Burden: 7,595 hours annually. Total Annual ``Non-Hour Burden'' Cost: No ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with this collection have been identified. Needs and Uses: This collection, which is based on information contained in carload waybills used by railroads in the ordinary course of business, reports car loadings and total revenues by commodity code for each commodity that moved on the railroad during the reporting period. See 49 CFR 1248. Information in this report is entered into the Board's URCS, the uses of which are explained under Collection Number 5. This collection is compiled and published on the Board's Web site, http://www.stb.dot.gov/stb/industry/econ_reports.html. There is no other source for the information contained in this report. 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), [[Page 32203]] 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: June 1, 2015. Jeffrey Herzig, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. 2015-13705 Filed 6-4-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915-01-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 108 / Friday, June 5, 2015 / Notices 32201
maintenance, mechanical, and and Budget (OMB) approval without quarterly and year-to-date basis for the
personnel policies and practices of its change of the six existing collections current and prior years. See 49 CFR
rail carrier subsidiaries, and thereby described below. 1243.1. The Board uses the information
improve the overall efficiency of rail Comments are requested concerning in this report to ensure competitive,
service provided by the railroads in the each collection as to (1) whether the efficient, and safe transportation
Watco corporate family. particular collection of information is through general oversight programs that
Under 49 U.S.C. 10502(g), the Board necessary for the proper performance of monitor and forecast the financial and
may not use its exemption authority to the functions of the Board, including operating condition of railroads, and
relieve a rail carrier of its statutory whether the collection has practical through regulation of railroad rate and
obligation to protect the interests of its utility; (2) the accuracy of the Board’s service issues and rail restructuring
employees. Because the transaction burden estimates; (3) ways to enhance proposals, including railroad mergers,
involves the control of one Class II and the quality, utility, and clarity of the consolidations, acquisitions of control,
one or more Class III rail carriers, the information collected; and (4) ways to and abandonments. Information from
transaction is subject to the labor minimize the burden of the collection of these reports is used by the Board, other
protection requirements of 49 U.S.C. information on the respondents, Federal agencies, and industry groups to
11326(b) and Wisconsin Central Ltd.— including the use of automated monitor and assess industry growth and
Acquisition Exemption—Lines of Union collection techniques or other forms of operations, detect changes in carrier
Pacific Railroad, 2 S.T.B. 218 (1997). information technology, when financial stability, and identify trends
If the verified notice contains false or appropriate. Submitted comments will that may affect the national
misleading information, the exemption be included and/or summarized in the transportation system. Some of the
is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the Board’s request for OMB approval. information from these reports is
exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) DATES: Written comments are due on compiled by the Board in our quarterly
may be filed at any time. The filing of August 4, 2015. Selected Earnings Data Report, which is
a petition to revoke will not published on the Board’s Web site,
ADDRESSES: Direct all comments to
automatically stay the effectiveness of http://www.stb.dot.gov/stb/industry/
Marilyn Levitt, Surface Transportation
the exemption. Petitions for stay must econ_reports.html. The information
Board, Suite 1260, 395 E Street SW.,
be filed by June 12, 2015 (at least seven contained in these reports is not
Washington, DC 20423–0001, or to
days before the exemption becomes available from any other source.
levittm@stb.dot.gov. Comments should
effective).
An original and 10 copies of all be identified as ‘‘Paperwork Reduction Collection Number 2
pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD Act Comments,’’ and should refer to the
Title: Quarterly Condensed Balance
35931, must be filed with the Surface title and control number of the specific
Sheet—Railroads (Form CBS).
Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW., collection(s) commented upon. OMB Control Number: 2140–0014.
Washington, DC 20423–0001. In FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For Form Number: None.
addition, a copy of each pleading must additional information or copies of the Type of Review: Extension without
be served on Karl Morell, Karl Morell & information collection(s) contact Pedro change.
Associates, 655 Fifteenth Street NW., Ramirez at (202) 245–0333 or ramirezp@ Respondents: Class I railroads.
Suite 225, Washington, DC 20005. stb.dot.gov [Federal Information Relay Number of Respondents: Seven.
Board decisions and notices are Service (FIRS) for the hearing impaired: Estimated Time per Response: Six
available on our Web site at (800) 877–8339]. hours.
WWW.STB.DOT.GOV. In this notice the Board is requesting Frequency of Response: Quarterly.
comments on the following information Total Annual Hour Burden: 168 hours
Decided: June 1, 2015. annually.
collections:
By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, Subjects: Total Annual ‘‘Non-Hour Burden’’
Director, Office of Proceedings. Cost: No ‘‘non-hour cost’’ burdens
Brendetta S. Jones, Collection Number 1 associated with this collection have
Clearance Clerk. Title: Quarterly Report of Revenues, been identified.
[FR Doc. 2015–13769 Filed 6–4–15; 8:45 am] Expenses, and Income—Railroads (Form Needs and Uses: This collection
BILLING CODE 4915–01–P RE&I). shows the balance, quarterly and
OMB Control Number: 2140–0013. cumulative, for the current and prior
Form Number: None. year of the carrier’s assets and liabilities,
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Type of Review: Extension without gross capital expenditures, and revenue
change. tons carried. See 49 CFR 1243.2. The
Surface Transportation Board Respondents: Class I railroads. Board uses the information in this
Number of Respondents: Seven. report to ensure competitive, efficient,
Agency Information Collection Estimated Time per Response: 6 and safe transportation through general
Activities; Proposals, Submissions, hours. oversight programs that monitor and
and Approvals Frequency of Response: Quarterly. forecast the financial and operating
AGENCY:Surface Transportation Board. Total Annual Hour Burden: 168 hours condition of railroads, and through
60-day notice and request for
ACTION: annually. specific regulation of railroad rate and
Total Annual ‘‘Non Hour Burden’’ service issues and rail restructuring
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
comments.
Cost: No ‘‘non-hour cost’’ burdens proposals, including railroad mergers,
SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort associated with this collection have consolidations, acquisitions of control,
to reduce paperwork burdens, and as been identified. and abandonments. Information from
required by the Paperwork Reduction Needs and Uses: This collection is a these reports is used by the Board, other
Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501–3519 (PRA), report of railroad operating revenues, Federal agencies, and industry groups to
the Surface Transportation Board operating expenses and income items; it assess industry growth and operations,
(Board) gives notice of its intent to is a profit and loss statement, disclosing detect changes in carrier financial
request from the Office of Management net railway operating income on a stability, and identify trends that may
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 108 / Friday, June 5, 2015 / Notices 32203
includes agency requirements that operate, see Watco’s notice of DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
persons submit reports, keep records, or exemption filed on May 21, 2015. The
provide information to the agency, third notice is available on the Board’s Web Surface Transportation Board
parties, or the public. Under site at ‘‘www.stb.dot.gov.’’ [Docket No. FD 35930]
§ 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, Federal Watco represents that: (1) The rail
agencies are required, prior to lines to be operated by LWR do not Texas New Mexico Railway, L.L.C.—
submitting a collection to OMB for connect with any of the rail lines Acquisition and Operation
approval, to provide a 60-day notice and operated by the carriers in the Watco Exemption—Austin & Northwestern
comment period through publication in corporate family; (2) the continuance in Railroad Company, Inc.
the Federal Register concerning each control is not a part of a series of
proposed collection of information, anticipated transactions that would Texas New Mexico Railway, L.L.C.
including each proposed extension of an result in such a connection; and (3) the (TNMR),1 a noncarrier, has filed a
existing collection of information. transaction does not involve a Class I verified notice of exemption under 49
carrier. Therefore, the transaction is CFR 1150.31 to acquire from Austin &
Dated: June 1, 2015. Northwestern Railway Company, Inc.
exempt from the prior approval
Jeffrey Herzig, (ANR), and to operate, approximately
requirements of 49 U.S.C. 11323. See 49
Clearance Clerk.
CFR 1180.2(d)(2). 104.191 miles of rail line between
[FR Doc. 2015–13705 Filed 6–4–15; 8:45 am] Watco states that the purpose of the milepost 0.079 at Monahans, Tex., and
BILLING CODE 4915–01–P transaction is to reduce overhead milepost 104.27 at Lovington, NM.
expenses, coordinate billing, This transaction is related to a
maintenance, mechanical, and concurrently filed verified notice of
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION personnel policies and practices of its exemption in Watco Holdings, Inc.—
rail carrier subsidiaries, and thereby Continuance in Control Exemption—
Surface Transportation Board Texas New Mexico Railway, Docket No.
improve the overall efficiency of rail
FD 35931, wherein Watco Holdings,
[Docket No. FD 35933] service provided by the railroads in the
Inc., seeks Board approval under 49 CFR
Watco corporate family.
Watco Holdings, Inc.—Continuance in Under 49 U.S.C. 10502(g), the Board 1180.2(d)(2) to continue in control of
Control Exemption—Lubbock and may not use its exemption authority to TNMR, upon TNMR’s becoming a Class
Western Railway, L.L.C. relieve a rail carrier of its statutory III rail carrier.
TNMR states that the agreement
Watco Holdings, Inc. (Watco), a obligation to protect the interests of its
between TNMR and ANR does not
noncarrier, has filed a verified notice of employees. Because the transaction
contain any provision that prohibits
exemption pursuant to 49 CFR involves the control of one Class II and
TNMR from interchanging traffic with a
1180.2(d)(2) to continue in control of one or more Class III rail carriers, the
third party or limits TNMR’s ability to
Lubbock and Western Railway, L.L.C. transaction is subject to the labor
interchange with a third party.
(LWR), upon LWR’s becoming a Class III protection requirements of 49 U.S.C. The transaction is expected to be
rail carrier. Watco owns, indirectly, 100 11326(b) and Wisconsin Central Ltd.— consummated on or after the effective
percent of the issued and outstanding Acquisition Exemption—Lines of Union date of the exemption.
stock of LWR, a limited liability Pacific Railroad, 2 S.T.B. 218 (1997). TNMR has certified that this
If the verified notice contains false or transaction will not result in TNMR’s
company.
misleading information, the exemption becoming a Class II or Class I rail
This transaction is related to a
is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the carrier. Because TNMR’s projected
concurrently filed verified notice of
exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) annual revenues will exceed $5 million,
exemption in Lubbock & Western
may be filed at any time. The filing of TNMR certified to the Board on May 19,
Railway—Acquisition & Operation
a petition to revoke will not 2015, that it had complied with the
Exemption—West Texas & Lubbock
automatically stay the effectiveness of requirements of 49 CFR 1150.32(e) on
Railway, Docket No. FD 35932, wherein
the exemption. Petitions for stay must May 18, 2015, by providing notice to
LWR seeks Board approval (1) to acquire
be filed by June 12, 2015 (at least seven employees on the affected line.2 Under
and operate approximately 9.5 miles of
days before the exemption becomes 49 CFR 1150.32(e), this exemption
rail line and to lease approximately
effective). cannot become effective until 60 days
134.75 miles of rail line from West An original and 10 copies of all
Texas and Lubbock Railway Company, after the requirements of that section
pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD have been satisfied (here, July 18, 2015).
Inc., and West Texas and Lubbock 35933, must be filed with the Surface
Railroad Company, Inc. (WTLR), If the notice contains false or
Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW., misleading information, the exemption
between specified points in Texas; and Washington, DC 20423–0001. In
(2) to acquire by assignment is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the
addition, a copy of each pleading must exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d)
approximately 5 miles of trackage rights be served on Karl Morell, 655 Fifteenth
that WTLR currently has over BNSF may be filed at any time. The filing of
Street NW., Suite 225, Washington, DC a petition to revoke will not
Railway Company’s line between 20005.
Canyon Jct., and Broadview, Tex. automatically stay the effectiveness of
Board decisions and notices are the exemption. Petitions for stay must
The transaction may be consummated available on our Web site at
on or after June 20, 2015, the effective be filed no later than July 10, 2015 (at
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
www.stb.dot.gov. least seven days before the exemption
date of the exemption (30 days after the
notice of exemption was filed). Decided: June 2, 2015. becomes effective).
Watco is a Kansas corporation that By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, An original and 10 copies of all
currently controls, indirectly, 30 Class Director, Office of Proceedings. pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD
III rail carriers and one Class II rail Brendetta S. Jones,
1 TNMR is a new, wholly owned, subsidiary of
carrier, collectively operating in 22 Clearance Clerk.
Watco Holdings, Inc.
states. For a complete list of these rail [FR Doc. 2015–13794 Filed 6–4–15; 8:45 am] 2 In its May 19 letter to the Board, TNMR stated
carriers, and the states in which they BILLING CODE 4915–01–P that there are no union employees at ANR.
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Document Created: 2015-12-15 15:20:55
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 15:20:55
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | 60-day notice and request for comments. | |
| Dates | Written comments are due on August 4, 2015. | |
| Contact | For additional information or copies of the information collection(s) contact Pedro Ramirez at (202) 245- 0333 or [email protected] [Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) for the hearing impaired: (800) 877-8339]. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 32201 |
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