Notice and Request for Comments

AGENCY:

Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION:

30-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 et seq. (PRA), the Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) gives notice that it has submitted a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension of approval without change of a currently approved collection: Application to Open a Billing Account. The Board previously published a notice about these collections in the Federal Register on June 16, 2008, at 73 FR 34068. That notice allowed for a 60-day public review and comment period. No comments were received.

This information collection is described in detail below. 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 this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Board, including whether the collection has practical utility.

Description of Collection

Title: Application to Open a Billing Account.

OMB Control Number: 2140-0006.

STB Form Number: STB Form 1032.

Type of Review: Extension without change.

Respondents: Rail carriers, shippers, and others doing business before the STB.

Number of Respondents: 20.

Estimated Time per Response: Less than .08 hours, based on actual survey of respondents.

Frequency: One time per respondent.

Total Burden Hours (annually including all respondents): Less than 1.6 hours.

Total “Non-hour Burden” Cost: No “non-hour cost” burdens associated with this collection have been identified.

Needs and Uses: The Board is, by statute, responsible for the economic regulation of freight rail carriers and certain other carriers operating in interstate commerce. This form is used by persons doing business before the Board who wish to open an account with the Board to facilitate their payment of filing fees; fees for the search, review, copying, and certification of records; and other services rendered by the Board. An account holder is billed on a monthly basis for payment of accumulated fees. Data provided is also used for debt collection activities. The application form requests information as required by OMB and U.S. Department of Treasury regulations for the collection of fees. This information is not duplicated by any other agency. In accordance with the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. 552a, all taxpayer identification and social security numbers are secured and used only for credit management and debt collection activities.

DATES:

Written comments are due on December 1, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

Comments should be directed to Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Surface Transportation Board Desk Officer, by fax at (202) 395-6974 or by mail at 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503.

For Further Information or to Obtain a Copy of the STB Form, Contact: Anthony Jacobik, Jr., (202) 245-0346. [Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) for the hearing impaired: (800) 877-8339.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the PRA, a Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless the collection displays 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.