United States Rail Service Issues-Performance Data Reporting

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Supporting statement-EP 724 (final).doc Supporting Statement A	2015-01-12
49 USC 11145.pdf Supplementary Document	2015-01-12
49 USC 721.pdf Supplementary Document	2015-01-12

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
214578	On Occassion Rail Service Data Collection	New
214577	Quarterly Rail Service Data Collection	New
214574	Weekly Rail Service Data Collection	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 2140-0033	ICR Reference No: 201501-2140-001
Status: Historical Inactive	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: STB	Agency Tracking No:
Title: United States Rail Service Issues-Performance Data Reporting
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Comment filed on proposed rule	Conclusion Date: 05/13/2015
	Date Received in OIRA: 01/12/2015
Terms of Clearance: STB will address public comments.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date		36 Months From Approved
Responses	0	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	0	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

---

Abstract: The Surface Transportation Board (Board) seeks approval for information collections requiring certain large railroads to publicly file various data reports pertaining to service performance, primarily on a quarterly and weekly basis. This information is intended to give both the Board and its stakeholders access to near real-time information about the operations and performance of the Class I railroads (including the fluidity of the Chicago gateway) and is expected to assist rail shippers in making logistics decisions, planning operations and production, and mitigating losses during times of challenging railroad operating environment. It also would allow the Board to better understand current service issues and potentially to identify and resolve possible future regional and national service disruptions more quickly. This information would be published on the Board's website for the benefit of the Board, carriers, shippers, and the general public.

---

Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 49 USC 721 Name of Law: Administrative Powers
   US Code: 49 USC 11145 Name of Law: Reports by Rail Carriers
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

---

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
2140-AB21	Proposed rulemaking	80 FR 473	01/06/2015

---

Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	80 FR 473	01/06/2015
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

---

Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 3

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Weekly Rail Service Data Collection
Quarterly Rail Service Data Collection
On Occassion Rail Service Data Collection

---

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Changing Regulations

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The Surface Transportation Board has been closely monitoring the rail industry's performance since service problems began to emerge in late 2013. Service challenges have impacted a wide range of commodities, including grain, fertilizer, ethanol, coal, automobiles, chemicals, propane, consumer goods, crude oil, and industrial commodities. In response to the service challenges affecting this broad cross-section of rail shipments, the Board held two public hearings in 2014 and determined that it needed more consistent and uniform rail-service data. The data collected pursuant to the rule would provide for service performance transparency in the industry and allow the Board to more rapidly identify and respond to service performance issues.

---

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $63,391

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

---

Common Form ICR:  No

---

On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 01/12/2015

---