The Surface Transportation Board (Board) seeks modification and extension of existing 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 allows 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. The modification request is for the NPRM amending the Board's railroad performance data reporting regulations to include chemical and plastics traffic as a distinct reporting category for the âcars-heldâ metric. This is a limited modification.
This collection expires on 6/30/2020. I am unclear why it is requiring me to choose Emergency filing. This is a final rule that was expected to go out sooner, but is still more than 40 days from expiration.
US Code:
49 USC 721
Name of Law: Administrative Powers
US Code:
49 USC 11145
Name of Law: Reports by Rail Carriers
This modification request stems from the Boardâs proposed rule in Pet. for Rulemaking to Amend 49 C.F.R. Part 1250 (NPRM), EP 724 (Sub-No. 5) (STB served Sept. 30, 2019) (84 Fed. Reg. 53375). In the NPRM, the Board proposed, at the request of parties, clarification and amendment to the performance data reporting regulations to include chemical and plastics (STCC 28, except fertilizer) traffic as a distinct reporting category for the cars-held metric at 49 C.F.R. § 1250.2(a)(6). The final rule maintains the same limited modification as the NPRM and is expected to provide increased transparency. Pet. for Rulemaking to Amend 49 C.F.R. Part 1250, EP 724 (Sub-No. 5) (STB served May 14, 2020) (85 Fed. Reg. 30849) (published May 21, 2020).
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:
(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;
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.