This information collection is to address the acute and unanticipated service issues currently facing the U.S. rail industry and network, by directing the four largest U.S. rail carriers to submit service recovery plans, along with biweekly progress reports for the next six months, in an effort to address service deficiencies. For related purposes, this collection also requires all of the Class I (large) rail carriers operating in the United States to report more comprehensive and customer-centric performance metrics and employment data, also for a six-month period.
This is a request for an emergency clearance for a new information collection to address the acute and unanticipated service issues currently facing the U.S. rail industry and network. The collection of this information is essential to the Boardâs mission of regulating the nationâs railroads and facilitating reliable rail service. See, 49 U.S.C. § 11101(a). Congress has expressly empowered the Board to address immediate service issues. See, e.g., 49 U.S.C. §§ 1321(b), 11123, and 11145(a). The Board is collecting this information to be able to timely deal with the unanticipated and urgent service issues facing the U.S. rail system and overall supply-chain issues. Thus, timely receipt of this information collection is critical for the Board to be able to use its statutory powers to help remediate the immediate service issues, to guard against continuing service issues, and to promote the reliability of the U.S. rail system.
Further, public harm will likely result if the Board is prevented from immediately collecting this necessary and essential information. Failure to process this request could impede the Boardâs ability to fully assess the reliability of the rail network at a time of economic stress and supply chain struggles and to determine whether particular targeted remedies are warranted. Impediments to the Boardâs ability to obtain the information it is seeking would cause harm to the public, businesses, and the U.S. economy during a time of unprecedented economic stress.
US Code:
49 USC 11123
Name of Law: Situations requiring immediate action to serve the public
US Code:
49 USC 11145(a)
Name of Law: Reports by rail carriers
US Code:
49 USC 1321(b)
Name of Law: Powers-Inquiries, Reports, and Orders
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.