[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 229 (Friday, November 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63342-63343]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31144]


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FEDERAL MEDIATION AND CONCILIATION SERVICE


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) 
announces an opportunity for public comment on the proposed extension 
of its collection of information by Form F-53, Federal Sector Labor 
Relations: Notice to Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, OMB 
No. 3076-0005. Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq., agencies are required to publish notice in the 
Federal Register regarding each proposed collection of information, 
including a proposed extension of an existing collection of 
information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the 
notice. This notice solicits public comment on the extension for three 
(3) years of a existing collection of information relating to federal 
sector labor-management relations. No revisions or modifications of 
Form F-53 are contemplated. Form F-53 is scheduled to expire on 
November 30, 1997; however, OMB has granted the agency a short-term 
extension until February 19, 1998.

DATES: Comments should be submitted on or before January 27, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted by mail to: Office of the 
General Counsel, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, 2100 K 
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., ATTN: Tammi Strozier. Comments may also 
be submitted by fax to (202) 606-5345, ATTN: Tammi Strozier. All 
written or faxed comments should bear the notation: Comments on Form F-
53. A record has been established for this action. All submitted 
comments will be available for public inspection in Room 600, 2100 K 
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20427, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except on federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General Counsel Elizabeth G. Watson, 
ATTN: Diane R. Liff, Special Counsel, Federal Mediation and 
Conciliation Service, (202) 606-3747; fax: (202) 606-5345; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copies of Form F-53 are available from the 
Office of General Counsel, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, 
2100 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20427.
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 7119(a) and related implementing regulations, 
29 CFR Part 1425, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) 
provides services and assistance to federal agencies and to the labor 
unions that represent agencies' employees in matters involving contract 
expiration or reopener negotiations, as well as mid-term or impact and 
implementation bargaining disputes. In addition, FMCS provides 
grievance mediation services to agencies and employee unions that 
jointly request it. Form F-53, Federal Sector Labor Relations: Notice 
to Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, OMB No. 3076-0005, is a 
voluntary, one-page, collection of information submitted by federal 
agencies and labor unions to notify FMCS that such assistance is 
requested. Form F-53 permits FMCS to gather the

[[Page 63343]]

desired information in a timely and uniform manner. The information 
advises FMCS of the parties involved, type of negotiation, number of 
employees, date of contract termination or reopening, and the names and 
phone numbers of contact persons. The information supplied by the 
parties is collected by the FMCS Notice Processing Unit (NPU) and 
distributed by NPU to the appropriate FMCS field office for assignment 
of a federal mediator. Parties are not required to use Form F-53 to 
request services or assistance. The entities affected by this action 
are approximately 600 federal agencies and labor unions. The form is 
filled out once per request, and the time required to fill it out is 
estimated to be 10 minutes or less. Approximately 1,000 forms are 
submitted annually. FMCS seeks a three (3) year extension without 
modification for Form F-53. Form F-53 is scheduled to expire on 
November 30, 1997; however, OMB has granted the agency a short-term 
extension until February 19, 1998.

REQUEST FOR COMMENTS: FMCS solicits comments on:
    (1) The necessity of the collection of information for the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency;
    (2) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden on 
respondents of the collection of information;
    (3) The clarity and utility of the information collected; and
    (4) The manner by which the burden associated with respondents' 
collection of information could be minimized.

    Dated: November 21, 1997.
Elizabeth G. Watson,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 97-31144 Filed 11-26-97; 8:45 am]
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