[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 6787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3222]


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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506 (c)(2)(A) 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 which provides opportunity for 
public comment on new or revised data collections, the Railroad 
Retirement Board (RRB) will publish periodic summaries of proposed data 
collections.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed information 
collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information has practical utility; 
(b) the accuracy of the RRB's estimate of the burden of the collection 
of the information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize 
the burden related to the collection of information on respondents, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    Title and purpose of information collection: Placement Service; OMB 
3220-0057. Section 12(i) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act 
(RUIA), authorizes the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) to establish, 
maintain, and operate free employment offices to provide claimants for 
unemployment benefits with job placement opportunities. Section 704(d) 
of the Regional Railroad Reorganization Act of 1973, as amended, and as 
extended by the consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, 
required the RRB to maintain and distribute a list of railroad job 
vacancies, by class and craft, based on information furnished by rail 
carriers to the RRB. Although this requirement under the law expired 
effective August 13, 1987, the RRB has continued to obtain this 
information in keeping with its employment service responsibilities 
under Section 12(k) of the RUIA. Application procedures for the job 
placement program are prescribed in 20 CFR 325. The procedures 
pertaining to the RRB's obtaining and distributing job vacancy reports 
furnished by rail carriers are described in 20 CFR 346.1.
    The RRB utilizes six forms to obtain information needed to carry 
out its job placement responsibilities. Form ES-2, Supplemental 
Information for Central Register, is used by the RRB to obtain 
information needed to update a computerized central register of 
separated and furloughed railroad employees available for employment in 
the railroad industry. Form ES-20a, Notice of Employment Referral and 
Form ES-20b, Notice of Employment Referral (Employer), are used by the 
RRB to refer unemployed railroad employees to local employers (railroad 
and nonrailroad). Form ES-21, Referral to State Employment Service, and 
ES-21c, Report of State Employment Service Office are used by the RRB 
to provide placement assistance for unemployed railroad employees 
through arrangements with State Employment Service offices. Form UI-35, 
Field Office Record of Claimant Interview, is used primarily by RRB 
Field Office staff to conduct in-person interviews of claimants for 
unemployment benefits. Completion of these forms are required to obtain 
or maintain a benefit. The RRB proposes to revise all of the forms to 
incorporate language required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. 
Minor editorial and formatting changes are also being proposed.
    In addition, the RRB also collects job vacancy information received 
voluntarily from railroad employers (currently OMB 3220-0122, Railroad 
Job Vacancies). The RRB proposes to merge the Railroad Job Vacancies 
information collection into the Placement Service information 
collection. Minor nonburden impacting changes are being proposed to the 
Railroad Job Vacancies portion of the information collection.

Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden

    The estimated annual respondent burden for this collection is as 
follows:

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                                                                                         Completion             
                              Form number(s)                                  Annual        time        Burden  
                                                                            responses    (minutes)     (hours)  
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ES-2.....................................................................        7,500         0.25           31
ES-20a...................................................................        2,000         0.75           25
ES-20b...................................................................        2,000         0.50           17
ES-21....................................................................        3,500         0.68           40
ES-21c...................................................................        1,250         1.50           31
UI-35 (in-person)........................................................        9,000         7.00        1,050
UI-35 (by mail)..........................................................        1,000        10.50          175
Railroad Job Vacancies Report............................................          750        10.00          125
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      Total..............................................................       27,000  ...........        1,494
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: To request more information or to 
obtain a copy of the information collection justification, forms, and/
or supporting material, please call the RRB Clearance Officer at (312) 
751-3363. Comments regarding the information collection should be 
addressed to Ronald J. Hodapp, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North 
Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092. Written comments should be 
received within 60 days of this notice.
Chuck Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-3222 Filed 2-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-M