[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 47 (Friday, March 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14224-14225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-5789]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 part 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

[[Page 14225]]

interviews of claimants for unemployment benefits. Completion of these 
forms is required to obtain or maintain a benefit. The RRB proposes 
minor, nonburden impacting, editorial and formatting changes to all of 
the forms in the collection.
    In addition, the RRB also collects Railroad Job Vacancies 
information received voluntarily from railroad employers. Minor 
nonburden impacting changes are being proposed to the Railroad Job 
Vacancies Report portion of the information collection.

                                      Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden
                   [The estimated annual respondent burden for this collection is as follows:]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             Completion time
                       Forms #(s)                         Annual responses        (min)          Burden  (hrs)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
    Total..............................................             27,000  .................              1,494
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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. 01-5789 Filed 3-8-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-M