[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 116 (Thursday, June 17, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 33946]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-13606]


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NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

AGENCY: National Mediation Board (NMB).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Chief Information Officer, Finance and Administration 
Department, invites comments on the submission for OMB review, in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 
May 22, 1995 and 5 CFR 1320). This notice announces that the NMB has 
submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a request for 
clearance of one (1) information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments within 30 days 
from the date of this publication.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to June D. W. King, 
Chief Information Officer, Finance and Administration, National 
Mediation Board, 1301 K Street, NW., Suite 250 East, Washington, DC, 
20572 or should be e-mailed to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (U.S.C. chapter 35) requires that the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) provide interested Federal agencies and the public an 
early opportunity to comment on information collection requests. OMB 
may amend or waive the requirement for public consultation to the 
extent that public participation in the approval process would defeat 
the purpose of the information collection, violate State or Federal 
law, or substantially interfere with any agency's ability to perform 
its statutory obligations. The Chief Information Officer, Finance and 
Administration Department, publishes that notice containing proposed 
information collection requests prior to submission of these requests 
to OMB. Each proposed information collection contains the following: 
(1) Type of review requested, e.g., new, revision extension, existing 
or reinstatement; (2) Title; (3) Summary of the collection; (4) 
Description of the need for, and proposed use of, the information; (5) 
Respondents and frequency of collection; and (6) Reporting and/or 
Record keeping burden. OMB invites public comment.

    Dated: June 10, 2004.
June D. W. King,
Chief Information Officer, Finance and Administration Department, 
National Mediation Board.

Application for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Services

    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Airline Carriers, Railroads, and Union Officials.
    Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:
     Responses: Estimate about 45 annually.
     Burden Hours: 9.
    Abstract: The Railway Labor Act, 45 U. S. C., 151 a. General 
Purposes, provides that the purposes of the Act are (1) to avoid any 
interruption to commerce or to the operation of any carrier engaged 
therein* * *. (4) to provide for the prompt and orderly settlement of 
all disputes concerning rates of pay, rules, or working conditions, and 
(5) to provide for the prompt and orderly settlement of all disputes 
growing out of grievances or out of the interpretation or application 
of agreements concerning rates of pay, rules, or working conditions.
    In fulfilling its role to administer the Act, the National 
Mediation Board offers the parties to disputes mediation and 
arbitration services. On a voluntary basis, training programs in 
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and facilitation services are also 
available. These ADR programs are designed to enhance the bargaining 
and grievance handling skill level of the disputants and to assist the 
parties in the resolution of disputes. The impact of these ADR programs 
is that mediation and arbitration can be avoided entirely or the scope 
and number of issues brought to mediation or arbitration is 
significantly reduced.
    This collection is necessary to confirm the voluntary participation 
of the parties in the ADR process. The information provided by the 
parties is used by the NMB to schedule the parties for ADR training and 
facilitation. Based on a recent survey of those who participated in the 
NMB's ADR Programs, 94.6% said they were satisfied with the ADR 
Programs and said they recommend the program for all negotiators. 
Collecting the brief information on the Application for ADR Services 
form allows the parties to voluntarily engage the services of the NMB 
in the orderly settlement of all disputes and fulfill the purposes of 
the Act.
    Requests for copies of the proposed information collection request 
should be addressed to Grace Ann Leach, NMB, 1301 K Street, NW., Suite 
250 E, Washington, DC 20572 or addressed to the e-mail address 
[email protected] or faxed to 202-692-5081. Please specify the complete 
title of the information collection when making your request.
    Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity 
requirements should be directed to June D. W. King at 202-692-5010 or 
via Internet address [email protected]. Individuals who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD/TDY) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.

[FR Doc. 04-13606 Filed 6-16-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7550-01-P