[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 44 (Monday, March 9, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10098-10099]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4837]


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NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD


Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests

AGENCY: National Mediation Board.
SUMMARY: The Director, Office of Administration, invites comments on 
the proposed information collection requests as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

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

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.
    Currently, the National Mediation Board is soliciting comments 
concerning the new collection of information in the form of Request for 
Arbitration Panel for Airline System Boards of Adjustment, Request for 
Public Law Board Member, Arbitration Services--Pay Voucher for Personal 
Services, Arbitration Services--Official Travel/Referee Compensation 
Authorization, Neutral's Report of Activity Arbitration Services--
Personal Data Sheet and is interested in public comment addressing the 
following issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to the proper 
functions of the agency; (2) will this information be processed and 
used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) 
how might the agency enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (5) how might the agency minimize the 
burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use 
of information technology.

    Dated: March 3, 2009.
June D. W. King,
Director, Office of Administration, National Mediation Board.

A. Request for Arbitration Panel for Airline System Boards of 
Adjustment

    Type of Review: New Collection.
    Title: Request for Arbitration Panel for Airlines System Boards of 
Adjustment.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Airline Carrier and Union Officials.
    Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:

Responses: Estimate about 80 annually.
Burden Hours: 20.

    Abstract: Section 183 of the Railway Labor Act, 45 U.S.C., 183, 
provides that the parties to the labor-management disputes in the 
airline industry must have a procedure for the resolution of disputes 
involving the interpretation or application of provisions of the 
collective bargaining agreement. The Railway Labor Act mentions system 
board of adjustment or arbitration boards as the mechanism for 
resolution and is silent as to how the neutral arbitrator is to be 
selected if the parties are unable to agree on an individual. The 
National Mediation Board provides panels of arbitrators to help the 
parties in their selection of an arbitrator.
    This form is necessary to assist the parties in this process. The 
parties invoke the process through the submission of this form. The 
brief information is necessary for the NMB to perform this important 
function.

B. Request for Public Law Board Member

    Type of Review: New Collection.
    Title: Request for Public Law Board Member.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Carrier and Union Officials of railroads.
    Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:

Responses: Estimate 15 annually.
Burden Hours: 3.75.

    Abstract: Section 153, Second, of the Railway Labor Act, 45 U.S.C. 
153, Second, governs procedures to be followed by carriers and 
representatives of employees in the establishment and functioning of 
special adjustment boards. These special adjustment boards are referred 
to as public law boards (board). The statute provides that within 
thirty (30) days from the date a written request is made by an employee 
representative or carrier official for the establishment of a board, an 
agreement establishing such board shall be made. If, however, one party 
fails to designate a member of the board, the party making the request 
may ask the NMB to designate a member on behalf of the other party. The 
NMB must designate the representative who, together with the other 
party constitutes the public board. It will be the task of these two 
individuals to decide on the terms of the agreement. If these 
individuals are unable to decide upon the terms, the Railway Labor Act 
provides that one of these parties may request that the NMB designate a 
neutral to resolve the remaining matters which are procedural issues. 
Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1207.2, requests for the NMB to appoint either 
representatives or neutrals must be made on printed forms which may be 
secured from the NMB.
    This form is necessary for the NMB to fulfill its statutory 
responsibilities. Without this information, the NMB would not be able 
to assist the railroad labor and management representatives in 
resolving disputes, which is contrary to the intent of the Railway 
Labor Act.

C. Arbitration Services--Official Travel/Referee Compensation 
Authorization

    Type of Review: New Collection.
    Title: Arbitration Services--Official Travel/Referee Compensation 
Authorization.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Arbitrators.
    Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:

Responses: Approximately 624 annually.
Burden Hours: 156.

    Abstract: Section 153, First and Second of the Railway Labor Act, 
45 U.S.C. 153, First and Second, provide that the NMB shall compensate 
arbitrators who resolve the resolves under these sections of the Act. 
The arbitrator must submit a written request, in advance, for 
authorization to be compensated for work to be performed. The 
arbitrator must obtain authorization before performing work. This form 
is the

[[Page 10099]]

request and is necessary for the NMB to fulfill its financial 
responsibilities.

D. Arbitration Services--Pay Voucher for Personal Services

    Type of Review: New Collection.
    Title: Arbitration Services--Pay Voucher for Personal Services.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Arbitrators.
    Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:

Responses: Approximately 624 annually.
Burden Hours: 156.

    Abstract: Section 153, First and Second of the Railway Labor Act, 
45 U.S.C. 153, First and Second, provide that the NMB shall compensate 
arbitrators who resolve the resolves under these sections of the Act. 
After the work is performed, the arbitrator must submit a written 
request for compensation. This form is the vehicle used to request 
compensation and is necessary for the NMB to fulfill its financial 
responsibilities.

E. Neutral's Report of Activity

    Type of Review: New Collection.
    Title: Neutral's Report of Activity.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Arbitrators.
    Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:

Responses: Approximately 624 annually.
Burden Hours: 156.

    Abstract: Section 153, First and Second of the Railway Labor Act, 
45 U.S.C. 153, First and Second, provide that the parties may use an 
arbitrator to resolve their disputes concerning the application or 
interpretation of the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement. 
The NMB must record the decisions rendered by the arbitrators selected 
by the parties and compensated by the NMB. This form is used to gather 
that information. This brief information is necessary for the NMB to 
fulfill its responsibilities under the Railway labor Act.

F. Arbitration Services--Personal Data Sheet

    Type of Review: New Collection.
    Title: Arbitration Services--Personal Data Sheet.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Arbitrators.
    Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:

Responses: 25 annually.
Burden Hours: 25.

    Abstract: Sections 183 and 153 of the Railway Labor Act, 45 U.S.C., 
153 and 183, provide for the use of arbitrators in the resolution of 
disputes concerning the application or interpretation of provisions of 
a collective bargaining agreement in the airline and railroad 
industries. The NMB maintains a roster of arbitrators for this purpose. 
The NMB must have a means for interested individuals to apply for 
inclusion on this roster. This form is the application for inclusion on 
the NMB roster. The brief information that the NMB solicits is 
necessary to perform this responsibility under the Railway Labor Act.
    Requests for copies of the proposed information collection request 
may be accessed from http://www.nmb.gov or should be addressed to 
Roland Watkins, Director of Arbitration Services NMB, 1301 K Street, 
NW., Suite 250 E, Washington, DC 20005 or addressed to the e-mail 
address [email protected] or faxed to 202-692-5086. 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. E9-4837 Filed 3-6-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7550-01-P