[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 182 (Tuesday, September 22, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 48316]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-22688]


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NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD


Proposed Information Collection Requests

AGENCY: National Mediation Board.

ACTION: Notice.

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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 60 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 Director, Office of Administration, 
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 an 
Application for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Services 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.

June D.W. King,
Director, Office of Administration, National Mediation Board.

A. Application for ADR Services

    Type of Review: New Collection.
    Title: Application for ADR Services.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Union Officials and Officials of Railroads and 
Airlines.
    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 
may be accessed from http://www.nmb.gov or should be addressed to 
Daniel Rainey, Director, Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution 
Services, National Mediation Board, 1301 K Street, NW., Suite 250 E, 
Washington, DC 20005, or faxed to 202-692-5083. 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, Director, Office of 
Administration, National Mediation Board, 1301 K Street NW., Suite 250 
East, Washington, DC 20005, or at 202-692-5010 or via e-mail 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. E9-22688 Filed 9-21-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7550-01-P