[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 19, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2894-2895]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-848]


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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD


Agency Forms Submitted for OMB Review, Request for Comments

    Summary: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is forwarding 
two (2) Information Collection Requests (ICR) to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB). Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from 
the public. Review and approval by OIRA ensures that we impose 
appropriate paperwork burdens.
    The RRB invites comments on the proposed collections of information 
to determine (1) the practical utility of the collections; (2) the 
accuracy of the estimated burden of the collections; (3) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information that is the 
subject of collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of 
collections on respondents, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments to RRB or 
OIRA must contain the OMB control number of the ICR. For proper 
consideration of your comments, it is best if RRB and OIRA receive them 
within 30 days of publication date.

1. Title and Purpose of Information Collection

Vocational Report; 3220-0141

    Section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) provides for payment 
of disability annuities to qualified employees and widow(ers). The 
establishment of permanent disability for work in the applicants 
``regular occupation'' or for work in any regular employment is 
prescribed in 20 CFR 220.12 and 220.13 respectively.
    The RRB utilizes Form G-251, Vocational Report, to obtain an 
applicant's work history. This information is used by the RRB to 
determine the effect of a disability on an applicant's ability to work. 
Form G-251 is designed for use with the RRB's disability benefit 
application forms and is provided to all applicants for employee 
disability annuities and to those applicants for a widow(er)'s 
disability annuity who indicate that they have been employed at some 
time.
    Completion is required to obtain or retain a benefit. One response 
is requested of each respondent. The completion time for Form G-251 is 
estimated at between 30 and 40 minutes per response.
    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (74 FR 56244 on October 30, 2009) required by 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
    Title: Vocational Report.
    Form(s) submitted: G-251.
    OMB Control Number: 3220-0141.
    Expiration date of current OMB clearance: 1/31/2010.
    Type of request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 6,000.
    Total annual responses: 6,000.
    Total annual reporting hours: 3,045.
    Abstract: Section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act provides for the 
payment of disability annuities to qualified employees and widower(s). 
In order to determine the effect of a disability on an applicant's 
ability to work, the RRB needs the applicants work history. The 
collection obtains the information needed to determine their ability to 
work.
    Changes Proposed: The RRB proposes minor non-burden, impacting 
changes to Form G-251.

2. Title and Purpose of Information Collection

Job Information Report; 3220-0193

    In July of 1997, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) adopted 
standards for the adjudication of occupational disabilities under the 
Railroad Retirement Act (RRA). As part of these standards, the RRB 
requests job information to determine an applicant's

[[Page 2895]]

eligibility for an occupational disability. The job information 
received from the railroad employer and railroad employee is compared, 
reconciled (if needed), and then used in the occupational disability 
determination process. The process of obtaining information from 
railroad employers used to determine an applicant's eligibility for an 
occupational disability is outlined in 20 CFR 220.13(b)(2)(e).
    To determine an occupational disability, the RRB determines if an 
employee is precluded from performing the full range of duties of his 
or her regular railroad occupation. This is accomplished by comparing 
the restrictions on impairment(s) causes against an employee's ability 
to perform his/her normal duties. To collect information needed to 
determine the effect of a disability on an applicant's ability to work, 
the RRB needs the applicant's work history. The RRB currently utilizes 
Form G-251, Vocational Report (OMB 3220-0141), to obtain this 
information from the employee applicant.

    Note: Form G-251 is provided to all applicants for employee 
disability annuities and to those applicants for a widow(er)'s 
disability annuity who indicate that they have been employed at some 
time.

    In accordance with the standards, the RRB also requests pertinent 
job information from employers. The employer is given thirty days from 
the date of the notice to respond. The responses are not required, but 
are voluntary. If the job information is received timely, it is 
compared to the job information provided by the employee. Any material 
differences are resolved by an RRB disability examiner. Once resolved, 
the information is compared to the restrictions caused by the medical 
impairment. If the restrictions prohibit the performance of the regular 
railroad occupation, the claimant is found occupationally disabled.
    The RRB uses two forms to secure job information data from the 
railroad employer. RRB Form G-251a, Employer Job Information (job 
description), is released to an employer when an application for an 
occupational disability is filed by an employee whose regular railroad 
occupation is one of the more common types of railroad jobs (locomotive 
engineer, conductor, switchman, etc.) It is accompanied by a *generic 
job description* for that particular railroad job. The generic job 
descriptions describe how these select occupations are generally 
performed in the railroad industry. However, not all occupations are 
performed the same way from railroad to railroad. Thus, the employer is 
given an opportunity to comment on whether the job description matches 
the employee's actual duties. If the employer concludes that the 
generic job description accurately describes the work performed by the 
applicant, no further action will be necessary. If the employer 
determines that the tasks are different, it may provide the RRB with a 
description of the actual job tasks. The employer has thirty days from 
the date the form is released to reply.
    Form G-251b, Employer Job Information (general), is released to an 
employer when an application for an RRB occupational disability is 
filed by an employee whose regular railroad occupation does not have a 
generic job description. It notifies the employer that the employee has 
filed for a disability annuity and that, if the employer wishes, it may 
provide the RRB with job duty information. The type of information the 
RRB is seeking is outlined on the form. The employer has thirty days 
from the date the form is released to reply.
    The completion time for Form G-251a and G-251b is estimated at 20 
minutes. Completion is voluntary. The RRB estimates that approximately 
125 G-251a's and 305 G-251b's are completed annually. The RRB proposes 
no changes to Forms G-251a and G-251b.
    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (74 FR 18408 on November 9, 2009) required by 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
    Title: Job Information Report.
    Form(s) submitted: G-251a, Employer Job Information (position 
description); G-251b, Employer Job Information (general)
    OMB Control Number: 3220-0193.
    Expiration date of current OMB clearance: 1/31/2010.
    Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected public: Business or other-for profit.
    The proposed estimated annual burden for this collection is 
unchanged as follows:
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 430.
    Total annual responses: 430.
    Total annual reporting hours: 144.
    Abstract: The collection obtains information used by the Railroad 
Retirement Board (RRB) to assist in determining whether a railroad 
employee is disabled from his or her regular occupation. It provides, 
under certain conditions, railroad employers with the opportunity to 
provide information to the RRB regarding the employee applicant's job 
duties.
    Changes Proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to the forms in the 
information collection.
    Additional Information or Comments: Copies of the form and 
supporting documents can be obtained from Charles Mierzwa, the agency 
clearance officer at (312-751-3363) or [email protected].
    Comments regarding the information collection should be addressed 
to Patricia A. Henaghan, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush 
Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092 or [email protected] and 
to the OMB Desk Officer for the RRB, at the Office of Management and 
Budget, Room 10230, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 
20503.

Charles Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-848 Filed 1-15-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P