[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 113 (Wednesday, June 12, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35328-35329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-13872]


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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 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 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-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: June 6, 2013.
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

[[Page 35329]]

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--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 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 email 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. 2013-13872 Filed 6-11-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7550-01-P