[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5610-5611]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00968]


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NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD


Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests

AGENCY: National Mediation Board.

SUMMARY: The Assistant Chief of Staff, 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 Assistant Chief of Staff, 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 proposed extension of the 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.

    Dated: January 11, 2017.
Samantha Jones,
Assistant Chief of Staff, Administration, National Mediation Board.

A. Application for ADR Services

    Type of Review: Extension.
    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

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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 www.nmb.gov or should be addressed to Denise 
Murdock, NMB, 1301 K Street NW., Suite 250 E, Washington, DC 20005 or 
addressed to the email 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 Samantha Jones 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. 2017-00968 Filed 1-17-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7550-01-P