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 NMB 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 NMB is soliciting comments concerning the proposed reinstatement, with non-substantive change, of previously approved collections of information, entitled “Request for Arbitration Panel for Airline System Boards of Adjustment”, ( printed page 62565) “Arbitration Services—Personal Data Sheet”, and “Request for Public Law (PL) Board Member”, 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.

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

Title of Collection: Request for Arbitration Panel for Airline System Boards of Adjustment.

OMB Control Number: 3140-0003.

Type of Review: Reinstatement, with non-substantive change, of a previously approved collection of information.

Affected Public: Airline Carrier and Union Officials.

Frequency of Collection: On occasion.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:

Responses: Estimate 15 annually.

Burden Hours: 3.75.

Abstract: Section 183 of the Railway Labor Act (RLA), 45 U.S.C. 183, provides that the parties to labor-management disputes in the airline industry must have a procedure for the resolution of disputes involving the interpretation or application of provisions of a collective bargaining agreement. The RLA mentions system boards of adjustment or arbitration boards as the mechanism for resolution of those disputes and is silent as to how the neutral arbitrator is to be selected if the parties are unable to agree on an individual. The NMB provides panels, or lists, 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 the “Request for Arbitration Panel for Airline System Boards of Adjustment” form, which is available on the internet at www.nmb.gov. The brief information the NMB solicits is necessary for the NMB to perform this important function.

B. Arbitration Services—Personal Data Sheet

Title of Collection: Arbitration Services—Personal Data Sheet.

OMB Control Number: 3140-0004.

Type of Review: Reinstatement, with non-substantive change, of a previously approved collection of information.

Affected Public: Arbitrators.

Frequency of Collection: On occasion.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:

Responses: Estimate 15 annually.

Burden Hours: 15.00.

Abstract: Sections 183 and 153 of the Railway Labor Act (RLA), 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, available at www.nmb.gov, is the application for inclusion on the NMB roster. The brief information that the NMB solicits is necessary to perform this responsibility under the RLA.

C. Request for Public Law (PL) Board Member

Title of Collection: Request for Public Law (PL) Board Member.

OMB Control Number: 3140-0005.

Type of Review: Reinstatement, with non-substantive change, of a previously approved collection of information.

Affected Public: Carrier and Union Officials of railroads.

Frequency of Collection: On occasion.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:

Responses: Estimate 10 annually.

Burden Hours: 2.50.

Abstract: Section 153, Second, of the Railway Labor Act (RLA), 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 (PLB). 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 PLB, an agreement establishing such PLB shall be made. If, however, one party fails to designate a member of the PLB, 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 PLB. 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 RLA 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 CFR 1207.2, requests for the NMB to appoint party representatives or neutrals must be made on the “Request for Public Law Board Member” form, which is available on the internet at www.nmb.gov.

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 RLA.

91 FR 62564