98-4421. Proposed Collection; Comment Request

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 35 (Monday, February 23, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9025-9026]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4421]


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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    Summary: In accordance with the requirement of Section 
3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 which provides 
opportunity for public comment on new or revised data collections, the 
Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) will publish periodic summaries of 
proposed data collections.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed information 
collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information has practical utility; 
(b) the accuracy of the RRB's estimate of the burden of the collection 
of the information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize 
the burden related to the collection of information on respondents, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.

Title and Purpose of Information Collection

    Appeal Under the Railroad Retirement and Railroad Unemployment 
Insurance Act; OMB 3220-0007.
    Under Section 7(b)(3) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), and 
section 5(c) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) any 
person aggrieved by a decision on his or her application for an annuity 
or benefit under that Act has the right to appeal to the RRB. This 
right is prescribed in 20

[[Page 9026]]

CFR 260 and 20 CFR 320. The notification letter sent to the individual 
at the time of the original action on the application informs the 
applicant of such right. When an individual protests a decision, the 
concerned bureau reviews the entire file and any additional evidence 
submitted and sends the applicant a letter explaining the basis of the 
determination. The applicant is then notified that if he or she wishes 
to protest further, they can appeal to the RRB's Bureau of Hearings and 
Appeals. The procedure pertaining to the filing of such an appeal is 
prescribed in 20 CFR 260.5 and 260.9 and 20 CFR 320.12 and 320.38.
    The form prescribed by the RRB for filing an appeal under the RRA 
or RUIA is form HA-1, Appeal Under the Railroad Retirement Act or 
Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act. The form asks the applicant to 
furnish the basis for the appeal and what additional evidence, if any, 
is to be submitted. Completion is voluntary, however if the information 
is not provided the RRB cannot process the appeal.
    The RRB proposes to add an item to Form HA-1 which requests the 
name, address and phone number of the applicant's representative. Minor 
editorial changes which include the addition of language required by 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 are also proposed. The completion 
time for the HA-1 is estimated at 20 minutes per response. The RRB 
estimates that approximately 1,200 Form HA-1's are completed annually.
    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: To request more information or 
to obtain a copy of the information collection justification, forms, 
and/or supporting material, please call the RRB Clearance Officer at 
[phone]. Comments regarding the information collection should be 
addressed to Ronald J. Hodapp, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North 
Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092. Written comments should be 
received within 60 days of this notice.
Chuck Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-4421 Filed 2-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-M