E7-16803. 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 an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to request a revision to a currently approved collection of information: 3220-0057, Placement Service consisting of Form(s) ES-2, ES-21, ES-21c, UI-35, and Job Vacancies Reports. 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 collection of information to determine (1) the practical utility of the collection; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden of the collection; (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.

Section 12(i) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA), authorizes the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) to establish, maintain, and operate free employment offices to provide claimants for unemployment benefits with job placement opportunities. Section 704(d) of the Regional Railroad Reorganization Act of 1973, as amended, and as extended by the consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, required the RRB to maintain and distribute a list of railroad job vacancies, by class and craft, based on information furnished by rail carriers to the RRB. Although the requirement under the law expired effective August 13, 1987, the RRB has continued to obtain this information in keeping with its employment service responsibilities under Section 12(k) of the RUIA. Application procedures for the job placement program are prescribed in 20 CFR 325. The procedures pertaining to the RRB's obtaining and distributing job vacancy reports furnished by rail carriers are described in 20 CFR 346.1.

The RRB currently utilizes four forms to obtain information needed to carry out its job placement responsibilities. Form ES-2, Supplemental Information for Central Register, is used by the RRB to obtain information needed to update a computerized central register of separated and furloughed railroad employees available for employment in the railroad industry. Form ES-21, Referral to State Employment Service, and ES-21c, Report of State Employment Service Office, are used by the RRB to provide placement assistance for unemployed railroad employees through arrangements with State Employment Service offices. Form UI-35, Field Office Record of Claimant Interview, is used primarily by RRB field office staff to conduct in-person interviews of claimants for unemployment benefits. Completion of these forms is required to obtain or maintain a benefit. In addition, the RRB also collects Railroad Job Vacancies information received voluntarily from railroad employers.

Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the initial 60-day notice (72 FR 18283-18284 on April 11, 2007) required by 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

Title: Placement Service.

OMB Control Number: 3220-0057.

Form(s) submitted: ES-2, ES-21, ES-21c, UI-35, and Job Vacancies Reports.

Type of request: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Affected public: Individuals or households, Business or-other-for profit, State, Local and Tribal government.

Abstract: Under the RUIA, the Railroad Retirement Board provides job placement assistance for unemployed railroad workers. The collection obtains information from job applicants, railroad employers and State Employment Service offices for use in placement, for providing referrals for job openings, reports of referral results and for verifying and monitoring claimant eligibility.

Changes Proposed: The RRB proposes minor, non-burden impacting editorial changes to Form ES-2, and minor non-burden impacting editorial and reformatting changes to Form ES-21. No changes are being proposed to Form ES-21c, UI-35 or to the Railroad Job Vacancies Report.

The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:

Estimated Completion Time for Form ES-2: .25 minutes.

Estimated Completion Time for Form ES-21: .68 minutes.

Estimated Completion Time for Form ES-21c: 1.5 minutes.

Estimated Completion Time for Form UI-35 (in person): 7 minutes.

Estimated Completion Time for Form UI-35 (by mail): 10.5 minutes.

Estimated Completion Time for Job Vacancies Report: 10 minutes.

Estimated annual number of respondents: 10,750.

Total annual responses: 23,000.

Total annual reporting hours: 1,452.

Additional Information or Comments: Copies of the forms and supporting documents can be obtained from Charles Mierzwa, the agency clearance officer (312-751-3363) or [e-mail].

Comments regarding the information collection should be sent to Ronald J. Hodapp, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092 or [e-mail], and to the Office of Management Budget at ATTN: Desk Officer for RRB, Fax: [phone] or via E-mail to [e-mail].

Charles Mierzwa,

Clearance Officer.