Supporting Statement Arbitration NMB6

Supporting Statement

Official Travel/Referee Compensation Authorization

National Mediation Board (NMB)

A. JUSTIFICATION:

1. Section 153, First and Second of the Railway Labor Act, 45 U.S.C. 153, First and Second, provide that the National Mediation Board (NMB) shall compensate arbitrators who resolve the resolves under these sections of the Act. The arbitrator must submit a written request in advance, for authorization to be compensated for work to be performed. The arbitrator must obtain authorization before performing work.

2. This form is necessary for the NMB to meet its fiscal responsibilities; this is the mechanism that controls the amount of funds being expended by Arbitrators. 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.

3. There is no improved technological method for obtaining this information. The burden on the parties is minimal in completing the Official Travel/Referee Compensation Authorization.

4. This information does not exist in duplicate elsewhere in the agency; the form is completed and submitted on a monthly basis to obtain approval to hear cases.

5. The respondents to this collection are individual contractors and small businesses or entities. However, the submission of this brief collection is necessary in order for the NMB to comply with Section 153 of the Railway Labor Act, U.S.C. 45. The form includes only pertinent information required for the NMB to assure adequate funding of obligations required by the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, as amended, and the Federal Managers’ Financial Integrity Act.

6. The collection of this information is vital for the NMB to comply with section 153 Second of the Railway Labor Act, U.S.C. 45 and to fulfill financial responsibilities. Without this collection we would not be able to comply with the law.

7. The information requested by the NMB is consistent with the general information collection guidelines of CFR 1320.8 (b) (3). The burden on the individual is minimal in completing the Official Travel/Referee Compensation Authorization. We do not require submission of more than one copy of any document. Information requested of respondents is confidential in nature and is protected by internal procedures to the extent permitted by law.

8. A notice regarding the Official Travel/Referee Compensation Authorization was published in the Federal Register on April 28, 2006, page 25248, for public comment. The NMB did not receive any comments on this published notice. There have been no recent consultations regarding the form. (See attached copy of notice.)

9. No payments or gifts have been provided by the NMB to any respondents of the form.

10. The information requested of respondents is confidential in nature and is protected by internal procedures to the extent permitted by law.

11. There are not questions of a sensitive nature on the form.

12. The total time burden on respondents is 156 hours annually – this is the time required to collect information. After consulting with a small sample of people involved with the collection of this information, the time to complete this information collection is estimated to average 15 minutes per response, including gathering the data needed and completion and review of the information.

a. Number of respondents per year 624

b. Estimated time per respondent 15 minutes

c. Total Burden hours per year 156

(624 x .25)

13. The total collection and mail cost burden on respondents is estimated at $2,340.00 annually ($2,340.00 annual time burden cost).

a. The respondents will not incur any capital costs or start up costs for this collection.

b. Cost burden on respondents – detail:

The total time burden annual cost is $2,340.00

We are estimating that a mid-level clerical person, with an average salary of $15.00 per hour will be completing the Official Travel/Referee Compensation Authorization. The total burden is estimated at 156 hours; therefore, the total time burden cost is estimated at $2,340.00 per year.

Time Burden Basis: total hourly burden per year = 156 hours

$15.00 per hour – based on mid level clerical salary

$15.00 x 156 hours per year = $2,340.00

14. The total annualized Federal cost is $47,542.56 - this involves processing the Official Travel/Referee Compensation Authorization.

Processing Costs = $47,542.56

Processing costs basis: Official Travel/Referee Compensation Authorizations are submitted approximately 624 times per year and it takes about 2.25 hours to process each request.

Staff Cost = $47,542.56

$35.32 per hour (Arbitration GS12 $73,720 = $35.32 per hour)

$35.32 x 2 hours per request = $70.64

$70.64 x 624 = $44,079.36

$.37 per minute (F & A GS7 $45,225 = $21.67 per hour ÷ 60)

$.37 x 5 minutes per form = $1.85 per form

$1.85 x 624 = $1,154.40

$.37 per minute (F & A GS7 $45,225 = $21.67 per hour ÷ 60)

$.37 x 10 minutes per form = $3.70

$3.70 x 624 = $2,308.80

15. Item 13 Program Change & Item 14 Adjustments – this collection was not previously included in the Paperwork Reduction Act process.

16. The information collected by the request will not be published.

17. The NMB will display the OMB expiration date on the form.

18.

19. (c) this form does not reduce the burden on small entities; however, the burden is minimized and voluntary. The submission of this brief collection is necessary in order for the NMB to comply with Section 153 of the Railway Labor Act, 45 U.S.C.

19. (f) the form does not indicate the retention period for record keeping requirements.

19. (i) the form is not part of a statistical survey.

B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

Not applicable to this collection.

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