Agency Forms Submitted for OMB Review, Request for Comments, 71389-71393 [2011-29698]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 222 / Thursday, November 17, 2011 / Notices
increased the actual dose data contained
in the reports by 15 percent. The
projected doses at EPU conditions
remained within regulatory limits.
Therefore, the NRC staff concludes that
there would not be a significant
cumulative radiological impact to
members of the public from increased
radioactive effluents from PTN Units 3
and 4 at the proposed EPU operation.
A COL application was submitted in
June 2009 to the NRC to construct and
operate two new AP1000 reactor plants
on the PTN site designated as Units 6
and 7. FPL’s radiological assessment of
the radiation doses to members of the
public from the proposed two new
reactors concluded that the doses would
be within regulatory limits. The staff
expects continued compliance with
regulatory dose limits during PTN Units
3 and 4 operations at the proposed EPU
power level. Therefore, the staff
concludes that the cumulative
radiological impacts to members of the
public from increased radioactive
effluents from the combined operations
of PTN Units 3 and 4 at EPU conditions
and the proposed two new reactors
would not be significant.
As previously discussed, the licensee
has a radiation protection program that
maintains worker doses within the dose
limits in 10 CFR part 20 during all
phases of PTN Units 3 and 4 operations.
The NRC staff expects continued
71389
compliance with NRC’s occupational
dose limits during operation at the
proposed EPU power level. Therefore,
the staff concludes that operation of
PTN Units 3 and 4 at the proposed EPU
levels would not result in a significant
impact to the worker’s cumulative
radiological dose.
Radiological Impacts Summary
As discussed above, the proposed
EPU would not result in any significant
radiological impacts. Table 2
summarizes the radiological
environmental impacts of the proposed
EPU at PTN Units 3 and 4.
TABLE 2—SUMMARY OF RADIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
Radioactive Gaseous Effluents ...............
Radioactive Liquid Effluents ....................
Occupational Radiation Doses ................
Offsite Radiation Doses ...........................
Radioactive Solid Waste .........................
Spent Nuclear Fuel ..................................
Postulated Design-Basis Accident Doses
Cumulative Radiological ..........................
Amount of additional radioactive gaseous effluents generated would be handled by the existing system.
Amount of additional radioactive liquid effluents generated would be handled by the existing system.
Occupational doses would continue to be maintained within NRC limits.
Radiation doses to members of the public would remain below NRC and EPA radiation protection
standards.
Amount of additional radioactive solid waste generated would be handled by the existing system.
The spent fuel characteristics will remain within the bounding criteria used in the impact analysis in
10 CFR part 51, Table S–3 and Table S–4.
Calculated doses for postulated design-basis accidents would remain within NRC limits.
Radiation doses to the public and plant workers would remain below NRC and EPA radiation protection standards.
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Alternatives to the Proposed Action
Agencies and Persons Consulted
As an alternative to the proposed
action, the NRC staff considered denial
of the proposed EPU (i.e., the ‘‘noaction’’ alternative). Denial of the
application would result in no change
in the current environmental impacts.
However, if the EPU were not approved
for PTN Units 3 and 4, other agencies
and electric power organizations may be
required to pursue other means, such as
fossil fuel or alternative fuel power
generation, to provide electric
generation capacity to offset future
demand. Construction and operation of
such a fossil-fueled or alternative-fueled
plant could result in impacts in air
quality, land use, and waste
management greater than those
identified for the proposed EPU for PTN
Units 3 and 4. Furthermore, the
proposed EPU does not involve
environmental impacts that are
significantly different from those
originally identified in the PTN Unit 3
or Unit 4 FES, and NUREG–1437, SEIS–
5.
In accordance with its stated policy,
the NRC staff consulted with the FDEP,
SFWMD, Miami-Dade County, BNP, and
FWCC regarding the environmental
impact of the proposed action and
specifically regarding the monitoring
and mitigation plan that formed the
basis of the Florida agencies
recommending approval to the FDEP for
the proposed EPU subject to the CoC
during the State of Florida site
certification process.
Alternative Use of Resources
The action does not involve the use of
any different resources than those
previously considered in the PTN Unit
3 or Unit 4 FES.
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III. Draft Finding of No Significant
Impact
On the basis of the details provided in
the EA, the NRC concludes that granting
the proposed EPU license amendment is
not expected to cause impacts
significantly greater than current
operations. Therefore, the proposed
action of implementing the EPU for PTN
Units 3 and 4 will not have a significant
effect on the quality of the human
environment because no significant
permanent changes are involved and the
temporary impacts are within
previously disturbed areas at the site
and the capacity of the plant systems.
Accordingly, the NRC has determined it
is not necessary to prepare an
environmental impact statement for the
proposed action. A final determination
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to prepare an environmental impact
statement or a final finding of no
significant impact will not be made
until the public comment period closes
and the NRC addresses the comments.
For further details with respect to the
proposed action, see the licensee’s
application dated October 21, 2010, as
supplemented on December 14, 2010
and on April 22, 2011.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 4th day
of November 2011.
Douglas A. Broaddus,
Chief, Plant Licensing Branch II–2, Division
of Operating Reactor Licensing, Office of
Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2011–29718 Filed 11–16–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD
Agency Forms Submitted for OMB
Review, Request for Comments
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Railroad
Retirement Board (RRB) is forwarding
five Information Collection Requests
(ICR) to the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of
Management and Budget (OMB). Our
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 222 / Thursday, November 17, 2011 / Notices
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 the RRB or OIRA must
contain the OMB control number of the
ICR. For proper consideration of your
comments, it is best if the RRB and
OIRA receive them within 30 days of
the publication date.
1. Title and Purpose of Information
Collection: Railroad Service and
Compensation Reports/System Access
Application; OMB 3220–0008.
Under Section 9 of the Railroad
Retirement Act (RRA) and Section 6 of
the Railroad Unemployment Insurance
Act (RUIA) the Railroad Retirement
Board (RRB) maintains for each railroad
employee, a record of compensation
paid to that employee by all railroad
employers for whom the employee
worked after 1936. This record, which is
used by the RRB to determine eligibility
for, and amount of, benefits due under
the laws it administers, is conclusive as
to the amount of compensation paid to
an employee during such period(s)
covered by the report(s) of the
compensation by the employee’s
railroad employer(s), except in cases
when an employee files a protest
pertaining to his or her reported
compensation within the statue of
limitations cited in Section 9 of the RRA
and Section 6 of the RUIA.
Railroad Employers’ Reports and
Responsibilities are prescribed in 20
CFR 209. The RRB currently utilizes
Form BA–3, Annual Report of
Creditable Compensation and Form BA–
4, Report of Creditable Compensation
Adjustments, to secure required
information from railroad employers.
Form BA–3 provides the RRB with
information regarding annual creditable
service and compensation for each
individual who worked for a railroad
employer covered by the RRA and RUIA
in a given year. Form BA–4 provides for
the adjustment of any previously
submitted reports and also the
opportunity to provide any service and
compensation that had been previously
omitted. Requirements specific to Forms
BA–3 and BA–4 are prescribed in 20
CFR 209.8 and 209.9.
Employers currently have the option
of submitting the reports on the
aforementioned forms, electronically by
File Transfer Protocol (FTP), secure
Email or via the Internet utilizing the
RRB’s Employer Reporting System (ERS)
(for Form BA–4), or in like format on
magnetic tape cartridges, and CD–
ROMs. The RRB proposes the
implementation of an Internet
equivalent version of Form BA–3 that
can be submitted through the ERS
which will include the option to file a
‘‘negative report.’’
The information collection also
includes RRB Form BA–12, Application
for Employer Reporting Internet Access,
and Form G–440, Report Specifications
Sheet. Form BA–12 is completed by
railroad employers to obtain system
access to the RRB’s Employer Reporting
System (ERS) as well as to authorize the
degree of access (view/only, data entry/
modification or approval/submission)
appropriate for designated employees.
Once access is obtained, authorized
employees may submit reporting forms
to the RRB via the Internet. Form BA–
12 is also used to terminate an
employee’s access to ERS. Form G–440,
Report Specifications Sheet, serves as a
certification document for various RRB
employer reporting forms (the
previously mentioned BA–3 and BA–4
as well as the BA–6a, BA–6, Address
Report (OMB 3220–0005); BA–9, Report
of Separation Allowance or Severance
Pay (OMB 3220–0173); and BA–11,
Report of Gross Earnings (OMB 3220–
0132)), records the type of medium the
report was submitted on, and serves as
Reporting
a summary recapitulation sheet for
reports filed on paper.
Submission of Forms BA–3, BA–4,
and G–440 is mandatory. Completion of
Form BA–12 is voluntary. One response
is requested of each respondent for all
of the forms in the collection.
Depending on circumstances and
method of submission chosen, multiple
responses will be received from a
respondent for Forms BA–4 and G–440.
Previous Requests for Comments: The
RRB has already published the initial
60-day notice (76 FR 54812 on
September 2, 2011) required by 44
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited
no comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: Railroad Service and
Compensation Reports/System Access
Application.
OMB Control Number: 3220–0008.
Forms Submitted: BA–3, BA–3
(Internet), BA–4, BA–4 (Internet), BA–
12, and Form G–440.
Type of Request: Revision of a
currently approved collection of
information.
Affected Public: Private Sector.
Abstract: Under the Railroad
Retirement Act and Railroad
Unemployment Insurance Act,
employers are required to report service
and compensation for each employee to
update Railroad Retirement Board
records for payments of benefits. The
collection obtains service and
compensation information, information
needed to ensure secure system access
from employers who voluntarily opt to
use the RRB’s Internet-based Employer
Reporting System to submit reporting
forms, and information needed to certify
employer reporting transactions.
Changes Proposed: The RRB proposes
the implementation of an Internet
equivalent version of Form BA–3 that
can be submitted through ERS, which
will include the option to file a
‘‘negative report.’’ Minor non-burden
impacting changes are proposed to
Forms BA–4, BA–12 and G–440.
The Burden Estimate for the ICR Is as
Follows:
Responses
Time (minutes)
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BA–3
Paper ............................................................................................................
20
Electronic Media ...........................................................................................
152
BA–3 (Internet) .............................................................................................
410
BA–4
Paper ............................................................................................................
Electronic Media ...........................................................................................
BA–4 (Internet) .............................................................................................
160
285
3,852
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Burden (hours)
7,011
(116.85 hrs)
2,775
(46.25 hrs)
2,775
(46.25 hrs)
75
60
20
17NON1
2,337
7,030
18,963
200
285
1,284
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 222 / Thursday, November 17, 2011 / Notices
Reporting
Responses
Time (minutes)
71391
Burden (hours)
BA–12
Initial Access .................................................................................................
Access Termination ......................................................................................
G–440 (certification)
Form BA–3 (zero employees) ......................................................................
Form BA–11 (zero employees) ....................................................................
Paper forms (without recap) .........................................................................
Electronic transactions .................................................................................
BA–3 and BA–4 (with recap) ........................................................................
550
50
20
10
183
8
26
138
270
728
200
15
15
15
30
75
7
35
68
364
250
Total .......................................................................................................
6,841
2. Title and purpose of information
collection: Medical Reports; OMB 3220–
0038. Under Sections 2(a)(1)(iv) and
2(a)(1)(v) of the Railroad Retirement Act
(RRA), annuities are payable to qualified
railroad employees whose physical or
mental condition makes them unable to
(1) work in their regular occupation
(occupational disability) or (2) work at
all (permanent total disability). The
requirements for establishing disability
and proof of continuing disability under
the RRA are prescribed in 20 CFR 220.
Under Sections 2(c)(1)(ii)(C) and
2(d)(1)(ii) of the RRA, annuities are also
payable to qualified spouses and
widow(ers), respectively, who have a
qualifying child who became disabled
before age 22. Annuities are also
payable to surviving children on the
basis of disability under section
2(d)(1)(iii)(C) if the child’s disability
began before age 22 as well as to
widow(er)s on the basis of disability
under section 2(d)(1)(i)(B). To meet the
disability standard, the RRA provides
that individuals must have a permanent
physical or mental condition such that
they are unable to engage in any regular
employment.
Under Section 2(d)(1)(v) of the RRA,
annuities are also payable to remarried
widow(er)s and surviving divorced
spouses on the basis of, among other
things, disability or having a qualifying
disabled child in care. However, the
disability standard in these cases is that
found in the Social Security Act. That
is, individuals must be unable to engage
in any substantial gainful activity by
reason of any medically determinable
physical or mental impairment. The
RRB also determines entitlement to a
Period of Disability and entitlement to
early Medicare based on disability for
qualified claimants in accordance with
Section 216 of the Social Security Act.
When making disability
determinations, the RRB needs evidence
from acceptable medical sources. The
RRB currently utilizes Forms G–3EMP,
Report of Medical Condition by
Employer; G–197, Authorization to
Release Medical Information to the
Railroad Retirement Board; G–250,
Medical Assessment; G–250A, Medical
Assessment of Residual Functional
Capacity; G–260, Report of Seizure
Disorder; RL–11B, Disclosure of
Hospital Medical Records; RL–11D,
Disclosure of Medical Records from a
State Agency; and RL–250, Request for
Medical Assessment, to obtain the
necessary medical evidence. One
response is requested of each
respondent. Completion is voluntary.
Previous requests for comments: The
RRB has already published the initial
Form No.
31,014
60-day notice (76 FR 52025 on August
19, 2011) required by 44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2). That request elicited no
comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: Medical Reports.
OMB Control Number: 3220–0038.
Form(s) submitted: G–3EMP, G–197,
G–250, G–250a, G–260, RL–11B, RL–
11D, RL–250.
Type of request: Revision of a
currently approved collection of
information.
Affected public: Individuals or
households; Private Sector; State, Local
and Tribal Government.
Abstract: The Railroad Retirement Act
provides disability annuities for
qualified railroad employees whose
physical or mental condition renders
them incapable of working in their
regular occupation (occupational
disability) or any occupation (total
disability). The medical reports obtain
information needed for determining the
nature and severity of the impairment.
Changes proposed: The RRB proposes
minor editorial changes to Form G–197.
No changes to the other forms in the
collection are proposed.
The burden estimate for the ICR is as
follows:
Annual responses
Time (minutes)
Burden (hours)
600
6,000
11,950
50
100
5,000
250
11,950
10
10
30
20
25
10
10
10
100
1,000
5,975
17
42
833
42
1,992
Total ..............................................................................................................
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G–3EMP ..............................................................................................................
G–197 ..................................................................................................................
G–250 ..................................................................................................................
G–250A ................................................................................................................
G–260 ..................................................................................................................
RL–11B ................................................................................................................
RL–11D ................................................................................................................
RL–250 ................................................................................................................
35,900
................................
10,001
3. Title and purpose of information
collection: Student Beneficiary
Monitoring; OMB 3220–0123.
Under provisions of the Railroad
Retirement Act (RRA), there are two
types of benefit payments that are based
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on the status of a child being in fulltime elementary or secondary school
attendance at age 18–19: A survivor
child’s annuity benefit under Section
2(d)(2)(iii) and an increase in the
employee retirement annuity under the
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Special Guaranty computation as
prescribed in section 3(f)(3) and 20 CFR
229.
The survivor student annuity is
usually paid by direct deposit to a
financial institution either into the
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student’s checking or savings account or
into a joint bank account with a parent.
The requirements for eligibility as a
student are prescribed in 20 CFR 216.74,
and include students in independent
study and home schooling.
To help determine if a child is
entitled to student benefits, the RRB
requires evidence of full-time school
attendance. This evidence is acquired
through the RRB’s student monitoring
program, which utilizes the following
forms. Form G–315, Student
Questionnaire, obtains certification of a
student’s full-time school attendance as
well as information on the student’s
marital status, Social Security benefits,
and employment, which are needed to
determine entitlement or continued
entitlement to benefits under the RRA.
Form G–315A, Statement of School
Official, is used to obtain, from a school,
verification of a student’s full-time
attendance when the student fails to
return a monitoring Form G–315. Form
G–315A.1, School Official’s Notice of
Cessation of Full-Time School
Attendance, is used by a school to notify
the RRB that a student has ceased fulltime school attendance.
Previous Requests for Comments: The
RRB has already published the initial
60-day notice (76 FR 52026 on August
19, 2011) required by 44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2). That request elicited no
comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: Student Beneficiary Monitoring.
OMB Control Number: 3220–0123.
Form(s) submitted: G–315, G–315A,
G–315A.1.
Form No.
Type of request: Extension without
change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected public: Individuals or
Households.
Abstract: Under the Railroad
Retirement Act (RRA), a student benefit
is not payable if the student ceases fulltime school attendance, marries, works
in the railroad industry, has excessive
earnings or attains the upper age limit
under the RRA. The report obtains
information to be used in determining if
benefits should cease or be reduced.
Changes proposed: The RRB proposes
no changes to the forms in the
collection.
The burden estimate for the ICR is as
follows:
Time
(minutes)
Annual responses
Burden
(hours)
G–315 ..................................................................................................................
G–315A ................................................................................................................
G–315A.1 .............................................................................................................
860
20
20
15
3
2
215
1
1
Total ..............................................................................................................
900
................................
217
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4. Title and Purpose of information
collection: Gross Earnings Report; OMB
3220–0132. In order to carry out the
financial interchange provisions of
section 7(c)(2) of the Railroad
Retirement Act (RRA), the RRB obtains
annually, from railroad employers, the
gross earnings for their employees on a
one-percent basis, i.e., 1% of each
employer’s railroad employees. The
gross earnings sample is based on the
earnings of employees whose social
security numbers end with the digits
‘‘30.’’ The gross earnings are used to
compute payroll taxes under the
financial interchange.
The gross earnings information is
essential in determining the tax
amounts involved in the financial
interchange with the Social Security
Administration and Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services. Besides
being necessary for current financial
interchange calculations, the gross
earnings file tabulations are also an
integral part of the data needed to
estimate future tax income and
corresponding financial interchange
amounts. These estimates are made for
internal use and to satisfy requests from
other government agencies and
interested groups. In addition, cash flow
projections of the social security
equivalent benefit account and railroad
retirement account, as well as cost
estimates made for proposed
amendments to laws administered by
the RRB, are dependent on input
developed from the information
collection.
The RRB utilizes Form BA–11 or its
electronic equivalents to obtain gross
earnings information from railroad
employers. Employers currently have
the option of preparing and submitting
BA–11 reports on paper, or in like
format on magnetic tape cartridges, File
Transfer Protocol (FTP), or secure
Email. Completion is mandatory. One
response is requested of each
respondent.
Previous Requests for Comments: The
RRB has already published the initial
60-day notice (76 FR 54812 on
September 2, 2011) required by 44
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited
no comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: Gross Earnings Report.
Form Number
Annual responses
BA–11 magnetic tape/file transfer protocol
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Time
(minutes)
9
BA–11 manual form .............................................................................................
BA–11 CD–ROM .................................................................................................
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OMB Control Number: 3220–0132.
Form(s) submitted: BA–11.
Type of request: Revision of a
currently approved collection of
information.
Affected public: Private Sector.
Abstract: Section 7(c)(2) of the
Railroad Retirement Act requires a
financial interchange between the
OASDHI trust funds and the railroad
retirement account. The collection
obtains gross earnings of railway
employees on a 1% basis. The
information is used to determine the
amount which would place the OASDHI
trust funds in the position they would
have been if railroad service had been
covered by the Social Security and FIC
Acts.
Changes proposed: The RRB proposes
no changes to Form BA–11. However,
the RRB does propose the
implementation of an Internet
equivalent version of Form BA–11 that
can be submitted through the Employer
Reporting System, which will include
the option to file a ‘‘negative report.’’
The burden estimate for the ICR is as
follows:
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300
(5 hrs)
30
30
38
13
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Burden
(hours)
45
19
6
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Form Number
Time
(minutes)
Annual responses
Burden
(hours)
BA–11 secure Email ............................................................................................
BA–11 (Internet)
Positive Reports ...........................................................................................
Negative Reports ..........................................................................................
23
30
11
77
217
30
15
38
54
Total .......................................................................................................
377
................................
173
5. Title and Purpose of information
collection: RUIA Claims Notification
and Verification System; OMB 3220–
0171.
Section 5(b) of the Railroad
Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA),
requires that effective January 1, 1990,
when a claim for benefits is filed with
the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB),
the RRB shall provide notice of the
claim to the claimant’s base year
employer(s) to provide them an
opportunity to submit information
relevant to the claim before making an
initial determination. If the RRB
determines to pay benefits to the
claimant under the RUIA, the RRB shall
notify the base-year employer(s).
The purpose of the RUIA Claims
Notification and Verification System is
to provide two notices, pre-payment
Form ID–4K, Prepayment Notice of
Employees’ Applications and Claims for
Benefits Under the Railroad
Unemployment Insurance Act, and postpayment Form ID–4E, Notice of RUIA
Claim Determination.
Prepayment Form ID–4K provides
notice to a claimant’s base-year
employer(s), of each unemployment
application and unemployment and
sickness claim filed for benefits under
the RUIA and provides the employer an
opportunity to convey information
relevant to the proper adjudication of
the claim. The railroad employer can
elect to receive notices of applications
and claims by one of three options: A
computer-generated Form Letter ID–4K
paper notice, an Electronic Data
Interchange (EDI) version of the Form
Letter ID–4K notice, or an Internet
equivalent ID–4K, which is transmitted
through the RRB’s Internet-based
Employer Reporting System (ERS).
The railroad employer can respond to
the ID–4K notice by telephone,
manually by mailing a completed ID–4K
back to the RRB, or electronically via
EDI or ERS. Completion is voluntary.
Once the RRB determines to pay a
claim post-payment Form Letter ID–4E,
Notice of RUIA Claim Determination, is
used to notify the base-year employer(s).
This gives the employer a second
opportunity to challenge the claim for
benefits.
The mainframe-generated ID–4E
paper notice and the EDI and Internet
equivalent versions are transmitted on a
daily basis, generally on the same day
that the claims are approved for
payment. Railroad employers who are
mailed Form ID–4E are instructed to
write if they want a reconsideration of
the RRB’s determination to pay.
Employers who receive the ID–4E
electronically, may file a
reconsideration request by completing
the ID–4E by either EDI or ERS.
Completion is voluntary.
Previous Requests for Comments: The
RRB has already published the initial
60-day notice (76 FR 55719 on
Form No.
ID–4K
ID–4K
ID–4K
ID–4E
ID–4E
September 8, 2011) required by 44
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited
no comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: RUIA Claims Notification and
Verification System.
OMB Control Number: 3220–0171.
Form(s) submitted: ID–4K, ID–4K
(INTERNET), ID–4E, ID–4E
(INTERNET).
Type of request: Extension without
change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected public: Private Sector;
Businesses or other for-profits.
Abstract: Section 5(b) of the RUIA
requires that effective January 1, 1990,
when a claim for benefits is filed with
the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB),
the RRB shall provide notice of such
claim to the claimant’s base-year
employer(s) and afford such employer(s)
an opportunity to submit information
relevant to the claim before making an
initial determination on the claim.
When the RRB determines to pay
benefits to a claimant under the RUIA,
the RRB shall provide notice of such
determination to the claimant’s base
year employer.
Changes proposed: The RRB proposes
no changes to the forms in the
collection.
The burden estimate for the ICR is as
follows:
Time
(minutes)
Annual responses
Burden
(hours)
(Manual) ....................................................................................................
(EDI) .........................................................................................................
(Internet) ...................................................................................................
(Manual) ....................................................................................................
(Internet) ...................................................................................................
1,250
24,215
52,300
50
120
2
(*)
2
2
2
42
210
1,743
2
4
Total ..............................................................................................................
77,935
................................
2,001
jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
* The burden for the 5 participating employers who transmit EDI responses is calculated at 10 minutes each per day, 251 workdays a year or
210 total hours of burden.
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
Charles.Mierzwa@RRB.GOV).
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:25 Nov 16, 2011
Jkt 226001
Comments regarding the information
collection should be addressed to
Patricia Henaghan, Railroad Retirement
Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago,
Illinois, 60611–2092 or
Patricia.Henaghan@RRB.GOV and to
the OMB Desk Officer for the RRB, Fax:
PO 00000
Frm 00087
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
(202) 395–6974, Email address:
OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov.
Charles Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011–29698 Filed 11–16–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905–01–P
E:\FR\FM\17NON1.SGM
17NON1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 222 (Thursday, November 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71389-71393]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-29698]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD
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
five Information Collection Requests (ICR) to the Office of Information
and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Our
[[Page 71390]]
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 the
RRB or OIRA must contain the OMB control number of the ICR. For proper
consideration of your comments, it is best if the RRB and OIRA receive
them within 30 days of the publication date.
1. Title and Purpose of Information Collection: Railroad Service
and Compensation Reports/System Access Application; OMB 3220-0008.
Under Section 9 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) and Section 6
of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) the Railroad
Retirement Board (RRB) maintains for each railroad employee, a record
of compensation paid to that employee by all railroad employers for
whom the employee worked after 1936. This record, which is used by the
RRB to determine eligibility for, and amount of, benefits due under the
laws it administers, is conclusive as to the amount of compensation
paid to an employee during such period(s) covered by the report(s) of
the compensation by the employee's railroad employer(s), except in
cases when an employee files a protest pertaining to his or her
reported compensation within the statue of limitations cited in Section
9 of the RRA and Section 6 of the RUIA.
Railroad Employers' Reports and Responsibilities are prescribed in
20 CFR 209. The RRB currently utilizes Form BA-3, Annual Report of
Creditable Compensation and Form BA-4, Report of Creditable
Compensation Adjustments, to secure required information from railroad
employers. Form BA-3 provides the RRB with information regarding annual
creditable service and compensation for each individual who worked for
a railroad employer covered by the RRA and RUIA in a given year. Form
BA-4 provides for the adjustment of any previously submitted reports
and also the opportunity to provide any service and compensation that
had been previously omitted. Requirements specific to Forms BA-3 and
BA-4 are prescribed in 20 CFR 209.8 and 209.9.
Employers currently have the option of submitting the reports on
the aforementioned forms, electronically by File Transfer Protocol
(FTP), secure Email or via the Internet utilizing the RRB's Employer
Reporting System (ERS) (for Form BA-4), or in like format on magnetic
tape cartridges, and CD-ROMs. The RRB proposes the implementation of an
Internet equivalent version of Form BA-3 that can be submitted through
the ERS which will include the option to file a ``negative report.''
The information collection also includes RRB Form BA-12,
Application for Employer Reporting Internet Access, and Form G-440,
Report Specifications Sheet. Form BA-12 is completed by railroad
employers to obtain system access to the RRB's Employer Reporting
System (ERS) as well as to authorize the degree of access (view/only,
data entry/modification or approval/submission) appropriate for
designated employees. Once access is obtained, authorized employees may
submit reporting forms to the RRB via the Internet. Form BA-12 is also
used to terminate an employee's access to ERS. Form G-440, Report
Specifications Sheet, serves as a certification document for various
RRB employer reporting forms (the previously mentioned BA-3 and BA-4 as
well as the BA-6a, BA-6, Address Report (OMB 3220-0005); BA-9, Report
of Separation Allowance or Severance Pay (OMB 3220-0173); and BA-11,
Report of Gross Earnings (OMB 3220-0132)), records the type of medium
the report was submitted on, and serves as a summary recapitulation
sheet for reports filed on paper.
Submission of Forms BA-3, BA-4, and G-440 is mandatory. Completion
of Form BA-12 is voluntary. One response is requested of each
respondent for all of the forms in the collection. Depending on
circumstances and method of submission chosen, multiple responses will
be received from a respondent for Forms BA-4 and G-440.
Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the
initial 60-day notice (76 FR 54812 on September 2, 2011) required by 44
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: Railroad Service and Compensation Reports/System Access
Application.
OMB Control Number: 3220-0008.
Forms Submitted: BA-3, BA-3 (Internet), BA-4, BA-4 (Internet), BA-
12, and Form G-440.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection of
information.
Affected Public: Private Sector.
Abstract: Under the Railroad Retirement Act and Railroad
Unemployment Insurance Act, employers are required to report service
and compensation for each employee to update Railroad Retirement Board
records for payments of benefits. The collection obtains service and
compensation information, information needed to ensure secure system
access from employers who voluntarily opt to use the RRB's Internet-
based Employer Reporting System to submit reporting forms, and
information needed to certify employer reporting transactions.
Changes Proposed: The RRB proposes the implementation of an
Internet equivalent version of Form BA-3 that can be submitted through
ERS, which will include the option to file a ``negative report.'' Minor
non-burden impacting changes are proposed to Forms BA-4, BA-12 and G-
440.
The Burden Estimate for the ICR Is as Follows:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporting Responses Time (minutes) Burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BA-3
Paper........................................... 20 7,011 2,337
.................. (116.85 hrs)
Electronic Media................................ 152 2,775 7,030
.................. (46.25 hrs)
BA-3 (Internet)................................. 410 2,775 18,963
.................. (46.25 hrs)
BA-4
Paper........................................... 160 75 200
Electronic Media................................ 285 60 285
BA-4 (Internet)................................. 3,852 20 1,284
[[Page 71391]]
BA-12
Initial Access.................................. 550 20 183
Access Termination.............................. 50 10 8
G-440 (certification)
Form BA-3 (zero employees)...................... 26 15 7
Form BA-11 (zero employees)..................... 138 15 35
Paper forms (without recap)..................... 270 15 68
Electronic transactions......................... 728 30 364
BA-3 and BA-4 (with recap)...................... 200 75 250
-----------------------------------------------------------
Total....................................... 6,841 .................. 31,014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Title and purpose of information collection: Medical Reports;
OMB 3220-0038. Under Sections 2(a)(1)(iv) and 2(a)(1)(v) of the
Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), annuities are payable to qualified
railroad employees whose physical or mental condition makes them unable
to (1) work in their regular occupation (occupational disability) or
(2) work at all (permanent total disability). The requirements for
establishing disability and proof of continuing disability under the
RRA are prescribed in 20 CFR 220.
Under Sections 2(c)(1)(ii)(C) and 2(d)(1)(ii) of the RRA, annuities
are also payable to qualified spouses and widow(ers), respectively, who
have a qualifying child who became disabled before age 22. Annuities
are also payable to surviving children on the basis of disability under
section 2(d)(1)(iii)(C) if the child's disability began before age 22
as well as to widow(er)s on the basis of disability under section
2(d)(1)(i)(B). To meet the disability standard, the RRA provides that
individuals must have a permanent physical or mental condition such
that they are unable to engage in any regular employment.
Under Section 2(d)(1)(v) of the RRA, annuities are also payable to
remarried widow(er)s and surviving divorced spouses on the basis of,
among other things, disability or having a qualifying disabled child in
care. However, the disability standard in these cases is that found in
the Social Security Act. That is, individuals must be unable to engage
in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically
determinable physical or mental impairment. The RRB also determines
entitlement to a Period of Disability and entitlement to early Medicare
based on disability for qualified claimants in accordance with Section
216 of the Social Security Act.
When making disability determinations, the RRB needs evidence from
acceptable medical sources. The RRB currently utilizes Forms G-3EMP,
Report of Medical Condition by Employer; G-197, Authorization to
Release Medical Information to the Railroad Retirement Board; G-250,
Medical Assessment; G-250A, Medical Assessment of Residual Functional
Capacity; G-260, Report of Seizure Disorder; RL-11B, Disclosure of
Hospital Medical Records; RL-11D, Disclosure of Medical Records from a
State Agency; and RL-250, Request for Medical Assessment, to obtain the
necessary medical evidence. One response is requested of each
respondent. Completion is voluntary.
Previous requests for comments: The RRB has already published the
initial 60-day notice (76 FR 52025 on August 19, 2011) required by 44
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: Medical Reports.
OMB Control Number: 3220-0038.
Form(s) submitted: G-3EMP, G-197, G-250, G-250a, G-260, RL-11B, RL-
11D, RL-250.
Type of request: Revision of a currently approved collection of
information.
Affected public: Individuals or households; Private Sector; State,
Local and Tribal Government.
Abstract: The Railroad Retirement Act provides disability annuities
for qualified railroad employees whose physical or mental condition
renders them incapable of working in their regular occupation
(occupational disability) or any occupation (total disability). The
medical reports obtain information needed for determining the nature
and severity of the impairment.
Changes proposed: The RRB proposes minor editorial changes to Form
G-197. No changes to the other forms in the collection are proposed.
The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form No. Annual responses Time (minutes) Burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-3EMP.............................................. 600 10 100
G-197............................................... 6,000 10 1,000
G-250............................................... 11,950 30 5,975
G-250A.............................................. 50 20 17
G-260............................................... 100 25 42
RL-11B.............................................. 5,000 10 833
RL-11D.............................................. 250 10 42
RL-250.............................................. 11,950 10 1,992
-----------------------------------------------------------
Total........................................... 35,900 .................. 10,001
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Title and purpose of information collection: Student Beneficiary
Monitoring; OMB 3220-0123.
Under provisions of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), there are
two types of benefit payments that are based on the status of a child
being in full-time elementary or secondary school attendance at age 18-
19: A survivor child's annuity benefit under Section 2(d)(2)(iii) and
an increase in the employee retirement annuity under the Special
Guaranty computation as prescribed in section 3(f)(3) and 20 CFR 229.
The survivor student annuity is usually paid by direct deposit to a
financial institution either into the
[[Page 71392]]
student's checking or savings account or into a joint bank account with
a parent. The requirements for eligibility as a student are prescribed
in 20 CFR 216.74, and include students in independent study and home
schooling.
To help determine if a child is entitled to student benefits, the
RRB requires evidence of full-time school attendance. This evidence is
acquired through the RRB's student monitoring program, which utilizes
the following forms. Form G-315, Student Questionnaire, obtains
certification of a student's full-time school attendance as well as
information on the student's marital status, Social Security benefits,
and employment, which are needed to determine entitlement or continued
entitlement to benefits under the RRA. Form G-315A, Statement of School
Official, is used to obtain, from a school, verification of a student's
full-time attendance when the student fails to return a monitoring Form
G-315. Form G-315A.1, School Official's Notice of Cessation of Full-
Time School Attendance, is used by a school to notify the RRB that a
student has ceased full-time school attendance.
Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the
initial 60-day notice (76 FR 52026 on August 19, 2011) required by 44
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: Student Beneficiary Monitoring.
OMB Control Number: 3220-0123.
Form(s) submitted: G-315, G-315A, G-315A.1.
Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected public: Individuals or Households.
Abstract: Under the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), a student
benefit is not payable if the student ceases full-time school
attendance, marries, works in the railroad industry, has excessive
earnings or attains the upper age limit under the RRA. The report
obtains information to be used in determining if benefits should cease
or be reduced.
Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to the forms in the
collection.
The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form No. Annual responses Time (minutes) Burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-315............................................... 860 15 215
G-315A.............................................. 20 3 1
G-315A.1............................................ 20 2 1
-----------------------------------------------------------
Total........................................... 900 .................. 217
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Title and Purpose of information collection: Gross Earnings
Report; OMB 3220-0132. In order to carry out the financial interchange
provisions of section 7(c)(2) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), the
RRB obtains annually, from railroad employers, the gross earnings for
their employees on a one-percent basis, i.e., 1% of each employer's
railroad employees. The gross earnings sample is based on the earnings
of employees whose social security numbers end with the digits ``30.''
The gross earnings are used to compute payroll taxes under the
financial interchange.
The gross earnings information is essential in determining the tax
amounts involved in the financial interchange with the Social Security
Administration and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Besides
being necessary for current financial interchange calculations, the
gross earnings file tabulations are also an integral part of the data
needed to estimate future tax income and corresponding financial
interchange amounts. These estimates are made for internal use and to
satisfy requests from other government agencies and interested groups.
In addition, cash flow projections of the social security equivalent
benefit account and railroad retirement account, as well as cost
estimates made for proposed amendments to laws administered by the RRB,
are dependent on input developed from the information collection.
The RRB utilizes Form BA-11 or its electronic equivalents to obtain
gross earnings information from railroad employers. Employers currently
have the option of preparing and submitting BA-11 reports on paper, or
in like format on magnetic tape cartridges, File Transfer Protocol
(FTP), or secure Email. Completion is mandatory. One response is
requested of each respondent.
Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the
initial 60-day notice (76 FR 54812 on September 2, 2011) required by 44
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: Gross Earnings Report.
OMB Control Number: 3220-0132.
Form(s) submitted: BA-11.
Type of request: Revision of a currently approved collection of
information.
Affected public: Private Sector.
Abstract: Section 7(c)(2) of the Railroad Retirement Act requires a
financial interchange between the OASDHI trust funds and the railroad
retirement account. The collection obtains gross earnings of railway
employees on a 1% basis. The information is used to determine the
amount which would place the OASDHI trust funds in the position they
would have been if railroad service had been covered by the Social
Security and FIC Acts.
Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to Form BA-11.
However, the RRB does propose the implementation of an Internet
equivalent version of Form BA-11 that can be submitted through the
Employer Reporting System, which will include the option to file a
``negative report.''
The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form Number Annual responses Time (minutes) Burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BA-11 magnetic tape/file transfer protocol 9 300 45
(5 hrs)
BA-11 manual form................................... 38 30 19
BA-11 CD-ROM........................................ 13 30 6
[[Page 71393]]
BA-11 secure Email.................................. 23 30 11
BA-11 (Internet)
Positive Reports................................ 77 30 38
Negative Reports................................ 217 15 54
-----------------------------------------------------------
Total....................................... 377 .................. 173
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Title and Purpose of information collection: RUIA Claims
Notification and Verification System; OMB 3220-0171.
Section 5(b) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA),
requires that effective January 1, 1990, when a claim for benefits is
filed with the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), the RRB shall provide
notice of the claim to the claimant's base year employer(s) to provide
them an opportunity to submit information relevant to the claim before
making an initial determination. If the RRB determines to pay benefits
to the claimant under the RUIA, the RRB shall notify the base-year
employer(s).
The purpose of the RUIA Claims Notification and Verification System
is to provide two notices, pre-payment Form ID-4K, Prepayment Notice of
Employees' Applications and Claims for Benefits Under the Railroad
Unemployment Insurance Act, and post-payment Form ID-4E, Notice of RUIA
Claim Determination.
Prepayment Form ID-4K provides notice to a claimant's base-year
employer(s), of each unemployment application and unemployment and
sickness claim filed for benefits under the RUIA and provides the
employer an opportunity to convey information relevant to the proper
adjudication of the claim. The railroad employer can elect to receive
notices of applications and claims by one of three options: A computer-
generated Form Letter ID-4K paper notice, an Electronic Data
Interchange (EDI) version of the Form Letter ID-4K notice, or an
Internet equivalent ID-4K, which is transmitted through the RRB's
Internet-based Employer Reporting System (ERS).
The railroad employer can respond to the ID-4K notice by telephone,
manually by mailing a completed ID-4K back to the RRB, or
electronically via EDI or ERS. Completion is voluntary.
Once the RRB determines to pay a claim post-payment Form Letter ID-
4E, Notice of RUIA Claim Determination, is used to notify the base-year
employer(s). This gives the employer a second opportunity to challenge
the claim for benefits.
The mainframe-generated ID-4E paper notice and the EDI and Internet
equivalent versions are transmitted on a daily basis, generally on the
same day that the claims are approved for payment. Railroad employers
who are mailed Form ID-4E are instructed to write if they want a
reconsideration of the RRB's determination to pay. Employers who
receive the ID-4E electronically, may file a reconsideration request by
completing the ID-4E by either EDI or ERS. Completion is voluntary.
Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the
initial 60-day notice (76 FR 55719 on September 8, 2011) required by 44
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: RUIA Claims Notification and Verification System.
OMB Control Number: 3220-0171.
Form(s) submitted: ID-4K, ID-4K (INTERNET), ID-4E, ID-4E
(INTERNET).
Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected public: Private Sector; Businesses or other for-profits.
Abstract: Section 5(b) of the RUIA requires that effective January
1, 1990, when a claim for benefits is filed with the Railroad
Retirement Board (RRB), the RRB shall provide notice of such claim to
the claimant's base-year employer(s) and afford such employer(s) an
opportunity to submit information relevant to the claim before making
an initial determination on the claim. When the RRB determines to pay
benefits to a claimant under the RUIA, the RRB shall provide notice of
such determination to the claimant's base year employer.
Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to the forms in the
collection.
The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form No. Annual responses Time (minutes) Burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ID-4K (Manual)...................................... 1,250 2 42
ID-4K (EDI)......................................... 24,215 (*) 210
ID-4K (Internet).................................... 52,300 2 1,743
ID-4E (Manual)...................................... 50 2 2
ID-4E (Internet).................................... 120 2 4
-----------------------------------------------------------
Total........................................... 77,935 .................. 2,001
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The burden for the 5 participating employers who transmit EDI responses is calculated at 10 minutes each per
day, 251 workdays a year or 210 total hours of burden.
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 Charles.Mierzwa@RRB.GOV).
Comments regarding the information collection should be addressed
to Patricia Henaghan, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street,
Chicago, Illinois, 60611-2092 or Patricia.Henaghan@RRB.GOV and to the
OMB Desk Officer for the RRB, Fax: (202) 395-6974, Email address:
OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov.
Charles Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-29698 Filed 11-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P
