[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 24, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 53811]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-26721]


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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD


Proposed Data Collection Available for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

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 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

Railroad Separation Allowance or Severance Pay Report

    Section 6 of the Railroad Retirement Act provides for a lump-sum 
payment to an employee or the employee's survivors equal to the Tier II 
taxes paid by the employee on a separation allowance or severance 
payment for which the employee did not receive credits toward 
retirement. The lump-sum is not payable until retirement benefits begin 
to accrue or the employee dies. Also, Section 4(a-1)(iii) of the 
Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act provides that a railroad employee 
who is paid a separation allowance is disqualified for unemployment and 
sickness benefits for the period of time the employee would have to 
work to earn the amount of the allowance. In order to calculate and 
provide payments, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) must collect and 
maintain records of separation allowances and severance payments which 
were subject to Tier II taxation from railroad employers. The RRB uses 
Form BA-9 to obtain, on a quarterly basis, the information needed from 
railroad employers concerning the separation allowances and severance 
payments made to railroad employees and/or the survivors of railroad 
employees. All reports contain a one-line entry for each such payment 
or adjustment. Completion is mandatory. Responses are requested 
quarterly. The RRB proposes non-burden impacting editorial changes to 
Form BA-9.

Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden

    The estimated annual respondent burden is as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Form #        Annual responses     Time (min)       Burden (hrs)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
         BA-9              1,009                75             1,262
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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 (312) 751-3363. Comments regarding 
the information collection should be addressed to Ronald J. Hodapp, 
Railroad Retirement Board, 844 N. Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-
2092. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this 
notice.

Chuck Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-26721 Filed 10-23-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-M