Proposed Collection; Comment Request

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

Application for Search of Census Records, OMB 3220-0106.

Evidence of age is required when an employee or their spouse,

widow(er), parents or children, apply for an annuity or Medicare

enrollment under the railroad retirement system. This requirement is

prescribed at 20 CFR 219.20. The RRB's authority for requesting the

information is Section 7(b)(6) of the Railroad Retirement Act. When an

applicant, after making reasonable efforts, is unable to provide

adequate proof of age, or offers evidence of conflicting or little

probative value, the RRB obtains a census record to help resolve the

issue of age.

The RRB utilizes Form G-256, Application for Search of Census

Records, to obtain records (with the applicant's authorization) from

the Bureau of the Census.

The RRB proposes minor non-burden impacting editorial changes to

Form G-256 which include the addition of language required by the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. No other changes are proposed. The

completion time for the G-256 is estimated at 10 minutes per response.

The RRB estimates that approximately 75 Form G-156's are received

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 (312) 751-3363. 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. 98-7121 Filed 3-18-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7905-01-M