FR 2025-03701

The Federal Register document titled "Arbitrator's Report and Fee Statement" from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) outlines a request for public comments on a particular information collection effort. This effort involves a specific form, FMCS Form R-19, which arbitrators are to submit following each arbitration decision. The form is used by the FMCS to monitor arbitration activities, track fees, and determine how much time is spent on each case. Additionally, it supports FMCS's statutory obligation to facilitate voluntary arbitration by maintaining a professional roster of arbitrators.

General Summary

The FMCS seeks public and other federal agency input to ensure that the information collected via Form R-19 is efficient, useful, and not excessively burdensome. The input will also help enhance the quality and clarity of the information gathered. Interested parties have until May 6, 2025, to submit their comments via email or postal mail. The information collected is vital for FMCS's annual report, which informs the public about arbitration services and highlights relevant national trends.

Significant Issues or Concerns

Several issues arise from the document:

• Criteria for Necessity and Utility: The document lacks specific criteria for evaluating whether the information collected is necessary and beneficial. This absence could result in difficulties in determining the relevance and criticality of the data gathered.

• Use of Electronic Technologies: Although the document mentions optimizing electronic methods to minimize the workload, it does not specify the kinds of technologies or methods to be implemented. This omission could lead to varied applications and inconsistencies in how the form is completed and submitted.

• Clarity on Data Collection: The description of national trends observed through this data is somewhat vague, possibly leading to uncertainty among stakeholders about the data's purpose.

• Cost Assessment: While the document estimates the burden in terms of time, it does not provide details on the financial cost or resources needed by the agency to process these forms. A cost analysis could be significant for evaluating cost-effectiveness.

• OMB Submission Timeline: The document notes that the collection request will be submitted to the Office of Management Budget (OMB) but fails to clarify any timeline or processes for submission and approval, potentially causing uncertainty over the timeline for implementation.

Broad Public Impact

This document engages public participation in the refinement of governmental processes. For the general public, this is an example of a transparent approach to government accountability in arbitration services. It emphasizes an interest in ensuring that public resources and administrative processes are optimized effectively.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

• Arbitrators: Arbitrators who must complete and submit this form may appreciate a streamlined, electronically efficient process. However, a lack of clarity about required information and submission methods could cause frustration and inefficiency in fulfilling their duties.

• Businesses and Unions: Entities involved in arbitration could benefit from a more transparent account of arbitration services and trends, as detailed in FMCS's annual report. However, the usefulness of these insights depends on the clarity and accuracy of the data collected.

• Government Agencies: Other federal agencies may face similar challenges in information collection and can benefit from observing and learning from FMCS's approach regarding feedback gathering and process transparency.

In conclusion, the document reflects an effort by a federal agency to involve the public in improving administrative processes, demonstrating commitment to transparency and accountability. Nonetheless, more precise specifications and detailed electronic processing methodologies would improve clarity and utility significantly.