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[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 48 (Wednesday, March 12, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11323-11324]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-6142]

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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD

20 CFR Part 216

RIN 3220-AB22

Eligibility for an Annuity

AGENCY: Railroad Retirement Board.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Railroad Retirement Board amends its regulations to add 
the Surface Transportation Board to the list of entities for which 
employment will not break a ``current connection'' with the railroad 
industry which is necessary for the payment of occupational disability 
annuities and survivor annuities under the Railroad Retirement Act.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 12, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Secretary to the Board, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North 
Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas W. Sadler, Senior Attorney, 
Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 
60611 (312) 751-4513, TDD (312) 751-4701.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public Law 104-88, the ICC Termination Act 
of 1995, 109 Stat. 803, abolished the Interstate Commerce Commission 
and transferred many of the functions of that agency to a new entity, 
the Surface Transportation Board, within the Department of 
Transportation. Section 323 of that Act amended section 1(o) of the 
Railroad Retirement Act (45 U.S.C. 231(o)) to add the Surface 
Transportation Board as an entity for whom a former railroad worker may

[[Page 11324]]

work and not break his or her current connection with the railroad 
industry. The Railroad Retirement Act requires that an employee have a 
current connection under the RRA for entitlement to certain benefits, 
including an occupational disability annuity, a supplemental annuity, 
and survivor benefits. The Board proposes to amend Sec. 216.16 of its 
regulations in order to add the Surface Transportation Board to the 
list of non-railroad work that will not break a current connection.
    It has been determined that this is not a significant regulatory 
action for purposes of Executive Order 12866; therefore, no regulatory 
impact analysis is required. There are no information collections 
associated with this rule. Because the rule simply reflects a 
nomenclature change, the Board dispensed with the publication of a 
proposed rule.

List of Subjects in 20 CFR Part 216

    Railroad employees, Railroad retirement, Railroads.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, title 20, chapter II, part 
216, subpart B, is amended as follows:

PART 216--ELIGIBILITY FOR AN ANNUITY

    1. The authority citation for part 216 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 45 U.S.C. 231f.

    2. Section 216.16 is amended by removing the ``or'' at the end of 
paragraph (b)(5)(iv), by adding ``or'' to the end of paragraph 
(b)(5)(v), and by adding paragraph (b)(5)(v)(i) to read as follows:

Sec. 216.16  What is regular non-railroad employment.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (5) * * *
    (v)(i) Surface Transportation Board.
* * * * *
    Dated: March 4, 1997.
Beatrice Ezerski,
Secretary to the Board.
[FR Doc. 97-6142 Filed 3-11-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P
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