[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 40 (Friday, February 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9211-9212]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5003]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) [U.S.C. 3506 (c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to 
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, 
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, 
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of 
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. 
Currently the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the 
information collection request for the Ethylene Oxide Standard 29 CFR 
1910.1047. A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) 
can be obtained by contacting the employee listed below in the 
addressee section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before April 29, 1997. The Department of 
Labor is particularly interested in comments which:
    * Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    * Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    * Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    * Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submissions of responses.
ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket 
No. ICR-97-4, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution 
Ave. NW., Washington, D.C. 20210, telephone (202) 219-7894.
    Written comments limited to 10 pages or fewer may also be 
transmitted by facsimile to (202) 219-5046.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Bonnie Friedman, Director, OSHA Office of 
Information and Public Affairs, Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-3647, 200 Constitution 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 219-8148. Copies of 
the referenced information collection request are available for 
inspection and copying in the Docket Office and will be mailed to 
persons who request copies by telephoning Vivian Allen at (202) 219-
8076. For electronic copies of the Ethylene Oxide Information 
Collection Request contact OSHA's WebPage on Internet at <a href="http://
www.osha.gov/">http://
www.osha.gov/</a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Ethylene Oxide Standard and its information collection is 
designed to provide protection for employees from the adverse health 
effects associated

[[Page 9212]]

with occupational exposure to ethylene oxide.
    The Standard requires employers to monitor employee exposure to 
ethylene oxide (EtO) and provide notification to employees of their 
exposure to ethylene oxide. If monitoring indicates exposure above the 
8-hour time weight average of one part EtO per million parts of air, or 
in excess of five parts of EtO per million part of air as average over 
sampling period of 15 minutes, then the employer is required to develop 
a compliance plan to reduce the exposures above these levels. Employers 
are required to make available medical exams to employees who are or 
may be exposed to EtO at or above the action level (.5 parts per 
million calculated as an eight hour time-weight average), without 
regard to the use of respirators, for at least 30 days a year. Exposure 
monitoring and medical records are to be retained for prescribed 
amounts of time, and under certain circumstances such records may be 
transferred to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and 
Health. Employers are also required to communicate the hazards 
associated with exposure to EtO through signs, labels, material safety 
data sheets and training.

II. Current Actions

    This notice requests an extension of the current OMB approval of 
the paperwork requirements in the Ethylene Oxide Standard. Extension is 
necessary to provide continued protection to employees from the health 
effects asociated with occupational exposure to ethylene oxide.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Ethylene Oxide.
    OMB Number: 1218-0108.
    Agency Number: Docket Number ICR-97-4.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Federal government 
and State, Local or Tribal governments.
    Total Respondents: 52,546.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Total Responses: 166,566.
    Average Time per Response: Time per response ranges from five 
minutes to maintain records to two hours for employee medical exams.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 50,300.
    Estimated Capital, Operation/Maintenance Burden Cost: The total 
cost for employers to conduct exposure monitoring, to provide medical 
exams, and when necessary transfer records to the National Institute of 
Occupational Safety and Health is $1,500,593.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a 
matter of public record.

    Dated: February 21, 1997.
Adam M. Finkel,
Director, Directorate of Health Standards Programs.
[FR Doc. 97-5003 Filed 2-27-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-M