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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 207 (Friday, October 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85242-85243]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-24793]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. OSHA-2011-0747]

Blasting and the Use of Explosives; Extension of the Office of 
Management and Budget's (OMB) Approval of Information Collection 
(Paperwork) Requirements

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.

ACTION: Request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: OSHA solicits public comments concerning the proposal to 
extend the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of the 
information collection requirements specified in the Standard on 
Blasting and the use of Explosives.

DATES: Comments must be submitted (postmarked, sent, or received) by 
December 24, 2024.

ADDRESSES: 
    Electronically: You may submit comments, including attachments, 
electronically at https://www.regulations.gov, the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal. Follow the instructions online for submitting comments.
    Docket: To read or download comments or other material in the 
docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov. Documents in the docket are 
listed in the https://www.regulations.gov index; however, some 
information (e.g., copyrighted material) is not publicly available to 
read or download through the website. All submissions, including 
copyrighted material, are available for inspection through the OSHA 
Docket Office. Contact the OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-2350 (TTY 
(877) 889-5627) for assistance in locating docket submissions.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and the 
OSHA docket number (OSHA-2011-0747) for the Information Collection 
Request (ICR). OSHA will place comments, including personal 
information, in the public docket, which may be available online. 
Therefore, OSHA cautions interested parties about submitting personal 
information such as Social Security number or date of birth.
    For further information on submitting comments, see the ``Public 
Participation'' heading in the section of this notice titled 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Seleda Perryman, Directorate of 
Standards and Guidance, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, telephone (202) 
693-2222.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Department of Labor, as part of the continuing effort to reduce 
paperwork and respondent (i.e., employer) burden, conducts a 
preclearance consultation program to provide the public with an 
opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing information 
collection requirements in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program ensures that 
information is in the desired format, reporting burden (time and costs) 
is minimal, collection instruments are clearly understood, and OSHA's 
estimate of the information collection burden is accurate. The 
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act) (29 U.S.C. 651 et 
seq.) authorizes information collection by employers as necessary or 
appropriate for enforcement of the OSH Act or for developing 
information regarding the causes and prevention of occupational 
injuries, illnesses, and accidents (29 U.S.C. 657). The OSH Act also 
requires that OSHA obtain such information with minimum burden upon 
employers, especially those operating small businesses, and to reduce 
to the maximum extent feasible unnecessary duplication of effort in 
obtaining information (29 U.S.C. 657).
    The following sections describe who uses the information collected 
under each requirement, as well as how they use it. The Standard on 
Blasting and the Use of Explosives (29 CFR part 1926, subpart U) 
specifies a number of paperwork requirements. The following is a brief 
description of the collection of information requirements contained in 
the Subpart.

General Provisions (Sec.  1926.900)

    Sec.  1926.900(d)--Paragraph (d) states that employers must ensure 
that explosives not in use are kept in a locked magazine, unavailable 
to persons not authorized to handle explosives. The employers must 
maintain an inventory and use record of all explosives--in use and not 
in use. In addition, the employer must notify the appropriate 
authorities in the event of any loss, theft, or unauthorized entry into 
a magazine.
    Sec.  1926.900(k)(3)(i)--Paragraph (k)(3)(i) requires employers to 
display adequate signs warning against the use of mobile radio 
transmitters on all roads within 1,000 feet of blasting operations to 
prevent the accidental discharge of electric blasting caps caused by 
current induced by radar, radio transmitters, lighting, adjacent power 
lines, dust storms, or other sources of extraneous electricity. The 
employer must certify and maintain a record of alternative provisions 
made to adequately prevent any premature firing of electric blasting 
caps.
    Sec.  1926.900(o)--Employers must notify the operators and/or 
owners of overhead power lines, communication lines, utility lines, or 
other services and structures when blasting operations will take place 
in proximity to those lines, services, or structures.
    Sec.  1926.903(d)--The employer must notify the hoist operator 
prior to transporting explosives or blasting agents in a shaft 
conveyance.
    Sec.  1926.903(e)--Employers must perform weekly inspections on the 
electrical system of trucks used for underground transportation of 
explosives. The weekly inspection is to detect any failure in the 
system which would constitute an electrical hazard. The most recent 
certification of inspection must be maintained and must include the 
date of inspection, a serial number or other identifier of the truck 
inspected, and the signature of the person who performed the 
inspection.
    Sec.  1926.905(t)--The employer blaster must maintain an accurate 
and up-to-date record of explosives, blasting agents, and blasting 
supplies used in a blast. The employer must also maintain an accurate 
running inventory of all explosives and blasting agents stored on the 
operation.
    Sec.  1926.909(a)--Employers must post a code of blasting agents on 
one or more conspicuous places at the operation. All employees also 
shall familiarize themselves with the code and conform to it at all 
times. Danger signs warning of blasting agents shall also be placed at 
suitable locations.

II. Special Issues for Comment

    OSHA has a particular interest in comments on the following issues:
     Whether the proposed information collection requirements 
are necessary for the proper performance of the agency's functions, 
including whether the information is useful;

[[Page 85243]]

     The accuracy of OSHA's estimate of the burden (time and 
costs) of the information collection requirements, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     The quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
collected; and
     Ways to minimize the burden on employers who must comply. 
For example, by using automated or other technological information 
collection and transmission techniques.

III. Proposed Actions

    OSHA is requesting that OMB extend the approval of the information 
collection requirements contained in the Standard on Blasting and the 
use of Explosives (29 CFR part 1926, subpart U) U.S.C. 669). The agency 
is requesting an adjustment decrease in the burden hours amount from 
1,602 hours to 1,427 hours, a difference of 175 hours. This decrease is 
due to the change in the number of affected sites due to general 
economic growth.
    OSHA will summarize the comments submitted in response to this 
notice and will include this summary in the request to OMB to extend 
the approval of the information collection requirements.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Title: Standard on Blasting and the use of Explosives.
    OMB Control Number: 1218-0217.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profits.
    Number of Respondents: 171.
    Number of Responses: 758.
    Frequency of Responses: On occasion.
    Average Time per Response: Various.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,426.
    Estimated Cost (Operation and Maintenance): $0.

IV. Public Participation--Submission of Comments on This Notice and 
Internet Access To Comments and Submissions

    You may submit comments in response to this document as follows: 
(1) electronically at https://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal; (2) by facsimile (fax) at (202) 693-1648; or (3) by 
hard copy. All comments, attachments, and other materials must identify 
the agency name and the OSHA docket number for the ICR (Docket No. 
OSHA-2011-0747). You may supplement electronic submissions by uploading 
document files electronically.
    Comments and submissions are posted without change at https://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, OSHA cautions commenters about 
submitting personal information such as social security numbers and 
date of birth. Although all submissions are listed in the https://www.regulations.gov index, some information (e.g., copyrighted 
material) is not publicly available to read or download through this 
website. All submissions, including copyrighted material, are available 
for inspection and copying at the OSHA Docket Office. Information on 
using the https://www.regulations.gov website to submit comments and 
access the docket is available at the website's ``User Tips'' link.
    Contact the OSHA Docket Office for information about materials not 
available through the website, and for assistance in using the internet 
to locate docket submissions.

V. Authority and Signature

    James S. Frederick, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for 
Occupational Safety and Health, directed the preparation of this 
notice. The authority for this notice is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506 et seq.) and Secretary of Labor's Order No. 8-2020 
(85 FR 58393)

    Signed at Washington, DC, on October 18, 2024.
James S. Frederick,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2024-24793 Filed 10-24-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-P
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