[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 75 (Monday, April 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19518-19519]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10285]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. ICR-98-19]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Commercial Diving Operations (29 CFR Part 1910, 
Subpart T)

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 (PRA-95) (44 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 impact of collection 
requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed extension of the information 
collection requirements contained in the standard on Commercial Diving 
Operations (29 CFR part 1910, subpart T). The Agency is particularly 
interested in comments which:
    <bullet> 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;
    <bullet> Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information,

[[Page 19519]]

including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
    <bullet> Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    <bullet> 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.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before June 19, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket 
No. ICR-98-19, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. 
Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 219-7894. Written comments 
limited to 10 pages or less in length may also be transmitted by 
facsimile to (202) 219-5046.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Theda Kenney, Directorate of Safety Standards Programs, Occupational 
Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-
3605, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, telephone: 
(202) 219-8061. A copy of the referenced information collection request 
is available for inspection and copying in the Docket Office and will 
be mailed to persons who request copies by telephoning Theda Kenney at 
(202) 219-8061, extension 100, or Barbara Bielaski at (202) 219-8076, 
extension 142. For electronic copies of the Information Collection 
Request on Commercial Diving Operations, contact OSHA's WebPage on the 
Internet at http://www.osha.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (the Act) authorizes 
the promulgation of such health and safety standards as are necessary 
or appropriate to provide safe or healthful employment and places of 
employment. The statute specifically authorizes information collection 
by employers as necessary or appropriate for the enforcement of the Act 
or for developing information regarding the causes and prevention of 
occupational injuries, illnesses, and accidents.
    In 29 CFR part 1910, Commercial Diving Operations, the information 
to be collected is designed to minimize the possibility of a commercial 
diver being injured or killed (e.g., by gas embolism, decompression 
sickness) due to poor planning. Without the records required in the 
standard, necessary safeguards that have proven extremely effective in 
protecting commercial divers against inherent and obvious hazards 
underwater would be removed and, as a result, the fatality and injury/
illness rate for this industry could rise. Consequences of accidents in 
diving can be severe due to the environment in which divers work.

II. Current Actions

    This notice requests Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval 
of the information collection requirements contained in the Commercial 
Diving Operations standard.
    Type of Review: Extension of a Currently Approved Collection.
    Agency: U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration.
    Title: Commercial Diving Operations (29 CFR part 1910, Subpart T).
    OMB Number: 1218-0069.
    Agency Number: Docket Number ICR-98-19.
    Affected Public: State or local governments; Business or other for-
profit.
    Number of Respondents: 3,000.
    Frequency: On Occasion.
    Average Time per Response: 1 hour.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 91,152.
    Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: $0.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 10th day of April 1998.
Charles N. Jeffress,
Assistant Secretary, Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-10285 Filed 4-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-M