29598 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 105 / Thursday, May 31, 2001 / Notices

1Paragraph (b)(2) of § 1926.651 (‘‘Specific

Excavation Requirements’’) requires that employers,

before excavating, request local utility companies to

locate underground utility installations. However,

the agency considers such a request to be a usual

and customary business practice and, therefore,

excluded from coverage under PRA–95.

• The accuracy of OSHA’s estimate of

the burden (time and cost) 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 to extend OMB

approval of the collection-ofinformation requirements specified by

the Standard. The Agency will

summarize the comments submitted in

response to this notice, and will include

this summary in its request to OMB to

extend approval of these informationcollection requirements.

Type of Review: Extension of

currently approved informationcollection requirements.

Title: Grain Handling Facilities.

OMB Number: 1218–0206.

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit; not-for-profit institutions; Federal

government; State, local or tribal

governments.

Number of Respondents: 23,770.

Frequency of Response: Monthly;

annually.

Average Time per Response: Varies

from 2 minutes (.03 hours) to affix a tag

to deenergized equipment to 1 hour to

revise and emergency-action plan,

housekeeping program, or lockouttagout procedures.

Estimated Total Burden Hours:

136,781.

Estimated Cost (Operation and

Maintenance): None.

IV. Authority and Signature

R. Davis Layne, Acting 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)

and Secretary of Labor’s Order No.

3–2000 (65 FR 50017).

Signed at Washington, DC, on May 25,

2001.

R. Davis Layne,

Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor.

[FR Doc. 01–13688 Filed 5–30–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510–26–M

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health

Administration

[Docket No. ICR–1218–0137(2001)]

‘‘Excavations’’; Extension of the Office

of Management of Budget’s (OMB)

Approval of Information-Collection

(Paperwork) Requirements

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health

Administration (OSHA), Labor.

ACTION: Notice of an opportunity for

public comment.

SUMMARY: OSHA solicits comments

concerning its request to decrease the

existing burden-hour estimates for, and

to extend OMB approval of, the

collection-of-information requirements

specified by 29 CFR 1926, subpart P

(‘‘Excavations’’). This subpart specifies

several requirements for designing

protective systems (i.e., sloping,

benching, support, and shield systems)

that prevent cave-ins during excavation

work.

DATES: Submit written comments on or

before July 30, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments

to the Docket Office, Docket No. ICR–

1218–0137(2001), OSHA, U.S.

Department of Labor, Room N–2625,

200 Constitution Avenue, NW.,

Washington, DC 20210; telephone (202)

693–2350. Commenters may transmit

written comments of 10 pages or less by

facsimile to (202) 693–1648.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kathleen M. Martinez, Directorate of

Policy, Office of Regulatory Analysis,

OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, Room

N–3609, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW.,

Washington, DC 20210; telephone (202)

693–1953. A copy of the Agency’s

Information-Collection Request (‘‘ICR’’)

supporting the need for the information

collections specified by 29 CFR 1926,

subpart P is available for inspection and

copying in the Docket Office or by

requesting a copy from Todd Owen at

(202) 693–2444. For electronic copies of

the ICR contact OSHA on the Internet at

http://www.osha.gov/comp-links.html

and select ‘‘Information Collection

Requests.’’

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Department of Labor, as part of its

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–95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). this

program ensures that information is in

the desired format, reporting burden

(time and cost) is minimal, collection

instruments are understandable, and

OSHA’s estimate of the informationcollection burden is correct. The

Occupational Safety and Health Act of

the 1970 (the Act) authorizes

information collection by employers as

necessary or appropriate for

enforcement of the Act or for developing

information regarding the causes and

prevention of occupational injuries,

illnesses, and accidents (29 U.S.C. 657).

Paragraphs (b) and (c) of § 1926.652

(‘‘Requirements for Protective Systems’’;

the ‘‘Standard’’) contain the only

paperwork requirements in 29 CFR

1926, subpart P that impose burden

hours or costs on employers as specified

by PRA–95.1 These paragraphs require

employers to use protective systems to

prevent cave-ins during excavation

work; these systems include sloping the

side of the trench, benching the soil

away from the excavation, or using a

support system or shield (such as a

trench box). The Standard specifies

allowable configurations and slopes for

excavations, and provides appendices to

assist employers in designing protective

systems. However, paragraphs (b)(3) and

(b)(4) of the Standard permit employers

to design sloping or benching systems

based on tabulated data (Option 1), or to

use a design approved by a registered

professional engineer (Option 2).

Under Option 1, employers must

provide the tabulated data in a written

form that also identifies the registered

professional engineer who approved the

data and the parameters used to select

the sloping or benching system drawn

from the data, as well as the limitations

of the data (including the magnitude

and configuration of slopes determined

to be safe); the document must also

provide any explanatory information

necessary to select the correct sloping or

benching system based on the data.

Option 2 requires employers to develop

a written design approved by a

registered professional engineer. The

design information must include the

magnitude and configuration of the

slopes determined to be safe, and the

identity of the registered professional

engineer who approved the design.

Paragraphs (c)(2), (c)(3), and (c)(4)

allow employers to design support

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 105 / Thursday, May 31, 2001 / Notices 29599

systems, shield systems, and other

protective systems based on tabulated

data provided by a system manufacturer

(Option 3) or obtained from other

sources and approved by a registered

professional engineer (Option 4); they

can also use a design approved by a

registered professional engineer (Option

5). If they select Option 3, employers

must complete a written form that

provides the manufacturer’s

specifications, recommendations, and

limitations, as well as any deviations

approved by the manufacturer. The

paperwork requirements of Option 4 are

the same as Option 1. Option 5 requires

a written form that provides a plan

indicating the sizes, types, and

configurations of the materials used in

the protective system and the identity of

the registered professional engineer who

approved the design.

Each of these provisions requires

employers to maintain a copy of the

documents described in these options at

the jobsite during construction. After

construction is complete, employers

may store the documents offsite

provided they make them available to

an OSHA compliance officer on request.

These documents provide both the

employer and the compliance officer

with information needed to determine if

the selection and design of a protection

system are appropriate to the excavation

work, thereby assuring employees of

maximum protection against cave-ins.

II. Special Issues for Comment

OSHA has a particular interest in

comments on the following issues:

• Whether the proposed informationcollection requirements are necessary

for the proper performance of the

Agency’s functions, including whether

the information is useful;

• The accuracy of OSHA’s estimate of

the burden (time and cost) 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 a decrease in the

existing burden-hour estimate for, as

well as an extension of OMB approval

of, the collection-of-information

requirements specified by the Standard.

Accordingly, the Agency is requesting to

decrease the current burden-hour

estimate from 20,080 hours to 20,011

hours, a total reduction of 69 hours.

This reduction occurred because OSHA

decreased the estimated number of

inspections that it will conduct during

each year covered by the ICR. The

Agency will summarize the comments

submitted in response to this notice,

and will include this summary in its

request to OMB to extend its approval

of these information-collection

requirements.

Type of Review: Extension of

currently approved informationcollection requirements.

Title: Excavations.

OMB Number: 1218–0137.

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit; not-for-profit institutions; Federal

government; State, local or tribal

governments.

Number of Respondents: 10,000.

Frequency of Response: Occasionally.

Average Time per Response: 2 hours

to obtain design information.

Estimated Total Burden Hours:

20,011.

Estimated Cost (Operation and

Maintenance): $405,563.

IV. Authority and Signature

R. Davis Layne, Acting 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)

and Secretary of Labor’s Order No. 3–

2000 (65 FR 50017).

Signed at Washington, DC on May 25,

2001.

R. Davis Layne,

Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor.

[FR Doc. 01–13689 Filed 5–30–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510–26–M

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health

Administration

[Docket No. ICR–1218–0207(2001)]

Welding, Cutting and Brazing;

Extension of the Office of Management

and Budget’s (OMB) Aproval of

Information-Collection (Paperwork)

Requirements

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health

Administration (OSHA), Labor.

ACTION: Notice of an opportunity for

public comment.

SUMMARY: OSHA solicits comments

concerning its request to decrease the

existing burden-hour estimates for, and

to extend OMB approval of, the

collection-of-information requirements

of 29 CFR 1910, Subpart Q (‘‘Welding,

Cutting and Brazing’’). This subpart

regulates the safety of employees who

operate electric or gas welding and

cutting equipment.

DATES: Submit written comments on or

before July 30, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments

to the Docket Office, Docket No. ICR–

1218–0027–(2001), OSHA, U.S.

Department of Labor, Room N–2625,

200 Constitution Avenue, NW.,

Washington, DC 20210; telephone (202)

693–2350. Commenters may transmit

written comments of 10 pages or less by

facsimile to (202) 693–1648.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Theda Kenney, Directorate of Safety

Standards Programs, OSHA, U.S.

Department of Labor, Room N–3609,

200 Constitution Avenue, NW.,

Washington, DC 20210; telephone (202)

693–2222. A copy of the Agency’s

Information-Collection Request (ICR)

supporting the need for the information

collections contained in 29 CFR 1910,

subpart Q (‘‘Welding, Cutting and

Brazing’’) is available for inspection and

copying in the Docket Office or by

requesting a copy from Theda Kenney at

(202) 693–2222 or Todd Owen at (202)

693–2444. For electronic copies of the

ICR contact OSHA on the Internet at

http://www.osha.gov/comp-links.html,

and select ‘‘Information Collection

Requests.’’

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Department of Labor, as part of its

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–95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This

program ensures that information is in

the desired format, reporting burden

(time and cost) is minimal, collection

instruments are understandable, and

OSHA’s estimate of the informationcollection burden is correct. The

Occupational Safety and Health Act of

the 1970 (the Act) authorizes

information collection by employers as

necessary or appropriate for

enforcement of the Act or for developing

information regarding the causes and

prevention of occupational injuries,

illnesses, and accidents (29 U.S.C. 657).

After thoroughly reviewing the five

standards in 29 CFR 1910, subpart Q

(hereafter, ‘‘subpart Q’’), OSHA

identified a number of paperwork

requirements; however, it determined

that most of these requirements impose

no burden hours or costs on