[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 17 (Thursday, January 25, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2267-2268]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1234]



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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[OMB No. 1218-0203]


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Permit-Required Confined Spaces

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 approval for the 
paperwork requirements of 29 CFR 1910.146, Permit-Required Confined 
Spaces.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before March 25, 1996.
    Written comments should:
    <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, 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 

[[Page 2268]]
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-96-1, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution 
Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 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:
Anne C. Cyr, Office of Information and Consumer Affairs, Occupational 
Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-
3647, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 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 immediately to persons who request copies by telephoning 
Vivian Allen at (202) 219-8076. For electronic copies, contact the 
Labor News Bulletin Board (202) 219-4784; or OSHA's WebPage on Internet 
at http://www.osha.gov/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) currently 
has approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for certain 
information collection requirements contained in 29 CFR 1910.146. That 
approval will expire on September 30, 1997, unless OSHA applies for an 
extension of the OMB approval. This notice initiates the process for 
OSHA to request an extension of the current OMB approval.
    As part of OMB's and OSHA's continuing paperwork reduction effort, 
OSHA seeks to reduce the paperwork burden hours in 29 CFR 1910.146 
based upon input from parties interested in the regulatory scope of 
that regulation. The purpose of this notice is to solicit public 
comment on OSHA's existing paperwork burden estimates from those 
interested parties and to seek public response to several questions 
related to the development of OSHA's estimation. Interested parties are 
requested to review OSHA's existing estimates, which are based upon 
information available during rulemaking, and to comment on their 
accuracy or appropriateness in today's workplace situation. OSHA bases 
its existing estimates upon information made available to the Agency 
during the initial rulemaking effort for 29 CFR 1910.146 (January 14, 
1993; 58 FR 4462) and believes that this data may be outdated.

II. Current Actions

    This notice requests an extension of the current OMB approval of 
the paperwork requirements in 29 CFR 1910.146, Permit-Required Confined 
Spaces.

    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.

    Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. 
Department of Labor.

    Title: Permit-Required Confined Spaces (29 CFR 1910.146).

    OMB Number: 1218-0203.

    Agency Number: Docket No. ICR-96-1.

    Frequency: When needed to safely enter a permit-required confined 
space.

    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Federal government, 
and State, Local or Tribal governments.

    Number of Respondents: 238,853.

    Estimated Time Per Respondent: 10.6 hours.

    Total Estimated Cost: $38,163,639.

    Total Burden Hours: 2,173,088.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or 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: January 19, 1996.

Thomas H. Seymour,

Acting Director, Directorate of Safety Standards Programs.

[FR Doc. 96-1234 Filed 1-24-96; 8:45 am]
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