DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary

Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

August 17, 1998.

The DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL) has submitted the following public information collection requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). A copy of each individual ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained by calling the DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Departmental Clearance Officer, Todd R. Owen ({202} 219-5096 ext. 143) or by E-Mail to Owen- Todd@dol.gov.

Comments should be sent to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for BLS, DM, ESA, ETA, MSHA, OSHA, PWBA, or VETS, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503 ({202} 395-7316), by September 23, 1998. The OMB 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 submission of responses.

Agency: Employment and Training Administration.

Title: Benefits, Timeliness and Quality (BTQ) Review System.

OMB Number: 1205-0359 (extension).

Frequency: Monthly, Quarterly.

Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal government.

Number of Respondents: 53.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 726.15.

Total Burden Hours: 38,486.

Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: 0.

Total annual costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing services): 0.

Description: Unemployment Insurance (UI) and State Employment Security Agencies (SESAs) use the BTQ Review System to assess and evaluate timeliness and quality of UI benefit operations. The results help to determine operating areas that need Corrective Action Plans (CAPS) to meet achievement standards in State's annual program and Budget Plan (PBP).

Agency: Employment and Training Administration.

Title: Internal Fraud Activities.

OMB Number: 1205-0187 (extension).

Form Number: ETA 9000.

Frequency: Annual.

Affected Public: State or Local Government.

Number of Respondents: 53.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 3 hours.

Total Burden Hours: 159.

Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: 0.

Total annual costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing services): 0.

Description: Form ETA 9000 is the State Employment Security Agencies, ETA's sole data collection instrument for identifying continuing activity involving internal fraud and assessing fraud prevention effectiveness. Resulting analysis will be communicated to SESAs to enhance management efforts in controlling false representation and fraud. Negative trends could result in ETA requesting OIG audits.

Agency: Employment and Training Administration.

Title: Benefit Appeals Report.

OMB Number: 1205-0172 (extension).

Form Number: ETA 5130.

Affected Public: States.

Total Burden Hours: 1,620.

Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: 0.

Total annual costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing services): 0.

Description: Data from this report is used to monitor the benefit appeals process and to develop plans for remedial action. The report is also needed for budgeting and for workload data.

Agency: Employment Standards Administration.

Title: 29 CFR Part 4, Labor Standards for Federal Service Contracts.

OMB Number: 1215-0150 (extension).

Frequency: On Occasion.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Federal government.

Number of Respondents: 61,789.

Total Burden Hours: 59,368.

Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: 0.

Total annual costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing services): 0.

Description: The Service Contract Act (SCA) imposes certain recordkeeping and incidental reporting requirements applicable to employers performing on service contracts with the Federal government. The basic payroll recordkeeping requirements contained in this regulation (sections 4.6(g)(1)(I) through (I)(iv)) have been previously approved under OMB number 1215-0017, which constitutes the basic recordkeeping regulations for all laws administered by the Wage and Hour Division, and the remaining SCA requirements under 1215-0150. This information collection contains three additional requirements not cleared under either of the above information collections. They are: a vacation benefit seniority list, which is used by the contractor to determine vacation fringe benefits entitlements earned and accrued by service employees who were employed by predecessor contractors; a conformance record report, which is used by Wage and Hour to determine the appropriateness of the conformance and compliance with the SCA and its regulations; and a collective bargaining agreement, submitted by the contracting agency to Wage and Hour to be used in the issuance of wage determinations for successor contracts subject to section 2(a) and 4^© of SCA.

Agency: Occupational Safety and Health.

Title: Cotton Dust 29 CFR 1910.1043.

OMB Number: 1218-0061 (extension).

Frequency: On Occasion.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit: Federal Government; State, local or tribal governments.

Number of Respondents: 597

Estimated Time Per Respondent: Ranges from 5 minutes to maintain a record to 1.5 hours for an employee to have a medical exam

Total Burden Hours: 138,134

Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: 0.

Total annual cost (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing services): $12,111,320

Description: The Cotton Dust standard and its information collection requirements provide protection for employees from the adverse health effects associated with occupational exposure to Cotton Dust. The standard requires that employers establish a compliance program, including exposure monitoring and medical records. These records are used by employees, physicians, employers and OSHA to determine the effectivess of the employers' compliance efforts. Also the standard requires that OSHA have access to various records to ensure that employers are complying with the disclosure provisions.

Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Title: Acrylonitrile (29 CFR 1910.1045).

OMB Number: 1218-0126 (extension).

Frequency: On Occasion.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Federal Government; local or tribal government.

Number of Respondents: 26.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: Ranges from 5 minutes to maintain a record to 1.5 hours for an employee to have a medical exam.

Total Burden Hours: 6,867.

Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: 0.

Total annual costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing services): $311,360.

Description: The Acrylonitrile (AN) standard and its information collection requirements provide protection for employees from the adverse health effects associated with occupational exposure to Acrylonitrile. The Standard requires employers to monitor employee exposure, establish and maintain a compliance program, provide medical surveillance, to train employees about the hazards of AN, and to establish and maintain accurate records of employee exposure to AN. These records are used by employees, physicians, employers and the OSHA to determine the effectiveness of the employers' compliance efforts. Also the standard requires that OSHA have access to various records to ensure that employers are complying with the disclosure provisions of the AN standard.

Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Title: Escape and Evacuation Plans.

OMB Number: 1219-0046 (extension).

Frequency: On Occasion.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 270.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 24 hours.

Total Burden Hours: 6,480.

Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: 0.

Total annual costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing services): $2,430.

Description: Requires operators of underground coal mines to keep records of the results of mandatory weekly examinations of emergency escapeways. The records are used to determine that the integrity of the escapeway is being maintained.

Todd R. Owen,
Departmental Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 98-22599 Filed 8-21-98; 8:45 am]

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