DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary

Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

August 31, 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), within 30 days from the date of this publication in the Federal Register. 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: Alien Claims Activity Report.

OMB Number: 1205-0268 (extension).

Agency Number: ETA-9016.

Frequency: Quarterly.

Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 53.

Total Responses: 212.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 1 hour.

Total Burden Hours: 212.

Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: 0.

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

Description: The ETA 9016 allows assessment of cost efficiency of the Immigration and Naturalization Service verification system (SAVE) and allows the determination of the impact of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of the Unemployment Insurance system nationally.

Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Title: Training Plan Regulations (48.3 and 48.23).

OMB Number: 1219-0009 (extension).

Frequency: Annually.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 1,300.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 8 hours.

Total Burden Hours: 10,400 hours.

Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: 0.

Total annual costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing services): $2,600.

Description: Requires underground mine operators to have an MSHA approved plan containing programs for training new miners, newly employed experienced miners, new task training, annual refresher training and hazard training for miners.

Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Title: Mine Ventilation System Plan (57.8520).

OMB Number: 1219-0016 (extension).

Frequency: Annually.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 240.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 24 hours.

Total Burden Hours: 5,760 hours.

Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: 0.

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

Description: Operators of underground metal and nonmetal mines are required to prepare written plans of the ventilation system of their mines and to update the plans annually. The information is used to insure that each operator routinely plans, reviews, and updates the mine's ventilation system; to insure the availability of accurate and current ventilation information; and to provide MSHA with an opportunity to alert the mine operator to potential hazards.

Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Title: Operations Under Water (30 CFR 75.1716, 75.1716-1 and 75.1716-3).

OMB Number: 1219-0020 (extension).

Frequency: On occasion.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 14.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 5 hours.

Total Burden Hours: 70 hours.

Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: 0.

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

Description: Requires coal mine operators to provide MSHA notification and to obtain a permit to mine under a body of water if, in the judgment of the Secretary of Labor, it is sufficiently large enough to constitute a hazard to miners.

Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Title: Records of Results of Examinations of Self-Rescuers (30 CFR 75.1714-3(e)).

OMB Number: 1219-0044 (extension).

Frequency: Quarterly.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 1,000.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 30 minutes.

Total Burden Hours: 2,000 hours.

Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: -0-

Total annual costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing services): $86,000.

Description: Requires underground coal mine operators to keep records of the corrective actions taken as a result of required examinations of self-rescue devices. The information is used to insure that the examinations are conducted and that the devices are in operable and usable condition in case of an emergency.

Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Title: Representative of Miners (30 CFR 40.2 and 40.5(a)).

OMB Number: 1219-0042 (extension).

Frequency: On occasion.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; small business or organizations.

Number of Respondents: 350.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 1 hour.

Total Burden Hours: 175.

Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: 0.

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

Description: The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 requires the Secretary of Labor to exercise many of her duties under the Act in cooperation with miners' representatives. The Act also establishes miners' rights which must be exercised through a representative. Title 30, CFR Part 40 contains procedures which a person or organization must follow in order to be identified by the Secretary as representative of miners.

Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Title: Underground Construction Air Quality Record (Sec. 1926.800).

OMB Number: 1218-0067 (revision).

Frequency: On occasion.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 320.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: Ranges from 30 seconds to record monitoring results, up to 1 hour to inspect and certify hoisting assemblies.

Total Burden Hours: 8,357 hours.

Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: 0.

Total annual costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing services): $115,200.

Description: The underground construction standard (Sec. 1926.800) requires employers to certify hoist inspections; post various warning signs; and prepare and retain aboveground, at the job site, a written record of all air quality tests measured at underground work locations. A written record of specific information must be prepared and retained until completion of the project.

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; State, local or tribal governments.

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 standard and its information collection requirements provide protection for employees from the adverse health effects associated with occupational exposure to Acrylonitrile. The Standard requires that employers must establish and maintain a training and compliance program, including exposure monitoring and medical surveillance records. 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 Acrylonitrile Standard.

Agency: Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration.

Title: Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 76-1.

OMB Number: 1210-0058 (extension).

Frequency: On occasion.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Individuals or households.

Number of Respondents: 1,546.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 15 minutes.

Total Burden Hours: 727.

Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: 0.

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

Description: Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 76-1 permits parties in interest, under specified conditions, to: (A) Make delinquent employer contributions, (B) receive loans, and (C) obtain office space, administrative services and goods from plans. In the absence of this exemption, certain aspects of these transactions might be prohibited by section 406 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

Agency: Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration.

Title: Class Exemption Relating to Certain Foreign Exchange Transactions Pursuant to Standing Instructions.

OMB Number: 1210-0 New.

Frequency: On occasion.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, individuals or households.

Number of Respondents: 35.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 120 hours per year.

Total Burden Hours: 4,200.

Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: 0.

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

Description: The proposed exemption would permit certain foreign exchange transactions between employee benefit plans and certain banks, broker-dealers, and domestic affiliates thereof, which are parties in interest with respect to such plans, pursuant to standing instructions.

Agency: Bureau of International Labor Affairs.

Title: Senior Technical Assistance Register.

OMB Number: 1225-0064 (extension).

Frequency: On occasion.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Number of Respondents: 10.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 23 minutes.

Total Burden Hours: 4 hours.

Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: 0.

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

Description: Information collected in relation to the Senior Technical Assistance Register project will be used to identify persons interested and able to render advisory services to developing countries in which the DEPARTMENT OF LABOR is providing development.

Todd R. Owen,
Departmental Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 98-23944 Filed 9-3-98; 8:45 am]

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