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.

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

Written comments should:

* 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 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]