DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. ICR 97-5]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Respiratory Protection

ACTION: Notice.

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 (PRA95) (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 the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the information collection request for the Respiratory Protection standard 29 CFR 1910.134. A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the employee listed below in the addressee section of this notice. The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments which:

• Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information 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 technique or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submissions of responses.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted by September 15, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket No. ICR 97-5, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210, telephone number (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: 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 Barbara Bielaski at (202) 219-8076 or Todd Owen at (202) 219-7075. For electronic copies of the Information Collection Request on Respiratory Protection contact OSHA's WebPage on the Internet at http://www.osha.gov/ and click on standards.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Respiratory Protection standard and its information collection is designed to provide protection for employees workplace atmosphere contamination. The standard requires employers to develop a written respiratory protection program, to inspect and certify emergency use respirators, and mark emergency use respirator storage compartments.

II. Current Actions

This notice requests an extension of the current OMB approval of the paperwork requirements in the Respiratory Protection Standard. Extension is necessary to provide continued protection to employees from the workplace atmosphere contamination.

Type of Review: Extension.

Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Title: Respiratory Protection.

OMB Number: 1218-0099.

Agency Number: Docket Number ICR 97-5.

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

Total Respondents: 130,000.

Frequency: On Occasion.

Total Responses: 874,680.

Average Time per Response: Time per response ranges from 5 minutes to mark storage compartments to 8 hours to develop a written respiratory protection program.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,166,092.

Estimated Capital, Operation/Maintenance Burden Cost: $0.

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: July 2, 1997.

Adam M. Finkel,
Director, Directorate of Health Standards Programs.

[FR Doc. 97-18553 Filed 7-14-97; 8:45 am)