DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Proposed Collection; Comment Request

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 reinstatement of the information collection request for the Grantee Quarterly Progress Report. A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the addresses section below on or before August 29, 1997. The Department of Labor 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 submissions of responses.

ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket No. ICR 97-11, 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 CONTACT: Helen Beall, Division of Training and Educational Programs, OSHA Office of Training and Education, 1555 Times Drive, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018, telephone (847) 297-4810 (this is not a toll-free number), e-mail to helen.beall@oti.osha.gov, or send a facsimile message to (847) 297-4874. 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)-219-7177. For electronic copies of the Grantee Quarterly Progress Report Information Collection Request contact OSHA's WebPage on the Internet at http:// www.osha.gov/ under Standards.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration awards grants to nonprofit organizations to provide safety and health training to employees and employers in the recognition, avoidance, and prevention of unsafe and unhealthy working conditions. The grants are awarded for one year, with the possibility of renewal for one or more years.

In order to see that grant funds are being used in accordance with approved grants, OSHA requires grantees to report quarterly on their grant-funded activities. These reports, which show how many individuals have been trained and provide a narrative account of grant progress, are used by OSHA to monitor grant performance, to identify grant items that need to be brought to the attention of management, and to serve as one of the criteria for making decisions about continued grantee funding.

The quarterly reports enable OSHA to determine whether grant funds are being spent for the purpose for which they are intended. There is no other practical way to obtain this information.

II. Current Actions

OSHA is planning to reinstate this form. The form had been in use for ten years. Its approval was inadvertently allowed to lapse.

Type of Review: Reinstatement (with change).

Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Title: Grantee Quarterly Progress Report.

OMB Number: 1218-0100.

Agency Number: OSHA 171.

Recordkeeping: Records are to be retained until three years after the grant is closed out.

Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions.

Total Respondents: 26.

Frequency: Quarterly.

Total Responses: 104.

Average Time per Response: 12 hours.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,248.

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $29,536.

Comments submitted in response to this comment request 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: May 5, 1997.

Harvey E. Harris,
Director, Office of Training and Education.

[FR Doc. 97-17043 Filed 6-27-97; 8:45 am)