[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 135 (Tuesday, July 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37935-37936]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18549]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket Number ICR-97-9]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Formaldehyde Standard

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 
Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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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 resource) 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 proposing extension of the information collection 
request for the Formaldehyde Standard 29 CFR 1910.1048. 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.

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

ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket 
No. ICR-97-9, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution 
Ave. NW., Washington, D.C. 20210, telephone (202) 219-7894. Written 
comments limited to 10 pages or fewer may also be transmitted by 
facsimile to (202) 219-5046.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Todd Owen, Directorate of Health 
Standard Programs, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. 
Department of Labor, Room N-3647, 200 Constitution Ave., NW, 
Washington, D.C. 20210. Telephone: (202) 219-7075. Copies of the 
referenced information collection request are available for inspection 
and copying in the Docket Office and will be mailed to persons who 
request copies by telephoning Todd Owen at (202) 219-7075 or Barbara 
Bielaski at (202) 219-8076. For electronic copies of the Information 
Collection Request on formaldehyde contact OSHA's Webpage on Internet 
at http://www.osha.gov/ and click on standards.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The Formaldehyde Standard and its information collection is 
designed to provide protection for employees from the adverse health 
effects associated with occupational exposure to formaldehyde.
    The Standard requires employers to monitor employee exposure to 
formaldehyde and provide notification to employees of their exposure to 
formaldehyde. Employers are required to make available medical exams to 
employees who are or may be exposed to formaldehyde at or above the 
action level (0.5 parts per million calculated as an eight hour time-
weighted average), or exceeding the short term exposure limit (two 
parts formaldehyde per million parts of air). Exposure monitoring and 
medical records are to be retained for prescribed amounts of time, and 
under certain circumstances such records may be transferred to the 
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Employers are 
also required to communicate the hazards associated with exposure to 
formaldehyde through signed, labels, material safety data sheets, and 
training.

II. Current Actions

    This action requests an extension of the current Office of 
Management and Budget approval of the paperwork requirements in the 
Formaldehyde Standard. Extension is necessary to continue protection to 
employees from

[[Page 37936]]

the health effects associated with occupational exposure to 
formaldehyde.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Formaldehyde Standard 29 CFR 1910.1048.
    OMB Number: 1218-0145.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Federal government 
and State, Local or Tribal governments.
    Total Respondents: 112,066.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Total Responses: 1,487,946.
    Average Time per Response: Time per response ranges from 5 minutes 
to maintain records to 1 hour for medical exams.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 521,110.
    Total Annualized capital/startup costs: 0.
    Total initial annual costs: (operating/maintaining systems or 
purchasing services): $54,209,103.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request. The comments will 
become a matter of public record.

    Dated: July 8, 1997.
Adam M. Finkel,
Director, Directorate of Health Standards Programs.
[FR Doc. 97-18549 Filed 7-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-M