[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 242 (Wednesday, December 17, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66132-66133]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-32863]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. ICR 97-46]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Hazard Communication

ACTION: Extension of comment period; Supplemental Information.

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SUMMARY: On November 21, 1997, the Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration (OSHA) published a Federal Register notice soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed extension of the information 
collection request for the Hazard Communication Standard 29 CFR 
1910.1200; 1915; 1918; 1926, and 1928. With this notice, OSHA is 
providing supplemental information and extending the close of the 
comment period from January 20, 1998 to February 19, 1998.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section below on or before February 19, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket 
No. ICR-97-46, 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 less in length may also be transmitted 
by facsimile to (202) 219-5046.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Adrian Corsey, Directorate of Health Standards Programs, Occupational 
Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-
3718, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20210. Telephone: 
(202) 219-7075 extension 105. 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 Adrian Corsey (202) 219-7057 extension 105, or Barbara 
Bielaski on 219-8076, extension 142. For electronic copies of the 
Hazard Communication Information Collection Request, contact the Labor 
News Bulletin Board (202) 219-4784; or OSHA's WebPage on Internet at 
http://www.osha.gov/ and click on standards.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OSHA requested public comment on the 
proposed extension of the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) 
Information Collection Request on November 21, 1997 (92 FR 62355). The 
deadline for submitting comments was January 20, 1998. The November 21, 
1997, Federal Register notice estimated the total burden hours for 
hazard communication to be 7,301,762 hours. This notice provides 
additional information reqarding the burden hour estimate. 
Specifically, the Agency is proposing to reduce the burden hours for 
HCS from 13,198,751 to 7,301,762 hours, a burden reduction of 5,896,991 
hours. The majority of this burden reduction resulted when the Agency 
eliminated the burden it had assigned to the task of affixing labels to 
certain containers. Under the implementing rules and regulations of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act, activities that are normal and customary are 
not counted when assessing the burden associated with a collection of 
information. The Agency believes that placing labels on containers is a 
normal and customary business practice for manufacturers and importers 
of hazardous chemicals. OSHA's revised estimates include only the 
burden to develop (i.e., determine) the specific information required 
by OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard that is beyond normal and 
customary business practices. To support the Agency's belief that 
affixing labels in normal and customary, OSHA points out that the 
Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Transportation, the 
Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the Food and Drug 
Administration require labeling. In addition, international standards 
require labeling. OSHA also believes that manufacturers normally affix 
labels to identify and promote their products.
    In the November 21, 1997 Federal Register Notice on this collection 
of information, OSHA did not fully explain how it arrived at its 
estimated reduction. For this reason OSHA believes it is reasonable and 
appropriate to provide this supplemental information and to give 
commenters an additional 30 days to comment on the

[[Page 66133]]

Information Collection Request [paperwork package]. 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: December 9, 1997.
Adam M. Finkel,
Director, Directorate of Health Standards Programs.
[FR Doc. 97-32863 Filed 12-16-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-M