[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 244 (Monday, December 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70434-70435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-33745]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. ICR-98-37]


Longshoring and Marine Terminals (29 CFR Parts 1910, 1917 and 
1918); Information Collection Requirements

ACTION: Notice; opportunity for public comment.

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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 (PRA-95) (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 impact of collection 
requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed reinstatement of the information 
collection requirements contained in the standard on Longshoring and 
Marine Terminals (29 CFR parts 1917 and 1918). The Agency is 
particularly interested in comments that:

[[Page 70435]]

     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 comments must be submitted on or before February 19, 
1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket 
No. ICR-98-37, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. 
Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 693-2350. Written comments 
limited to 10 pages or less in length may also be transmitted by 
facsimile to (202) 693-1644.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Theda Kenney, Directorate of Safety 
Standards Programs, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. 
Department of Labor, Room N-3605, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20210, telephone: (202) 693-2222. A copy of the 
referenced information collection request is available for inspection 
and copying in the Docket Office and will be mailed to persons who 
request copies by telephoning Theda Kenney at (202) 693-2222 or Barbara 
Bielaski at (202) 693-2400. For electronic copies of the information 
Collection Request on the Longshoring and Marine Terminals Standard, 
contact OSHA's WebPage on the Internet at http://www.osha.gov and click 
on ``Regulations and Compliance.''.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (the Act) authorizes 
the promulgation of such health and safety standards as are necessary 
or appropriate to provide safe or healthful employment and places of 
employment. The statute specifically authorizes information collection 
by employers as necessary or appropriate for the enforcement of the Act 
or for developing information regarding the causes and prevention of 
occupational injuries, illnesses, and accidents.
    The Longshoring and Marine Terminals regulations contain 
requirements related to the testing, certification and marking of 
specific types of cargo lifting appliances and associated cargo 
handling gear and other cargo handling equipment such as conveyors and 
industrial trucks. The collections of information required from 
employers by OSHA are necessary to reduce employee injuries and 
fatalities associated with cargo lifting gear, transfer of vehicular 
cargo, manual cargo handling, and exposure to hazardous atmospheres.
    The Agency published the Final Rule on Longshoring and Marine 
Terminals in the Federal Register on July 25, 1997 (62 FR 40142, Docket 
No. S-025). In conjunction with the final rule, and as required by 5 
CFR 1320.8(d), OSHA solicited public comment (Docket No. ICR-97-3) on 
the paperwork burden estimates contained in the information collection 
requirements in the final rule. OSHA received no comments on these 
burden estimates.
    However, upon a more comprehensive review and analysis of the 
Longshoring and Marine Terminals Standard, the Agency identified a 
number of additional requirements which met the definition of a 
collection of information and which imposes a burden on employers to 
generate, maintain and/or disclose information. In order to provide an 
opportunity for the public to participate with OSHA in identifying 
methods to reduce the burden on employers, OSHA is conducting a second 
preclearance process and is seeking comments from the public on all the 
information collection requirements contained in parts 1917 and 1918 
(Marine Terminals and Longshoring).
    Type of Review: Reinstatement, with change, of a previously 
approved collection for which approval has expired.
    Agency: U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration.
    Title: Longshoring and Marine Terminals (29 CFR parts 1917 and 
1918).
    OMB Number: 1218-0196.
    Agency Number: Docket Number ICR-98-37.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit 
institutions; Federal Government; State, local or tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 746.
    Frequency: Varies (Initially, On Occasion, Monthly, Weekly, 
Annually).
    Average Time per Response: Varies from 2 minutes (.03 hr.) to 8 
hours.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 23,161.
    Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
approval of the information collection request. The comments will 
become a matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 15th day of December 1998.
Charles N. Jeffress,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.
[FR Doc. 98-33745 Filed 12-18-98; 8:45 am]
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