[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 124 (Tuesday, June 29, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 34831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-16313]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. ICR-99-6]


Construction Records for Blasting Operations; Extension of the 
Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Approval of Information 
Collection (Paperwork) Requirements

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); Labor.

ACTION: Notice of an opportunity for public comment.

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SUMMARY: OSHA solicits comments concerning the proposed reduction, and 
extension of, the information collection requirements contained in the 
standard on Construction Records for Blasting Operations (29 CFR 
1926.900(k)(3)(i)).
    The Agency is particularly interested in comments on the following:
     Whether the information collection requirements are 
necessary for the proper performance of the Agency's functions, 
including whether the information is useful;
     The accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden (time 
and costs) of the information collection requirements, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     The quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
collected; and
     Ways to minimize the burden on employers who must comply, 
for example, by using automated, electronic, mechanical, and other 
technological information and transmission collection techniques.

DATES: Submit written comments on or before August 30, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to the Docket Office, Docket No. ICR-99-6, 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of 
Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210; 
telephone: (202) 693-2350. You may transmit written comments 10 pages 
or less in length by facsimile to (202) 693-1648.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Martinez, Directorate of 
Policy, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department 
of Labor, Room N-3605, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 
20210; telephone: (202) 693-2444. A copy of the Agency's Information 
Collection Request (ICR) supporting the need for the information 
collection requirements on Construction Records for Blasting Operations 
is available for inspection and copying in the Docket Office, or you 
may request a mailed copy by telephoning Kathleen Martinez at (202) 
693-2444 or Barbara Bielaski at (202) 693-2444. For electronic copies 
of the ICR Construction Records For Blasting Operations, contact OSHA 
on the Internet at http://www.osha-slc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    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 continuing information 
collection requirements in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (PRA-95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program ensures that 
information is in the desired format, reporting burden (time and costs) 
is minimal, collection instruments is clearly understood, and the 
impact of information collection requirements on respondents can be 
properly assessed. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (the 
Act) authorizes information collection by employers as necessary or 
appropriate for enforcement of the Act or for developing information 
regarding the causes and prevention of occupational injuries, 
illnesses, and accidents (29 U.S.C. 657).

II. Proposed Actions

    This provision requires employers to post a sign warning against 
the use of mobile radio transmitters on all roads within 1000 feet of 
blasting operations. When this requirement creates an ``operational 
handicap,'' the employer must develop and implement an alternative 
method that will prevent the premature detonation of electric blasting 
caps. The alternative method must be in writing, and a competent person 
must certify its adequacy.
    OSHA will summarize the comments submitted in response to this 
notice, and will include this summary in the request to OMB to extend 
the approval of the information collection requirements contained in 
the Construction Records for Blasting Operations.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved information 
collection requirements.
    Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Construction Records for Blasting Operations (29 CFR 
1926.900(k)(3)(i)).
    OMB Number: 1218-0217.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Federal government; 
state, local or tribal government.
    Number of Respondents: 3,000 work sites.
    Frequency: Once per 160 work sites.
    Average Time per Response: 8 hours.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 640.

III. Authority and Signature

    Charles N. Jeffress, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational 
Safety and Health, directed the preparation of this notice. The 
authority for this notice is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3506), Secretary of Labor's Order No. 6-96 (62 FR 111), and 29 
CFR part 11.

    Signed at Washington, D.C., this 21st day of June, 1999.
Charles N. Jeffress,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 99-16313 Filed 6-28-99; 8:45 am]
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