[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 151 (Friday, August 4, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48014-48015]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19777]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

July 28, 2000.
    The Department of Labor (DOL) has submitted the following public 
information collection requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35). A copy of 
each individual ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be 
obtained by calling the Department of Labor. To obtain documentation 
for BLS, ETA, PWBA, and OASAM contact Karin Kurz ((202) 219-5096 ext. 
159 or by E-mail to [email protected]). To obtain documentation for 
ESA, MSHA, OSHA, and VETS contact Darrin King ((202) 219-5096 ext. 151 
or by E-Mail to [email protected]).
    Comments should be sent to Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for BLS, DM, ESA, ETA, MSHA, OSHA, 
PWBA, or VETS, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, 
DC 20503 ((202) 395-7316), within 30 days from the date of this 
publication in the Federal Register.
    The OMB 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 submission of responses.

    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
    Title: Ethylene Oxide.
    OMB Number: 1218-0108.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Federal Government; 
State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Respondents: 5,782.
    Number of Annual Responses: 232,564.
    Estimated Time Per Response: Varies from 5 minutes to provide 
information to the examining physician to 10 hours to develop a 
compliance plan.
    Total Burden Hours: 49,200.
    Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: $0.
    Total Annual Costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $7,056,200.
    Description: The information-collection requirements specified in 
the Ethylene Oxide (EtO) Standard protect employees from the adverse 
health effects that may result from their exposure to EtO. The major 
information-collection requirements of the EtO Standard include 
notifying employees of their EtO exposures, implementing a written 
compliance program, providing examining physicians with specific 
information, ensuring that employees receive a copy of their medical-
examination results, maintaining employees' exposure-monitoring and 
medical records for specific periods, and providing access to these 
records by OSHA, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and 
Health, the affected employees, and their authorized representatives.

    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
    Title: Electrical Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution.
    OMB Number: 1218-0190.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit 
institutions; Federal Government; State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Frequency: On occasion, Semi-annually, Annually.
    Number of Respondents: 11,703.
    Number of Annual Responses: 515,094.
    Estimated Time Per Response: Varies from one minute to 15 minutes.
    Total Burden Hours: 34,496.
    Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: $0.
    Total Annual Costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $0.
    Description: 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). Under paragraph 
1910.137(a)(2)(vii), employers must certify that the electrical 
protective3 equipment used by their employees passed the tests 
specified in paragraphs (b)(2)(viii), (b)(2)(ix), and (b)(2)(xi) of the 
standard. The certification must identify the equipment that passed the 
test and the date of the test. This provision ensures that electrical 
protective equipment is reliable and safe for employee use and will 
provide adequate protection against electrical hazards. In addition, 
certification enables OSHA to determine if employers are in compliance 
with the equipment testing requirements of the standard.
    Paragraph 1910.269(a)(2)(vii) of the Electric Power Generation, 
Transmission, and Distribution standard requires employers to certify 
that each employee received the training specified in paragraph (a)(2) 
of the standard. Employers must provide certification after an employee 
demonstrates proficiency in the work practices involved.
    The training conducted under paragraph (a)(2) of the standard must 
also ensure that: Employees are familiar with the safety-related work 
practices, safety procedures, and other procedures, as well as any 
additional safety requirements in this standard, that pertain to their 
respective job assignments; employees are familiar with any other 
safety practices, including applicable emergency procedures (such as 
pole top and manhole rescue), addressed specifically by this standard 
that relate to their work and are necessary for their safety; and 
qualified employees have the skills and techniques necessary to 
distinguish exposed live parts from other parts of electric equipment, 
can determine the nominal voltage of the exposed live parts, know the 
minimum approach distances specified by this standard for voltages when 
exposed to them, and understand the proper use of special precautionary 
techniques, personal protective equipment, insulating and shielding 
materials, and insulated tools

[[Page 48015]]

for working on or near exposed and energized parts of electric 
equipment.
    Employees must receive additional training or retraining if: The 
supervision and annual inspections required by paragraph (a)(2)(iii) of 
this standard indicate that they are not complying with the required 
safety-related work practices; new technology or equipment, or revised 
procedures, require the use of safety-related work practices that 
differ from their usual safety practices; and they use safety-related 
work practices that are different than their usual safety practices 
while performing job duties.
    The training requirements of this standard inform employees of the 
safety hazards of electrical exposure and provide them with the 
understanding required to minimize these safety hazards. In addition, 
employees receive proper training in safety-related work practices, 
safety procedures, and other safety requirements specified in the 
standard. The required training, therefore, provides information to 
employees that enables them to recognize how and where electrical 
exposures occur, and what steps to take, including work practices, to 
limit such exposure. Accordingly, the certification requirements 
specified by paragraph (a)(2)(vii) of the standard permits OSHA to 
determine if employers provided the required training to their 
employees.

    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Mine safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
    Title: Ground Control Plan.
    OMB Number: 1219-0026.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Respondents: 159.
    Number of Annual Responses: 159.
    Estimated Time Per Response: Varies from 9 hours for new plans to 5 
for revised plans.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,404.
    Total Annualized capital/startup costs: $0.
    Total annual costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $52.
    Description: Ground control plans are reviewed by MSHA to ensure 
that surface coal mine operators' methods of controlling highwalls and 
spoil banks are consistent with prudent engineering design and will 
ensure safe working conditions for miners.

    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
    Title: Consumer Expenditure Surveys: The Diary and Quarterly 
Interview.
    OMB Number: 1220-0050.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.

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                                                                                          Average
                                                                                          time per    Estimated
               Form                   Total             Frequency             Total       response      total
                                   respondents                              responses       (in         burden
                                                                                          minutes)
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Quarterly--CE-300, CE-301, CE-302        9,975  Quarterly................       39,900       90 Min       59,850
Reinterview--CE-380, CE-386......        2,195  Annual...................        2,195       15 Min          549
Diary--CE-802 Recordkeeping......        8,241  2 Weeks..................  ...........      105 Min       28,844
Diary--CE-801....................        8,241  3 Visits/2 Week Period...       24,723       25 Min       10,302
Reinterview--CE-880, CE-880(N)...        1,376  One-time.................        1,376       12 Min          275
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    Totals.......................       18,216  .........................       68,194       71 Min       99,820
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    Total annualized capital/startup costs: $0.
    Total annual costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $0.
    Description: The Consumer Expenditure Surveys are used to gather 
information on expenditures, income and other related subjects. These 
data are used to periodically update the national Consumer Price Index. 
In addition the data are used by a variety of researchers in academia, 
government agencies, and the private sector. The data are collected 
from a national probability sample of households designed to represent 
the total civilian non-institutional population.

Ira L. Mills,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-19777 Filed 8-3-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-M