[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 25, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20836-20837]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10213]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. ICR-1218-0208(2001)]


Anhydrous Ammonia Standard (29 CFR 1910.111); Extension of the 
Office of Management and Budget's 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 public comment to decrease the existing burden-
hour estimate and extend the information-collection requirements 
specified in the Anhydrous Ammonia Standard (29 CFR 1910.111).

DATE: Submit written comments on or before June 25, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the Docket Office, Docket No. 
ICR-1218-0208(2001), OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-
2350. Commenters may transmit written comments of 10 pages or less by 
facsimile to: (202) 693-1948.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Theda Kenney, Directorate of Safety 
Standards Programs, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-3609, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-
2222. A copy of the Agency's Information-Collection Request (ICR) 
supporting the need for the information collections specified in the 
Anhydrous Ammonia Standard is available for inspection and copying in 
the Docket

[[Page 20837]]

Office, or by requesting a copy from Theda Kenney at (202) 693-2222 or 
Todd Owen at (202) 693-2444. For electronic copies of the ICR, contact 
OSHA on the Internet at http://www.osha.gov/complinks.html, and select 
``Information Collection Requests.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce 
paperwork and respondent (i.e., employer) burden, conducts a 
preclearance consultation program to provide the public 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 are clearly understood, and OSHA's 
estimate of the information-collection burden is correct.
    Paragraphs (b)(3) and (b)(4) of the Anhydrous Ammonia Standard have 
paperwork requirements that apply to nonrefrigerated containers and 
systems and refrigerated containers, respectively; employers use these 
containers and systems to store and transfer anhydrous ammonia in the 
workplace. Paragraph (b)(3) specifies that systems have nameplates if 
required, and that these nameplates ``be permanently attached to the 
system so as to be readily accessible for inspection. * * *'' In 
addition, this paragraph requires that markings on containers and 
systems covered by paragraphs (c) (``Systems utilizing stationary, 
nonrefrigerated storage containers''), (f) (``Tank Motor vehicles for 
the transportation of ammonia''), (g) (``Systems mounted on farm 
vehicles other than for the application of ammonia''), and (h) 
(``Systems mounted on farm vehicles for the application of ammonia'') 
provide information regarding nine specific characteristics of the 
containers and systems. Similarly, paragraph (b)(4) states that 
information regarding eight specific characteristics of each container 
``shall be on the container itself or on a nameplate permanently 
attached to it.''
    The required makings ensure that employers use only properly 
designed and tested containers and systems to store anhydrous ammonia, 
thereby preventing accidental release of, and exposure of employees to, 
this highly toxic and corrosive substance. In addition, these 
requirements provide the most efficient means for an OSHA compliance 
officer to ensure that the containers and systems are safe.

II. Special Issues for Comment

    OSHA has a particular interest in comments on the following issues:
     Whether the proposed information-collection requirements 
are necessary for the proper performance of the Agency's functions, 
including whether the information is useful;
     The accuracy of OSHA'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 or other technological information-
collection and -transmission techniques.

III. Proposed Actions

    OSHA proposes to decrease the existing burden-hour estimate, and to 
extend the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval, of the 
collection-of-information requirements specified in paragraphs (b)(3) 
and (b)(4) of the Anhydrous Ammonina Standard (29 CFR 1910.111). In 
this regard, the Agency is propossing to decrease the current burden-
hour estimate from 2,500 hours to 53 hours, a total reduction of 2,447 
hours. OSHA will summarize the comments submitted in response to this 
notice, and will include this summary in its request to OMB to extend 
the approval of these information-collection requirements.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently-approved information-
collection requirement.
    Title: Paragraphs (b)(3) and (b)(4) of the Anhydrous Ammonia 
Standard (29 CFR 1910.111).
    OMB Number: 1218-0208.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; not-for-profit 
institutions; farms; Federal government; State, local or tribal 
governments.
    Number of Respondents: 330.
    Frequency: Occasionally.
    Average Time per Response: 10 minutes (0.16 hours).
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 53 hours.

VI. Authority and Signature

    R. Davis Layne, Acting 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) and Secretary of Labor's Order No. 3-2000 (65 FR 
50017).

    Dated: Signed at Washington, DC on April 19, 2001.
R. Davis Layne,
Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor.
[FR Doc. 01-10213 Filed 4-24-01; 8:45 am]
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