[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 5 (Thursday, January 8, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1314-1315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-360]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. ICR-1218-0048(2004)]


Standard on Occupational Noise Exposure (Noise) (29 CFR 1910.95); 
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: Request for comment.

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SUMMARY: OSHA solicits comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB 
approval of the Information collection requirements contained in the 
Occupational Noise Exposure standard. (29 CFR 1910.95).

DATES: Comments must be submitted by the following dates:
    Hard Copy: Your comments must be submitted (postmarked or received) 
by March 8, 2004.
    Facsimile and electronic transmission: Your comments must be 
received by March 8, 2004.

ADDRESSES: 

I. Submission of Comments

    Regular mail, express delivery, hand-delivery, and messenger 
service: Submit your comments and attachments to the

[[Page 1315]]

OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. ICR-1218-0048 (2004), Room N-2625, U.S. 
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210. 
OSHA Docket Office and Department of Labor hours of operation are 8:15 
a.m. to 4:45 p.m., EST.
    Facsimile: If your comments, including any attachments, are 10 
pages or fewer, you may fax them to the OSHA Docket Office at (202) 
693-1648. You must include the docket number, ICR-1218-0048 (2004), in 
your comments.
    Electronic: You may submit comments, but not attachments, through 
the Internet at http://ecomments.osha.gov/.

II. Obtaining Copies of the Supporting Statement for the Information 
Collection Request

    The Supporting Statement for the Information Collection Request 
(ICR) is available for downloading from OSHA's Web site at http://www.osha.gov. The complete ICR, containing the OMB 83-I Form, 
Supporting Statement, and attachments, is available for inspection and 
copying in the OSHA Docket Office, at the address listed above. A 
printed copy of the ICR can be obtained by contacting Todd Owen at 
(202) 693-2222.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Todd Owen, Directorate of Standards 
and Guidance, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-3609, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210; telephone (202) 693-
2222.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Submission of Comments on This Notice and Internet Access to 
Comments and Submissions

    You may submit comments in response to this document by (1) hard 
copy, (2) FAX transmission (facsimile), or (3) electronically through 
the OSHA webpage. Please note you cannot attach materials such as 
studies or journal articles to electronic comments. If you have 
additional materials, you must submit three copies of them to the OSHA 
Docket Office at the address above. The additional materials must 
clearly identify your electronic comments by name, date, subject and 
docket number so we can attach them to your comments. Because of 
security related problems there may be a significant delay in the 
receipt of comments by regular mail. Please contact the OSHA Docket 
Office at (202) 693-2350 for information about security procedures 
concerning the delivery of materials by express delivery, had delivery 
and messenger service.

II. 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. 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).
    The information collection requirements specified in the Noise 
Standard protect employees from suffering material hearing impairment.

III. Special Issues for Comment

    OSHA has a particular interest in comments on the following issues:
    [sbull] Whether the information collection requirements are 
necessary for the proper performance of the Agency's functions, 
including whether the information is useful;
    [sbull] 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;
    [sbull] The quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
collected; and
    [sbull] Ways to minimize the burden on employers who must comply; 
for example, by using automated or other technological information 
collection and transmission techniques.

IV. Proposed Actions

    OSHA is proposing to extend the information collection requirements 
in the Exposure to Noise Standard (29 CFR 1910.95).
    The information collection requirements specified in the Noise 
Standard protect employees from suffering material hearing impairment. 
The information collection requirements of the Noise Standard include 
conducting noise monitoring; notifying employees when they are exposed 
at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels; providing 
employees with initial and annual audiograms; notifying employees of a 
loss in hearing based on comparing audiograms; training employees on 
the effects of noise exposure and employee audiometric examinations, 
maintaining records of workplace noise exposure and employee 
audiograms; and allowing employees, OSHA and NIOSH access to materials 
and records required by the Standard.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved information 
collection requirements.
    Title: Noise Standard (29 CFR 1910.95).
    OMB Number: 1218-0048.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Federal government; 
State, Local or Tribal government.
    Number of Respondents: 379,512.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Total Responses: 26,240,305.
    Average Time per Response: Varies from 2 minutes to notify 
employees when noise exposure exceeds the 8-hour time-weighted average 
of 85 decibels to 1 hour for employees in small establishments to take 
audiometric examinations.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 5,175,645.
    Estimated Cost (Operation and Maintenance): $98,814,861.

V. Authority and Signature

    John L. Henshaw, 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. 5-2002 (67 FR 65008).

    Signed at Washington, DC, on December 31, 2003.
John L. Henshaw,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.
[FR Doc. 04-360 Filed 1-7-04; 8:45 am]
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