[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 136 (Friday, July 16, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42781-42782]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16187]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. ICR-1218-0208 (2004)]


Standard on the Storage and Handling of Anhydrous Ammonia; 
Extension of the Office of Management and Budget's 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 public comments concerning its request for an 
extension of the information-collection requirements contained in its 
Standard on the Storage and Handling of Anhydrous Ammonia (29 CFR 
1910.111 (the ``Standard'')). Paragraphs (b)(3) and (b)(4) of the 
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.

DATES: Comments must be submitted by the following dates:
    Hard Copy: Your comments must be submitted (postmarked or received) 
by September 14, 2004.
    Facsimile and electronic transmissions: Your comments must be 
received by September 14, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

I. Submission of Comments

    Regular mail, express delivery, hand-delivery, and messenger 
service: Submit your written comments and attachments to the OSHA 
Docket Office, Docket No. ICR-1218-0208(2004), U.S. Department of 
Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Ave, NW., Washington, DC 20210; 
OSHA Docket Office and Department of Labor hours of operation are 8:15 
a.m. to 4:45 p.m., e.s.t.
    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 1218-0208(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 is

[[Page 42782]]

available for downloading from OSHA's Web site at http://www.osha.gov. 
The supporting statement is available for inspection and copying in the 
OSHA Docket Office, at the address listed above. A printed copy of the 
supporting statement can be obtained by contacting Theda Kenney at 
(202) 693-2222.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Theda Kenney, 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 that 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, hand 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 minimized, collection instruments 
are understandable, 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).
    Paragraph (b)(3) of the Standard specifies that systems have 
nameplates if required, and that these nameplates ``be permanently 
attached to the system (as specified by paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(j)) 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) of the Standard specifies that refrigerated containers 
be marked with a nameplate on the outer covering in an accessible place 
which provides information regarding eight specific characteristics of 
the container.
    The required markings 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.

III. 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.

IV. Proposed Actions

    OSHA is proposing 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 Standard on the Storage and Handling of 
Anhydrous Ammonia. In this regard, the Agency is proposing to decrease 
the current burden-hour estimate from 2,500 hours to 345 hours, for a 
total adjustment decrease of 2,155 burden 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.
    Title: Storage and Handling of Anhydrous Ammonia (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: 2,030.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Average Time per Response: 10 minutes (.17 hours).
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 345 hours.
    Estimated Cost (Operation and Maintenance): $0.

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 July 12th, 2004.
John L. Henshaw,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.
[FR Doc. 04-16187 Filed 7-15-04; 8:45 am]
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