[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 226 (Friday, November 25, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71174-71175]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-23292]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. ICR 1218-0217(2006)]


Blasting and the Use of Explosives; 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 public comment.

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SUMMARY: OSHA solicits public comment concerning its request for an 
extension of the information collection requirements contained in 29 
CFR part 1926, subpart U--Blasting and the Use of Explosives as well as 
several newly-identified information collection requirements contained 
in this subpart.

DATES: Comments must be submitted by the following dates:
    Hard copy: Your comments must be submitted (postmarked or received) 
by January 24, 2006.
    Facsimile and electronic transmission: Your comments must be 
received by January 24, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by OSHA Docket No. ICR-
1218-0127(2006), by any of the following methods:
    Regular method, express delivery, hand delivery, and messenger 
service: Submit your comments and attachments to the OSHA Docket 
Office, Room N-2625, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, 
NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone (202) 693-2350 (OSHA's TTY number 
is (877) 889-5627). OSHA Docket Office and Department of Labor hours 
are 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., e.t.
    Facsimile: If your comments are 10 pages or fewer in length, 
including attachments, you may fax them to the OSHA Docket Office at 
(202) 693-1648.
    Electronic: You may submit comments through the Internet at http://ecomments.osha.gov. Follow instructions on the OSHA Web page for 
submitting comments.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read or download comments or 
background materials, such as the complete Information Collection 
Request (ICR) (containing the Supporting Statement, OMB-83-I Form, and 
attachments), go to OSHA's Web page at http://www.OSHA.gov. In 
addition, the ICR, comments and submissions are available for 
inspection and copying at the OSHA Docket Office at the address above. 
You may also contact Michael Buchet at the address below to obtain a 
copy of the ICR. For additional information on submitting comments, 
please see the ``Public Participation'' heading in the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Buchet, Directorate of 
Construction, OSHA, Room N-3468, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20210, telephone: (202) 693-2020.

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 accurate. The Occupational Safety and Health Act 
of 1970 (the Act) (29 U.S.C. 651 et seq.) 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 following is a brief description of the requirements in subpart 
U that pertain to the collection and retention of information:

General Provisions (Sec.  1926.900)

    Section 1926.900(d)--Paragraph (d) states that employers must 
ensure that explosives not in use are kept in a locked magazine, 
unavailable to persons not authorized to handle the explosives. The 
employers must maintain an inventory and use records of all explosives; 
in use and not in use. In addition, the employer must notify the 
appropriate authorities in the event of loss, theft, or unauthorized 
entry into a magazine.
    Section 1926.900(k)(3)(i)--Paragraph (k)(3)(i) requires employers 
to display adequate signs warning against the use of mobile radio 
transmitters on all roads within 1,000 feet of blasting operations to 
prevent the accidental discharge of electric blasting caps caused by 
current induced by radar, radio transmitters, lightning, adjacent 
powerlines, dust

[[Page 71175]]

storms, or other sources of extraneous electricity. The employer must 
certify and maintain a record of alternative provisions made to 
adequately prevent any premature firing of electric firing of electric 
blasting caps.
    Section 1926.900(o)--Employers must notify the operators and/or 
owners of overhead power lines, communication lines, utility lines, or 
other services and structures when blasting operations will take place 
in proximity to those lines, services, or structures.
    Section 1926.903(d)--The employer must notify the hoist operator 
prior to transporting explosives or blasting agents in a shaft 
conveyance.
    Section 1926.903(e)--Employers must perform weekly inspections on 
the electrical system of trucks used for underground transportation of 
explosives. The weekly inspection is to detect any failure in the 
system which would constitute an electrical hazard. The most recent 
certification of inspection must be maintained and must include the 
date of inspection, a serial number or other identifier of the truck 
inspected, and the signature of the person performing the inspection.
    Section 1926.905(t)--Under Sec.  1926.905(t), the employer blaster 
must maintain an accurate and up-to-date record of explosives, blasting 
agents, and blasting supplies used in a blast. In addition, the 
employer must also maintain a running inventory of all explosives and 
blasting agent stored on the operation.

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 is requesting the OMB extend the approval of the information 
collection requirements necessitated by 29 CFR part 1926, subpart U--
Blasting Operations and the Use of Explosives. The Agency will include 
this summary in its request to OMB to extend the approval of these 
information collection requirements.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved information 
collection requirements.
    Title: 29 CFR part 1926, subpart U--Blasting Operations and the Use 
of Explosives.
    OMB Number: 1218-0217.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profits; Not-for-profit 
organizations; Federal Government; State, local or tribal government.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Average Time Per Response: Time varies from five minutes to notify 
a hoist operator of blasting agents to eight hours to develop an 
alternative plan if an employer is unable to display adequate warning 
signs against the use of mobile transmitters during blasting 
operations.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 322,523.
    Estimated Cost (Operation and Maintenance): $800,000.

IV. Public Participation--Submission of Comments on this Notice and 
Internet Access to Comments and Submissions

    You may submit comments and supporting materials in response to 
this notice by (1) hard copy, (2) Fax transmission (facsimile), or (3) 
electronically through the OSHA Web page. 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 (TTY (877) 889-5627) for information about security procedures 
concerning the delivery of submissions by express delivery, hand 
delivery, and courier service.
    All comments, submissions, and background documents are available 
for inspection and copying at the OSHA Docket Office at the above 
address. Comments and submissions posted on OSHA's Web page are 
available at http://www.OSHA.gov. Contact the OSHA Docket Office for 
information about materials not available through the OSHA Web page and 
for assistance using the Web page to locate docket submissions.
    Electronic copies of this Federal Register notice as well as other 
relevant documents are available on OSHA's Web page. Since all 
submissions become public, private information such as social security 
numbers should not be submitted.

V. Authority and Signature

    Jonathan L. Snare, 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 et seq.), and Secretary of Labor's Order No. 5-
2002 (67 FR 65008).

    Signed at Washington, DC, on November 21, 2005.
Jonathan L. Snare,
Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor.
[FR Doc. 05-23292 Filed 11-23-05; 8:45 am]
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