[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 20 (Monday, January 31, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5403-5404]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-2048]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Office of the Secretary

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Regulations Containing Procedures for 
Handling of Retaliation Complaints

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) hereby announces the submission 
of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sponsored 
information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Regulations Containing 
Procedures for Handling of Retaliation Complaints,'' to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use, 
as revised, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35).

DATES: Submit comments on or before March 2, 2011.

ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR, with applicable supporting 
documentation; including a description of the likely respondents, 
proposed frequency of response, and estimated total burden may be 
obtained from the RegInfo.gov Web site, http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain or by contacting Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129 
(this is not a toll-free number) or sending an e-mail to [email protected].
    Submit comments about this request to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for the Department of Labor, 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Office of 
Management and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Telephone: 
202-395-6929/Fax: 202-395-6881 (these are not toll-free numbers), e-
mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-
4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The OSHA administers and enforces a number 
of so-called ``whistleblower'' protection provisions in various Federal 
laws and regulations. These whistleblower provisions prohibit 
retaliatory action by employers against employees who report alleged 
violations of those laws or regulations or otherwise engage in 
protected activities specified by the whistleblower provisions. An 
employee may file a complaint alleging the employer violated the 
protection

[[Page 5404]]

provisions with the OSHA for investigation.
    The complaint filing process is an information collection subject 
to the PRA. A Federal agency generally cannot conduct or sponsor a 
collection of information, and the public is generally not required to 
respond to an information collection, unless it is currently approved 
by the OMB under the PRA and displays a currently valid OMB Control 
Number. In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no 
person shall generally be subject to penalty for failing to comply with 
a collection of information if the collection of information does not 
display a currently valid OMB control number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 
1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this information collection 
under OMB Control Number 1218-0236. The current OMB approval is 
scheduled to expire on January 31, 2011; however, it should be noted 
that information collections submitted to the OMB receive a month-to-
month extension while they undergo review. For additional information, 
see the related notice published in the Federal Register on October 28, 
2010 (75 FR 66391).
    Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in 
the ADDRESSES section within 30 days of publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register. In order to ensure appropriate consideration, 
comments should reference OMB Control Number 1218-0236. The OMB is 
particularly interested in comments that:
     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.
    Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
    Title of Collection: Regulations Containing Procedures for Handling 
of Retaliation Complaints.
    OMB Control Number: 1218-0236.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,503.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 2,503.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 2,503.
    Total Estimated Annual Costs Burden: $0.

    Dated: January 26, 2011.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-2048 Filed 1-28-11; 8:45 am]
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