[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 248 (Thursday, December 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78385-78386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30701]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Occupational Noise Exposure Standard

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Occupational 
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sponsored information 
collection request (ICR) titled, ``Occupational Noise Exposure 
Standard,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and 
approval for continued use, without change, in accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

DATES: Submit comments on or before January 27, 2014.

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 free of charge 
from the RegInfo.gov Web site at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201311-1218-009 (this link will only become active 
on the day following publication of this notice) or by contacting 
Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free 
number) or sending an email to [email protected].
    Submit comments about this request by mail or courier to the Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL-
OSHA, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20503; by Fax: 202-395-6881 (this is not a toll-free 
number); or by email: [email protected]. Commenters are 
encouraged, but not required, to send a courtesy copy of any comments 
by mail or courier to the U.S. Department of Labor-OASAM, Office of the 
Chief Information Officer, Attn: Departmental Information Compliance 
Management Program, Room N1301, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20210; or by email: [email protected].

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

    Authority:  44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ICR seeks to maintain PRA authority for 
the information collection requirements specified in regulations 29 CFR 
1910.95, the Occupational Noise Exposure Standard, that require a 
covered employer to monitor worker exposure to noise when it is likely 
such exposures may equal or exceed 85 decibels measured on the A scale 
(dBA) on an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) (action level); to take 
action to reduce noise exposures to the 90 dBA permissible exposure 
limit; and to provide an effective hearing conservation program (HCP) 
for all workers exposed to noise at a level greater than, or equal to, 
a TWA of 85 dBA. The HCP contains annual audiometric testing for 
workers; a provision for providing hearing protection devices to 
exposed workers; education and training of exposed workers; and 
maintenance of records pertaining to noise exposure-monitoring and 
audiometric testing. The Occupational Safety and Health Act authorizes 
the information collection provisions. See 29 U.S.C. 651, 655m and 657.
    The Occupational Noise Exposure Standard information collection 
requirements are subject to the PRA. A

[[Page 78386]]

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 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 that does not display a valid Control Number. See 5 CFR 
1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this information 
collection under Control Number 1218-0048.
    OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than three (3) 
years without renewal, and the current approval for this collection is 
scheduled to expire on December 31, 2013. The DOL seeks to extend PRA 
authorization for this information collection for three (3) more years, 
without any change to existing requirements. The DOL notes that 
existing information collection requirements submitted to the OMB 
receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review. For 
additional substantive information about this ICR, see the related 
notice published in the Federal Register on July 30, 2013 (78 FR 
45981).
    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 help ensure appropriate 
consideration, comments should mention OMB Control Number 1218-0048. 
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: DOL-OSHA.
    Title of Collection: Occupational Noise Exposure Standard.
    OMB Control Number: 1218-0048.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--business or other for-profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 209,851.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 13,754,182.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 2,068,736.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $26,296,876.

    Dated: December 18, 2013.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-30701 Filed 12-24-13; 8:45 am]
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