[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 165 (Wednesday, August 26, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51844-51845]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21115]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Blasting and the Use of Explosives

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Occupational 
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sponsored information 
collection request (ICR) titled, ``Blasting and the Use of 
Explosives,'' 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. Public 
comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES: The OMB will consider all written comments that agency receives 
on or before September 25, 2015.

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=201508-1218-001 (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, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are 
not toll-free numbers) or by email at [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: 202-395-5806 (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, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are not toll-free numbers) or by email 
at [email protected].

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


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This ICR seeks to extend PRA authority for 
the Blasting and the Use of Explosives Standard information collection 
requirements codified in regulations 29 CFR 1926, subpart U. The 
Standard specifies the following information collection requirements 
for an Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) covered employer 
subject to the Standard: (1) Maintain an inventory and use record of 
all explosives, in use and not in use; (2) notify appropriate 
authorities in the event of any loss, theft, or unauthorized entry into 
a magazine; (3) display adequate signs warning against the use of 
mobile radio transmitters on all roads within 1,000 feet of blasting 
operations; (4) certify and maintain a record of alternative provisions 
made adequately to prevent any premature firing of electric blasting 
caps; (5) notify 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

[[Page 51845]]

structures; (5) notify the hoist operator prior to transporting 
explosives or blasting agents in a shaft conveyance; (6) perform a 
weekly electrical system inspection on any truck used to transport 
explosives underground and maintain the most recent inspection 
certification that includes the inspection date, a serial number or 
other identifier of the truck inspected, and the signature of the 
person who performed the inspection; (7) post a code of blasting agents 
at one or more conspicuous places at the operation; and (8) place 
danger signs warning of blasting agents at suitable locations. A 
blaster must also (1) maintain an accurate and up-to-date record of 
explosives, blasting agents, and blasting supplies used in a blast and 
(2) maintain an accurate running inventory of all explosives and 
blasting agents stored on the operation. OSH Act sections 2(b)(9), (6), 
and 8(c) authorize this information collection. See 29 U.S.C. 
651(b)(9), 655, and 657(c).
    This information collection is 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 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 1218-0217.
    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 August 31, 2015. 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 June 11, 2015 (80 FR 
33295).
    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 thirty (30) days of publication of this 
notice in the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate 
consideration, comments should mention OMB Control Number 1218-0217. 
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: Blasting and the Use of Explosives.
    OMB Control Number: 1218-0217.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--businesses or other for profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 201.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 818.
    Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 1,666 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

     Dated: August 20, 2015.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-21115 Filed 8-25-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-26-P