[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 129 (Friday, July 7, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43270-43271]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-14334]


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CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARD


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, 
and Approvals: Reactive Hazard Study Survey of Industry Practices

AGENCY: United States Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board 
(CSB).

ACTION: 60-Day notice of submission of information collection request 
(ICR) approval and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The proposed information collection request (ICR) described 
below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The 
Chemical Safety Board (CSB) is soliciting public comments on this 
proposed collection approval.

DATES: Comments should be sent no later than September 5, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Requests for information, including copies of the 
information collection proposed and supporting documentation should be 
directed to: Tamara Qureshi, Assistant General Counsel, U.S. Chemical 
Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, 1750 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 
910, Washington, DC 20006 or at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: CSB Reactive Hazard Study Survey of Industry Practices.
    Type of Request: Approval.
    Abstract: The enabling statute of the Chemical Safety and Hazard 
Investigation Board (CSB) provides that the CSB is ``authorized to 
conduct research and studies with respect to the potential for 
accidental releases, whether or not an accidental release has occurred, 
where there is evidence which indicates the presence of a potential 
hazard or hazards.'' 42 U.S.C. 7412(r)(6)(F).
    In August 2000, the CSB initiated a review of reactive hazards 
nationwide. The purpose of the investigation was to develop 
recommendations to reduce the number and severity of such incidents. 
The CSB published Hazard Investigation: Improving Reactive Hazard 
Management on September 17, 2002. The CSB issued a total of 24 
recommendations to 15 organizations. Only two recommendations remain.
    This information collection request will assist the CSB in updating 
its 2002 study, ``Hazard Investigation: Improving Reactive Hazard 
Management.'' On behalf of the CSB, the Federal Research Division (FRD) 
within the Library of Congress is conducting the study to reflect the 
current research, data, and company safety policies concerning reactive 
chemical incidents.
    For this study, FRD on behalf of CSB will collect survey data from 
15 randomly selected small, medium, and large companies that use 
reactive chemicals. FRD will also conduct interviews with nine 
stakeholders, who may include industry representatives, regulatory 
agencies, professional safety organizations, trade associations, trade 
unions, and/or public advocacy groups.
    Type of Respondents: All the respondents will be private sector 
businesses that use reactive chemicals that voluntarily submit to 
interviews or the survey.
    Estimate Annual Number of Respondents: 24.
    Frequency of Use: Once. This survey is part of a study.
    Small Businesses or Organizations Affected: No. Although the CSB is 
contacting small businesses, this survey is voluntary. Additionally, 
the CSB anticipates a total of 15 companies will respond.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 24.
    Estimated Average Burden Hours per Response: 3 hours. The survey 
should take a representative from each of the companies randomly 
selected two to four hours to complete. The estimated financial burden 
for one process safety manager to take this survey is $144.45. For 15 
surveys, the total cost of process safety managers' time is estimated 
to be $2,166.75.\1\ The interviews will take no longer than 90 minutes 
each. The estimated financial burden for one chemist to engage in an 
interview is $64.28. For nine interviews, the total cost of chemists' 
time is estimated to be $578.48.\2\ The combined total cost of this 
data collection on the American public is estimated to be $2,745.23.
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    \1\ A 3-hour time burden for a process safety manager (which is 
a reasonable if not expected interviewee for a surveyed company) 
multiplied by the number of surveys; an average Process Safety 
Manager makes $100,154 as of September 15, 2022, which in terms of 
hourly compensation is $48.15. $48.15 hourly pay * 3 hours to 
complete * 15 surveys = $2,166.75. See ``Process Safety Manager 
Salaries,'' Glassdoor, Updated September 15, 2022, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/process-safety-manager-salary-SRCH_KO0,22.htm.
    \2\ A 90-minute time burden for a chemist (which is a reasonable 
representative for these stakeholders) multiplied by the number of 
planned interviews; a chemist's average salary is $89,130 as of May 
2021, which is $42.85 per hour. $42.85 hourly pay * 1.5 hours to 
complete * 9 interviews = $578.48. See ``Occupational Employment and 
Wage Statistics, May 2021, 19-2031 Chemists,'' Bureau of Labor 
Statistics, March 31, 2022, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes192031.htm.
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 45 hours.
    Need for and Use of Information: This research is vital because 
safely conducting chemical reactions is essential for the chemical 
manufacturing industry. Chemical reactive hazards can rapidly release 
large quantities of heat, energy, and gaseous byproducts. Uncontrolled 
reactions have led to serious explosions, fires, and toxic emissions. 
The impacts may be severe in terms of death and injury to people, 
damage to physical property, and effects on the environment and 
surrounding communities. Since the publication of the 2002 report, 
incidents caused by uncontrolled chemical reactions have persisted. 
This fact suggests the need to continue to evaluate existing standards 
and improve the management of reactive hazards in response to changes 
within the chemical manufacturing industry over the past two decades.
    Researchers will use quantitative and qualitative mixed methods to 
analyze the collected industry information. The analysis will identify 
trends and present insights which will enhance the CSB's capacity to 
respond to future reactive chemical incidents and to inform industry 
stakeholders of the best practices in process safety protocols.
    Comment is Invited: Comment is invited on: (1) Whether this 
collection of information is necessary for the stated purposes and the 
proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether 
the information will have practical or scientific utility; (2) the 
accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the

[[Page 43271]]

burden of the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology. To view the draft protocol, please see: https://www.csb.gov/assets/1/6/csb_frd_reactivessurvey_draft_(002).pdf.
    All comments received in response to this notice, including names 
and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public record. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the submission request 
toward Office of Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: June 30, 2023.
Tamara Qureshi,
Assistant General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2023-14334 Filed 7-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6350-01-P