DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. ICR 97-18]

Voluntary Protection Program

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice, proposed information collection request; submitted for public comment and recommendations.

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burdens, is conducting a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA 95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instrument are clearly understood, and impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is soliciting comments concerning the approval for the paperwork requirements for participation in the Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before December 5, 1997.

Comments should:

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 their 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 the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submissions of responses.

ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket ICR-97-18. U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210, (202)219-7894. Written comments limited to 10 pages or less may be transmitted by facsimile to (202)219-5046.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Cathy Oliver, Directorate of Federal-State Operations, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N3700, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, (202)219-7266. Copies of the referenced information collection requests are available for inspection and copying in the Docket Office and will be mailed immediately to persons who request copies by telephoning Ms. Oliver at (202) 219-7266 or B. Bielaski at (202) 219-7177. For electronic copies of the information collection request on Voluntary Protection Programs, contact the Labor News Bulletin Board (202)219-4784; or OSHA's Web Page on Internet at http://www.osha.gov/ and click on Standards.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will be requesting approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for certain information collection requirements contained in the Voluntary Protection Programs requirements. This notice initiates the process for OSHA to request an OMB approval.

As part of OMB's and OSHA's continuing paperwork reduction effort, OSHA seeks to reduce that paperwork burden hours in the Voluntary Protection Program based on input from parties interested in the regulatory scope of that regulation. The purpose of this notice is to solicit public comment on OSHA's paperwork burden estimates from those interested parties and to seek public response to several questions related to the development of OSHA's estimates. Interested parties are requested to review OSHA's estimates, which are based on information from historical program data, to comment on their accuracy or appropriateness in today's workplace situation. OSHA bases its existing estimates upon information from participants of the Voluntary Protection Programs and is interested in learning whether they are outdated.

Current Action

This notice requests a PRA approval from OMB for the paperwork required for participation in the Voluntary Protection Programs. In order to determine if an applicant worksite meets VPP requirements, i.e., has a safety and health program that provides effective worker safety and health protection, OSHA must receive an application that describes the program in detail.

Applications: 18,000 hours per year.

Type of Review: New Approval.

Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.

Title: Voluntary Protection Programs.

OMB Number: No number assigned.

Agency Number: Docket No. ICR-97-18.

Frequency: On Occasion.

Affected Public: Business.

Number of Respondents: 90-100 per year.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 200 hours.

Total Burden Hours: 18,000.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the information collection request; they will also become a matter of public record.

Signed this 22nd day of August, 1997.

Paula O. White,
Director, Directorate of Federal-State Operations.

[FR Doc. 97-26391 Filed 10-3-97; 8:45 am)