DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. ICR 98-6]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Cadmium in General Industry, Maritime, and Agriculture

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) (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 instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the information collection request for the standards for Cadmium in General Industry 29 CFR 1910.1027, Cadmium in the Maritime Industry 1915.1027, and Cadmium in the Agriculture Industry 1928.1027. A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the employee listed below in the addresses section of this notice. The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments which:

• 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 clarify 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 submissions of responses.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted by July 13, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket No. ICR 98-6, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210, telephone number (202) 219-7894. Written comments limited to 10 pages or less in length may also be transmitted by facsimile to (202) 219-5046.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adrian Corsey, Directorate of Health Standards Programs, Occuptional Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor, Room N3718, telephone (202) 219-7075. A copy of the referenced information collection request is available for inspection and copying in the Docket Office and will be mailed immediately to persons who request copies by telephoning Adrian Corsey at (202) 219-7075 extension 105 or Barbara Bielaski at (202) 219-8076 extension 142. For electronic copies of the Information Collection Request on Cadmium, contact OSHA's WebPage on the Internet at http://www.osha.gov/ and click on "Information Collection Requests."

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Cadmium standard and its information collection requirements provide protection for employees from the adverse health effects associated with occupational exposure to cadmium. The standard requires that employers establish a compliance program, including exposure monitoring and medical records. These records are used by employees, physicians, employers and OSHA to determine the effectiveness of the employers' compliance efforts. Also the standard requires that OSHA have access to various records to ensure that employers are complying with the disclosure provisions.

Type of Review: Extension.

Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Title: Cadmium in General Industry (29 CFR 1910.1027), Cadmium in the Maritime Industry (1915.1027), and Cadmium in the Agriculture Industry (1928.1027).

OMB Control Number: 1218-0185.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profits, Federal government, State and Local governments.

Total Respondents: 54,544.

Frequency: On occasion.

Total Responses: 359,968.

Average Time per Response: Ranges from 5 minutes to maintain records to 1.5 hours for an employee to have a medical exam.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 129,894.

Total Annualized capital/startup costs: -0-.

Total initial annual costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing services): $19,068,500.

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. The comments will become a matter of public record.

Signed at Washington, DC, this 30th day of April, 1998.

Charles N. Jeffress,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.

[FR Doc. 98-12568 Filed 5-11-98; 8:45 am]

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