DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. ICR-98-37]

Longshoring and Marine Terminals (29 CFR Parts 1910, 1917 and 1918); Information Collection Requirements

ACTION: Notice; opportunity for public comment.

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 (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 instruments are clearly understood, and impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed reinstatement of the information collection requirements contained in the standard on Longshoring and Marine Terminals (29 CFR parts 1917 and 1918). The Agency 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 submissions of responses.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 19, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket No. ICR-98-37, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 693-2350. Written comments limited to 10 pages or less in length may also be transmitted by facsimile to (202) 693-1644.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Theda Kenney, Directorate of Safety Standards Programs, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Room N-3605, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210, telephone: (202) 693-2222. A copy of the referenced information collection request is available for inspection and copying in the Docket Office and will be mailed to persons who request copies by telephoning Theda Kenney at (202) 693-2222 or Barbara Bielaski at (202) 693-2400. For electronic copies of the information Collection Request on the Longshoring and Marine Terminals Standard, contact OSHA's WebPage on the Internet at http://www.osha.gov and click on "Regulations and Compliance.".

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (the Act) authorizes the promulgation of such health and safety standards as are necessary or appropriate to provide safe or healthful employment and places of employment. The statute specifically authorizes information collection by employers as necessary or appropriate for the enforcement of the Act or for developing information regarding the causes and prevention of occupational injuries, illnesses, and accidents.

The Longshoring and Marine Terminals regulations contain requirements related to the testing, certification and marking of specific types of cargo lifting appliances and associated cargo handling gear and other cargo handling equipment such as conveyors and industrial trucks. The collections of information required from employers by OSHA are necessary to reduce employee injuries and fatalities associated with cargo lifting gear, transfer of vehicular cargo, manual cargo handling, and exposure to hazardous atmospheres.

The Agency published the Final Rule on Longshoring and Marine Terminals in the Federal Register on July 25, 1997 (62 FR 40142, Docket No. S-025). In conjunction with the final rule, and as required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), OSHA solicited public comment (Docket No. ICR-97-3) on the paperwork burden estimates contained in the information collection requirements in the final rule. OSHA received no comments on these burden estimates.

However, upon a more comprehensive review and analysis of the Longshoring and Marine Terminals Standard, the Agency identified a number of additional requirements which met the definition of a collection of information and which imposes a burden on employers to generate, maintain and/or disclose information. In order to provide an opportunity for the public to participate with OSHA in identifying methods to reduce the burden on employers, OSHA is conducting a second preclearance process and is seeking comments from the public on all the information collection requirements contained in parts 1917 and 1918 (Marine Terminals and Longshoring).

Type of Review: Reinstatement, with change, of a previously approved collection for which approval has expired.

Agency: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Title: Longshoring and Marine Terminals (29 CFR parts 1917 and 1918).

OMB Number: 1218-0196.

Agency Number: Docket Number ICR-98-37.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; Federal Government; State, local or tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 746.

Frequency: Varies (Initially, On Occasion, Monthly, Weekly, Annually).

Average Time Per Response: Varies from 2 minutes (.03 hr.) to 8 hours.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 23,161.

Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: $0.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the information collection request. The comments will become a matter of public record.

Signed at Washington, DC, this 15th day of December 1998.

Charles N. Jeffress,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.

[FR Doc. 98-33745 Filed 12-18-98; 8:45 am]

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