[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 248 (Thursday, December 26, 2013)][Notices][Pages 78385-78386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30701]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of the Secretary
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB
Review; Comment Request; Occupational Noise Exposure Standard
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sponsored information
collection request (ICR) titled, "Occupational Noise Exposure
Standard," 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.
DATES: Submit comments on or before January 27, 2014.
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=201311-1218-009
(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 (this is not a toll-free
number) or sending an email to DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov.
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: 202-395-6881 (this is not a toll-free
number); or by email: OIRA_submission@omb.eop.gov. 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: DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-
4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ICR seeks to maintain PRA authority for
the information collection requirements specified in regulations 29 CFR
1910.95, the Occupational Noise Exposure Standard, that require a
covered employer to monitor worker exposure to noise when it is likely
such exposures may equal or exceed 85 decibels measured on the A scale
(dBA) on an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) (action level); to take
action to reduce noise exposures to the 90 dBA permissible exposure
limit; and to provide an effective hearing conservation program (HCP)
for all workers exposed to noise at a level greater than, or equal to,
a TWA of 85 dBA. The HCP contains annual audiometric testing for
workers; a provision for providing hearing protection devices to
exposed workers; education and training of exposed workers; and
maintenance of records pertaining to noise exposure-monitoring and
audiometric testing. The Occupational Safety and Health Act authorizes
the information collection provisions. See 29 U.S.C. 651, 655m and 657.
The Occupational Noise Exposure Standard information collection
requirements are 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 1218-0048.
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 December 31, 2013. 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 July 30, 2013 (78 FR
45981).
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 30 days of publication of this notice in
the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate
consideration, comments should mention OMB Control Number 1218-0048.
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: Occupational Noise Exposure Standard.
OMB Control Number: 1218-0048.
Affected Public: Private Sector--business or other for-profits.
Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 209,851.
Total Estimated Number of Responses: 13,754,182.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 2,068,736.
Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $26,296,876.
Dated: December 18, 2013.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-30701 Filed 12-24-13; 8:45 am]
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