[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 10 (Thursday, January 16, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 4804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-00861]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Occupational Safety and Health Act Variance 
Regulations

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Occupational 
Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)-sponsored information collection 
request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review 
and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES: The OMB will consider all written comments that the agency 
receives on or before February 18, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicole Bouchet by telephone at 202-
693-0213, or by email at DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under several provisions of the OSH Act, 
employers may apply for four different types of variances from the 
requirements of OSHA standards. Employers submit variance applications 
voluntarily to OSHA, and the applications specify alternative means of 
complying with the requirements of OSHA standards. The four types of 
variances are: temporary variances (section 6(b)(6)(A) of the OSH Act; 
29 U.S.C. 655); experimental variances (section 6(b)(6)(C) of the OSH 
Act; 29 U.S.C. 655); permanent variances (section 6(d) of the Act; 29 
U.S.C. 655); and national-defense variances (section 16 of the OSH Act; 
29 U.S.C. 665). OSHA codified these statutory provisions under 29 CFR 
part 1905 (``Rules of Practice for Variances, Limitations, Variations, 
Tolerances, and Exemptions under the William-Steiger Occupational 
Safety and Health Act of 1970''). For additional substantive 
information about this ICR, see the related notice published in the 
Federal Register on September 16, 2024 (89 FR 75587).
    Comments are invited on: (1) whether the collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the 
Department, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden and 
cost 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 collection; and (4) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    This information collection is 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 the OMB approves it 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 
OMB Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.
    DOL seeks PRA authorization for this information collection for 
three (3) years. OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than 
three (3) years without renewal. The DOL notes that information 
collection requirements submitted to the OMB for existing ICRs receive 
a month-to-month extension while they undergo review.
    Agency: DOL-OSHA.
    Title of Collection: Occupational Safety and Health Act Variance 
Regulations.
    OMB Control Number: 1218-0265.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--Businesses or other for-profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 12.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 48.
    Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 366 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D))

Nicole Bouchet,
Senior Paperwork Reduction Act Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2025-00861 Filed 1-15-25; 8:45 am]
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