80 FR 13896 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Occupational Safety and Health Act Variance Regulations

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of the Secretary

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 51 (March 17, 2015)

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) revision titled, ``Occupational Safety and Health Act Variance Regulations,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 51 (Tuesday, March 17, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13896-13897]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06045]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


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

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) revision titled, ``Occupational Safety and 
Health Act Variance Regulations,'' to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval for use in accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Public 
comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES: The OMB will consider all written comments that agency receives 
on or before April 16, 2015.

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=201501-1218-003 (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, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are 
not toll-free numbers) or sending an email to [email protected].
    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: 202-395-5806 (this is not a toll-free 
number); or by email: [email protected]. 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: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Michel Smyth by telephone at 
202-693-4129, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are not toll-free numbers) or 
sending an email to [email protected].

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This ICR seeks approval under the PRA for 
revisions to the Occupational Safety and Health Act (Osh Act) Variance 
Regulations information collection. The OSH Act allows a covered 
employer to apply for four (4) different types of variances from the 
requirements of OSH Act standards. An employer submits a variance 
application that specifies an alternative means of complying with the 
requirements of applicable standards to the Agency. The OSHA has 
developed an information collection for four different optional-use 
forms (Forms OSHA-5-30-1, OSHA-5-30-2, OSHA-5-30-3, and OSHA-5-30-4) 
that employers might use as templates in applying for variances. While 
use of the forms is optional, employers are required to submit an 
application that includes all elements specified in regulations 29 CFR 
part 1905 in order to receive consideration for a variance. This 
information collection has been classified as a revision, because the 
OSHA is including Web-based variance application forms in this 
submission. OSH Act sections 2(b)(9), 6, 8(c), and 16 authorize this 
information collection. See 29 U.S.C. 651(b)(9), 655, 657(c), and 665.
    This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency 
generally

[[Page 13897]]

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 1218-0265. The current approval is scheduled to expire on March 
31, 2015; however, the DOL notes that existing information collection 
requirements submitted to the OMB receive a month-to-month extension 
while they undergo review. New requirements would only take effect upon 
OMB approval. For additional substantive information about this ICR, 
see the related notice published in the Federal Register on August 20, 
2014 (79 FR 49342).
    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 thirty (30) days of publication of this 
notice in the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate 
consideration, comments should mention OMB Control Number 1218-0265. 
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 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: 12.
    Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 366 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

    Dated: March 11, 2015.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-06045 Filed 3-16-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-26-P