82 FR 9230 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Occupational Noise Exposure Standard

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of the Secretary

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 22 (February 3, 2017)

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). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 22 (Friday, February 3, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9230-9231]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-02317]


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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,

[[Page 9231]]

``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). 
Public comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES: The OMB will consider all written comments that agency receives 
on or before March 6, 2017.

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=201611-1218-002 (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 by email at [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: Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-
4129, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are not toll-free numbers) or by email 
at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This ICR seeks to extend PRA authority for 
the Occupational Noise Exposure Standard information collection 
requirements specified in regulations 29 CFR 1910.95 that require an 
Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) 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. OSH Act sections 
2(b), 6, and 8 authorize the information collection provisions. See 29 
U.S.C. 651(b), 655, and 657. See 29 U.S.C. 651(b), 29 U.S.C. 655 and 29 
U.S.C. 657.
    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 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 February 28, 2017. 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 October 4, 2016 (81 FR 
68457).
    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 1218-0048. 
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--businesses or other for-profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 216,055.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 15,356,111.
    Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 2,184,591 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $31,242,929.

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

     Dated: January 25, 2017.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-02317 Filed 2-2-17; 8:45 am]
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