97-26391. Voluntary Protection Program

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 193 (Monday, October 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52153-52154]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26391]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. ICR 97-18]


Voluntary Protection Program

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice, proposed information collection request; submitted for 
public comment and recommendations.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burdens, is conducting a preclearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and 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 instrument are 
clearly understood, and impact of collection requirements on 
respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Occupational 
Safety and Health Administration is soliciting comments concerning the 
approval for the paperwork requirements for participation in the 
Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before December 5, 
1997.
    Comments should:
    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 their 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 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.

ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket 
ICR-97-18. U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution 
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210, [phone]. Written comments 
limited to 10 pages or less may be transmitted by facsimile to (202) 
219-5046.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Cathy Oliver, Directorate of 
Federal-State Operations, Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N3700, 200 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, [phone]. Copies of the 
referenced information collection requests are available for inspection 
and copying in the Docket Office and will be mailed immediately to 
persons who request copies by telephoning Ms. Oliver at [phone] 
or B. Bielaski at [phone]. For electronic copies of the 
information collection request on Voluntary Protection Programs, 
contact

[[Page 52154]]

the Labor News Bulletin Board [phone]; or OSHA's Web Page on 
Internet at http://www.osha.gov/ and click on Standards.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will be 
requesting approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
certain information collection requirements contained in the Voluntary 
Protection Programs requirements. This notice initiates the process for 
OSHA to request an OMB approval.
    As part of OMB's and OSHA's continuing paperwork reduction effort, 
OSHA seeks to reduce that paperwork burden hours in the Voluntary 
Protection Program based on input from parties interested in the 
regulatory scope of that regulation. The purpose of this notice is to 
solicit public comment on OSHA's paperwork burden estimates from those 
interested parties and to seek public response to several questions 
related to the development of OSHA's estimates. Interested parties are 
requested to review OSHA's estimates, which are based on information 
from historical program data, to comment on their accuracy or 
appropriateness in today's workplace situation. OSHA bases its existing 
estimates upon information from participants of the Voluntary 
Protection Programs and is interested in learning whether they are 
outdated.

Current Action

    This notice requests a PRA approval from OMB for the paperwork 
required for participation in the Voluntary Protection Programs. In 
order to determine if an applicant worksite meets VPP requirements, 
i.e., has a safety and health program that provides effective worker 
safety and health protection, OSHA must receive an application that 
describes the program in detail.
    Applications: 18,000 hours per year.
    Type of Review: New Approval.
    Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. 
Department of Labor.
    Title: Voluntary Protection Programs.
    OMB Number: No number assigned.
    Agency Number: Docket No. ICR-97-18.
    Frequency: On Occasion.
    Affected Public: Business.
    Number of Respondents: 90-100 per year.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: 200 hours.
    Total Burden Hours: 18,000.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a 
matter of public record.

    Signed this 22nd day of August, 1997.
Paula O. White,
Director, Directorate of Federal-State Operations.
[FR Doc. 97-26391 Filed 10-3-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-M