2010-18984. Submission for OMB Review: Comment Request

July 28, 2010.

The Department of Labor (DOL) hereby announces the submission of the following public 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 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35). A copy of the ICR, with applicable supporting documentation; including, among other things, a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained from the RegInfo.gov Web site at http://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain or by contacting Linda Watts Thomas on 202-693-2443 (this is not a toll-free number)/e-mail: [e-mail].

Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for the Department of Labor—Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Telephone: [phone]/Fax: [phone] (these are not toll-free numbers), E-mail: [e-mail] within 30 days from the date of this publication in the Federal Register. In order to ensure the appropriate consideration, comments should reference the OMB Control Number (see below).

The OMB is particularly interested in comments which:

• Evaluate whether the proposed information collection requirements are necessary for the proper performance 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 collections 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: Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Type of Review: Extension without change of a previously approved collection.

Title of Collection: Occupational Exposure to Noise (29 CFR 1910.95).

OMB Control Number: 1218-0048.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profits.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 254,475.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,604,597.

Estimated Total Annual Costs Burden (excludes hourly wage costs): $82,190,075.

Description: The information collection requirements specified in the Occupational Exposure to Noise Standard protect workers from suffering material hearing impairment. The information collection requirements of the Standard include conducting noise monitoring; notifying workers when they are exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels; providing workers with initial and annual audiograms; notifying workers of a loss in hearing based on comparing audiograms; training workers on the effects of noise, hearing protectors, and audiometric examinations; maintaining records of workplace noise exposure and workers' audiograms; and allowing workers, OSHA, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) access to materials and records required by the Standard. For additional information, see the related 60-day preclearance notice published in the Federal Register on May 5, 2010, (75 FR 24740).

Dated: July 28, 2010.

Linda Watts Thomas,

Acting Departmental Clearance Officer.