Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Blasting and the Use of Explosives

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, “Blasting and the Use of Explosives,” 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), 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 September 25, 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=201508-1218-001 (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 DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov.

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: OIRA_submission@omb.eop.gov. 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: DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov.

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 DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This ICR seeks to extend PRA authority for the Blasting and the Use of Explosives Standard information collection requirements codified in regulations 29 CFR 1926, subpart U. The Standard specifies the following information collection requirements for an Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) covered employer subject to the Standard: (1) Maintain an inventory and use record of all explosives, in use and not in use; (2) notify appropriate authorities in the event of any loss, theft, or unauthorized entry into a magazine; (3) display adequate signs warning against the use of mobile radio transmitters on all roads within 1,000 feet of blasting operations; (4) certify and maintain a record of alternative provisions made adequately to prevent any premature firing of electric blasting caps; (5) notify operators and/or owners of overhead power lines, communication lines, utility lines, or other services and structures when blasting operations will take place in proximity to those lines, services, or structures; (5) notify the hoist operator prior to transporting explosives or blasting agents in a shaft conveyance; (6) perform a weekly electrical system inspection on any truck used to transport explosives underground and maintain the most recent inspection certification that includes the inspection date, a serial number or other identifier of the truck inspected, and the signature of the person who performed the inspection; (7) post a code of blasting agents at one or more conspicuous places at the operation; and (8) place danger signs warning of blasting agents at suitable locations. A blaster must also (1) maintain an accurate and up-to-date record of explosives, blasting agents, and blasting supplies used in a blast and (2) maintain an accurate running inventory of all explosives and blasting agents stored on the operation. OSH Act sections 2(b)(9), (6), and 8(c) authorize this information collection. See 29 U.S.C. 651(b)(9), 655, and 657(c).

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 1218-0217.

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 August 31, 2015. 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 June 11, 2015 (80 FR 33295).

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 1218-0217. 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: Blasting and the Use of Explosives.

OMB Control Number: 1218-0217.

Affected Public: Private Sector—businesses or other for profits.

Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 201.

Total Estimated Number of Responses: 818.

Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 1,666 hours.

Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.