Under several provisions of the OSH
Act, employers may apply for four different types of variances from
the requirements of OSHA standards. Employers submit variance
applications voluntarily to OSHA, and the applications specify
alternative means of complying with the requirements of OSHA
standards. The four types of variances are: temporary variances
(Section 6(b)(6)(A) of the OSH Act; 29 U.S.C. 655); experimental
variances (Section 6(b)(6)(C) of the OSH Act; 29 U.S.C. 655);
permanent variances (Section 6(d) of the Act; 29 U.S.C. 655); and
national-defense variances (Section 16 of the OSH Act; 29 U.S.C.
665). OSHA codified these statutory provisions under 29 CFR part
1905 ("Rules of Practice for Variances, Limitations, Variations,
Tolerances, and Exemptions under the William-Steiger Occupational
Safety and Health Act of 1970").
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.