On April 23, 2019, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published a Federal Register notice inviting comment on a proposed information collection project entitled “Survey of Engineered Nanomaterial Occupational Safety and Health Practices.”  The goal of the project is to assess the relevance and impact of NIOSH’s contribution to guidelines and risk mitigation practices for the safe handling of engineered nanomaterials in the workplace.  According to the notice, NIOSH is in the process of procuring a contractor to perform the work, and is on schedule to award a contract by summer 2019.  The notice states that research under this project will survey companies who manufacture, distribute, fabricate, formulate, use, or provide services related to engineered nanomaterials.  Under the project, the following activities and data collections will be conducted:

• Company Pre-calls. Sampled companies will be contacted to identify the person who will complete the survey and to ascertain whether or not the company handles engineered nanomaterials.
• Survey. A web-based questionnaire, with a mail option, will be administered to companies.  The purpose of the survey is to learn directly from companies about their use of NIOSH materials and their occupational safety and health practices concerning engineered nanomaterials.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is particularly interested in comments that will help:

1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of NIOSH, including whether the information will have practical utility;
2. Evaluate the accuracy of NIOSH’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;
4. 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 submissions of responses; and
5. Assess information collection costs.

Comments are due June 24, 2019.