[Federal Register: August 1, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 146)][Proposed Rules] [Page 44074-44075]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01au05-13]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
29 CFR Part 1910
[Docket No. H-016]
RIN 1218-AC11
Occupational Exposure to Ionizing Radiation
AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA),
Department of Labor.
ACTION: Request for information; extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is
extending the deadline for commenting on the Request for Information
(RFI) on Ionizing Radiation for 120 days, from August 1 to November 28,
2005. OSHA is extending the comment deadline to give stakeholders
adequate time to comment on the Biological Effects of Ionizing
Radiation (BEIR) VII report on health risks for exposure to low levels
of ionizing radiation, which was not issued until June 29, 2005.
DATES: Comments must be submitted by the following dates:
Hard copy: Your comments must be submitted (postmarked or sent) by
November 28, 2005.
Facsimile and electronic transmission: Your comments must be sent
by November 28, 2005.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by OSHA Docket No. H-
016, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions below for submitting comments.
Agency Web site: http://ecomments.osha.gov. Follow the instructions
on the OSHA Web page for submitting comments.
Fax: If your comments, including any attachments, are 10 pages or
fewer, you may fax them to the OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-1648.
Mail, express delivery, hand delivery and courier service: You must
submit three copies of your comments and attachments to the OSHA Docket
Office, Docket H-016, Room N-2625, U.S. Department of Labor, 200
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone (202) 693-
2350 (OSHA's TTY number is (877) 889-5627). OSHA Docket Office and
Department of Labor hours of operations are 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.,
e.s.t. Because of security-related problems, there may be a significant
delay in the receipt of comments by regular mail. Please contact the
OSHA Docket Office at the address above for information about security
procedures concerning the delivery of materials by express delivery,
hand delivery and courier service.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the Agency name
and docket number (H-016). All comments received will be posted without
change on OSHA's Web page at http://www.osha.gov, including any
personal information provided. OSHA cautions you about submitting
personal information such as social security numbers and birth dates.
Contact the OSHA Docket Office for information about materials not
available through the OSHA Web page and for assistance in using the Web
page to locate docket submissions.
All comments and submissions are available for inspection and
copying at the OSHA Docket Office at the above address. Comments and
submissions as well as electronic copies of this Federal Register
notice, news releases and other relevant documents, are also available
on OSHA's Web page.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Press inquiries: Kevin Ropp, OSHA
Office of Communications, Room N-3647, U.S. Department of Labor, 200
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-
1999.
General and technical information: Dorothy Dougherty, Acting
Director, OSHA Directorate of Standards and Guidance, Room N-3718, U.S.
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC
20210; telephone: (202) 693-1950.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OSHA published a notice on May 3, 2005,
requesting data, information and comments on issues related to the
increasing use of ionizing radiation in the workplace and potential
worker exposure to it (70 FR 22828). Specifically, OSHA requested data
and information about the sources and uses of ionizing radiation in
workplace today, current employee exposure levels, and adverse health
effects associated with ionizing radiation exposure. OSHA also
requested data and information about practices and programs employers
are using to control employee exposure, such as exposure assessment and
monitoring methods, control methods, employee training, and medical
surveillance. OSHA set a deadline of August 1, 2005, to submit
comments.
On June 29, 2005, the National Academies released its report titled
``BEIR VII: Health Risks from Exposure to Low Levels of Ionizing
Radiation.'' The BEIR VII report presents the most up-to-date and
comprehensive risk estimates for cancer and other health effects from
exposure low-level ionizing radiation. It is among the first reports of
its kind to include a detailed estimate for cancer incidence in
addition to cancer mortality. The BEIR VII committee reviewed
epidemiological studies concerning individuals who had been exposed to
ionizing radiation because of medical, occupational, or environmental
reasons, including studies of the atomic-bomb survivor cohort in
Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. A major task of the committee was to
develop an approach for estimating cancer risks from exposure to low
levels of low energy transfer ionizing radiation.
The work of past BEIR Committees has been significant in the
radiation standard-setting process. The Agency believes it is crucial
that stakeholders, in preparing their comments, have sufficient time to
fully review the information and issues on the health effects of
ionizing radiation presented in the BEIR VII report. Accordingly, to
facilitate this OSHA is extending the deadline for submitting comments
for an additional 120 days until November 28, 2005.
Authority and Signature
This document was prepared under the direction of Jonathan L.
Snare, Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and
Health, U.S. Department of Labor. It is issued pursuant to sections 4,
6, and 8 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 653,
655, 657), 29 CFR part 1911, and Secretary of Labor's Order 5-2002 (67 FR 65008).
Issued at Washington, DC, this 26 day of July 2005.
Jonathan L. Snare,
Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor.
[FR Doc. 05-15119 Filed 7-29-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-26-P
