[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 232 (Friday, December 2, 2016)][Proposed Rules]
[Pages 86987-86988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28924]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
29 CFR Parts 1904, 1910, 1915 and 1926
[Docket No. OSHA-2012-0007]
RIN 1218-AC67
Standards Improvement Project-Phase IV
AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of written comment
period.
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SUMMARY: On October 4, 2016, OSHA published a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM) titled "Standards Improvement Project-Phase IV."
The period for submitting comments is being extended 30 days to allow
parties affected by the rule more time to review the proposed rule and
collect information and data necessary for comments.
DATES: Comments must be submitted by January 4, 2017. All submissions
must bear a postmark or provide other evidence of the submission date.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments and additional material using any of the
following methods:
Electronic. Submit comments and attachments electronically via the
Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions online for making electronic submissions.
Facsimile. Commenters may fax submissions, including any
attachments that are no longer than 10 pages in length to the OSHA
Docket Office at (202) 693-1648; OSHA does not require hard copies of
these documents. Commenters must submit lengthy attachments that
supplement these documents (e.g., studies, journal articles) to the
OSHA Docket Office, Technical Data Center, Room N3653, U.S. Department
of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20210. These
attachments must clearly identify the commenter's name, date, subject,
and docket number (OSHA-2012-0007) so the Agency can attach them to the
appropriate comments.
Regular mail, express mail, hand (courier) delivery, or messenger
service. Submit a copy of comments and any additional material (e.g.,
studies, journal articles) to the OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. OSHA-
2012-0007, Technical Data Center, Room N3653, U.S. Department of Labor,
200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202)
693-2350 (TDY number: (877) 889-5627). Note that security procedures
may result in significant delays in receiving comments and other
written materials by regular mail. Contact the OSHA Docket Office for
information about security procedures concerning delivery of materials
by express mail, hand delivery, or messenger service. The hours of
operation for the OSHA Docket Office are 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., e.t.
Instructions. All submissions received must include the Agency name
and the docket number for this rulemaking (OSHA-2012-0007). OSHA places
all submissions, including any personal information provided, in the
public
docket without change; this information will be available online at
http://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, the Agency cautions commenters
about submitting information they do not want made available to the
public, or submitting comments that contain personal information
(either about themselves or others) such as Social Security numbers,
birth dates, and medical data.
OSHA requests comments on all issues related to this proposed rule,
including whether these revisions will have any economic, paperwork, or
other regulatory impacts on the regulated community.
Docket. To read or download submissions or other material in the
docket (including material referenced in the preamble), go to http://www.regulations.gov, or contact the OSHA Docket Office at the address
listed above. While the Agency lists all documents in the docket in the
http://www.regulations.gov index, some information (e.g., copyrighted
material) is not publicly available to read or download through this
Web site. All submissions, including copyrighted material, are
accessible at the OSHA Docket Office. Contact the OSHA Docket Office
for assistance in locating docket submissions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Press inquiries. Frank Meilinger, Director, OSHA Office of
Communications, Room N-3647, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-1999; email:
meilinger.francis2@dol.gov.
General and technical information. Blake Skogland, Office of
Construction Standards and Guidance, OSHA Directorate of Construction,
U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room N-3468,
Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-2020; fax: (202) 693-1689;
email: skogland.blake@dol.gov.
Copies of this Federal Register notice. Electronic copies are
available at http://www.regulations.gov. This Federal Register notice,
as well as news releases and other relevant information, also are
available at OSHA's Web page at http://www.osha.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Extension of the Comment Period
On October 4, 2016, at 81 FR 68504, OSHA published a Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) titled "Standards Improvement Project-Phase
IV." In this NPRM, OSHA continues its efforts to remove or revise
outdated, duplicative, unnecessary, and inconsistent requirements in
its safety and health standards by proposing 18 revisions to existing
standards in its recordkeeping, general industry, maritime, and
construction standards, with most of the revisions to its construction
standards. The NPRM provides an explanation of the rule and its
economic analysis, and solicits comments from the public regarding the
contents of the proposal. The period for submitting comments was to
expire on December 5, 2016. However, two stakeholders have requested an
extension of 45 days for submitting written comments and information.
Both stakeholders noted that the NPRM addresses 18 separate standards
that each require separate analysis of the proposed changes.
OSHA believes that a 30 day extension is sufficient to facilitate
the submission of thorough reviews and provide OSHA with a complete
record for this proposed rule so that OSHA has all the information
needed to develop a final rule. Accordingly, OSHA extends the comment
period by 30 days, and written comments must be submitted by January 4,
2017.
II. Submission of Comments and Access to the Docket
OSHA invites comments on the proposed revisions described, and the
specific issues raised, in the NPRM. These comments should include
supporting information and data. OSHA will carefully review and
evaluate these comments, information, and data, as well as any other
information in the rulemaking record, to determine how to proceed. When
submitting comments, parties must follow the procedures specified in
the previous sections titled DATES and ADDRESSES. The comments must
provide the name of the commenter and docket number (OSHA-2012-0007).
The comments also should identify clearly the provision of the proposal
each comment is addressing, the position taken with respect to the
proposed provision or issue, and the basis for that position. Comments,
along with supporting data and references, submitted on or before the
end of the specified comment period will become part of the proceedings
record, and will be available for public inspection and copying at
http://www.regulations.gov.
Authority and Signature
David Michaels, Ph.D., MPH, Assistant Secretary of Labor for
Occupational Safety and Health, U.S. Department of Labor, authorized
the preparation of this notice 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's Order 1-2012 (77 FR 3912).
Signed at Washington, DC, on November 28, 2016.
David Michaels,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2016-28924 Filed 12-1-16; 8:45 am]
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