27338 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 96 / Thursday, May 20, 2021 / Proposed Rules 
1Documents submitted to the docket by OSHA or 
stakeholders are assigned document identification 
numbers (Document ID) for easy identification and retrieval. The full Document ID is the docket number plus a unique four-digit code. OSHA is identifying supporting information in this notice by author name, publication year, and the last four digits of the Document ID. 
* * * * * 
[FR Doc. 2021–10561 Filed 5–19–21; 8:45 am] 
BILLING CODE 4510–26–C 
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 
Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration 
29 CFR Part 1910 
[Docket No. OSHA–2019–0001] 
RIN 1218–AC93 
Hazard Communication Standard 
AGENCY : Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration (OSHA), Labor. 
ACTION : Proposed rule; notice of 
informal hearing. 
SUMMARY : OSHA is scheduling an 
informal public hearing on its proposed 
rule ‘‘Hazard Communication Standard.’’ The public hearing will begin September 21, 2021 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time (ET). The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on February 16, 2021. The initial public comment period was to end April 19, 2021, but was extended to May 19, 2021, in response to requests from the public. 
DATES : Informal public hearing: The 
hearing will begin September 21, 2021, at 10:00 a.m., ET, and will be held virtually using WebEx. If necessary, the hearing will continue from 9:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., ET, on subsequent days. Additional information on how to access the informal hearing will be posted when available at https:// www.osha.gov/hazcom/rulemaking. To 
testify or question witnesses at the 
hearing, interested persons must electronically submit their notice by June 18, 2021. In addition, those who request more than ten minutes for their presentation at the informal hearing and 
those who intend to submit documentary evidence at the hearing must submit the full text of their testimony, as well as a copy of any documentary evidence, no later than August 21, 2021. 
ADDRESSES :
Notices of Intent to Appear: Notices of 
intent to appear at the hearing, along with any submissions and attachments, should be submitted electronically at https://www.regulations.gov, which is 
the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions online for making electronic submissions. After accessing ‘‘all documents and comments’’ in the docket (Docket No. OSHA–2019–0001), check the ‘‘proposed rule’’ box in the column headed ‘‘Document Type,’’ find the document posted on the date of publication of this hearing notice, and click the ‘‘Comment Now’’ link. When uploading multiple attachments to www.regulations.gov, please number all 
of your attachments because www.regulations.gov will not 
automatically number the attachments. This will be very useful in identifying all attachments in the preamble. For example, Attachment 1—title of your document, Attachment 2—title of your document, Attachment 3—title of your document. For assistance with commenting and uploading documents, please see the Frequently Asked Questions on regulations.gov. 
Instructions: All submissions must 
include the agency’s name and the docket number for this rulemaking (Docket No. OSHA–2019–0001). All comments, including any personal information you provide, are placed in the public docket without change and may be made available online at https:// www.regulations.gov. Therefore, OSHA 
cautions commenters about submitting information they do not want made available to the public, or submitting materials that contain personal information (either about themselves or others), such as Social Security Numbers and birthdates. 
Docket: To read or download 
comments, notices of intent to appear, and other materials submitted in the docket, go to Docket No. OSHA–2019– 0001 at https://www.regulations.gov. All 
comments and submissions are listed in the https://www.regulations.gov index; 
however, some information (e.g., copyrighted material) is not publicly available to read or download through that website. All comments and submissions, including copyrighted material, are available for inspection through the OSHA Docket Office.
1 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT : For 
press inquiries: Contact Frank 
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EP20MY21.003</GPH>30 IN-381N 
(76 CM -97 CM) 
Figure D-13A-Handrail and Stair Rail Height Measurements for Stair Rail Systems 
Installed on or after (date 60 days after the publication date of the final rule) 27339 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 96 / Thursday, May 20, 2021 / Proposed Rules 
Meilinger, Director, Office of 
Communications, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor; telephone: (202) 693–1999; email: meilinger.francis2@dol.gov. 
For general information and technical 
inquiries: Contact Maureen Ruskin, 
Acting Director, Directorate of Standards and Guidance, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor; telephone: (202) 693–1950 or fax: (202) 693–1678; email: ruskin.maureen@dol.gov. 
For Hearing Inquiries: Contact Janet 
Carter, Directorate of Standards and Guidance, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor; telephone: (202) 693–1950; email: carter.janet@dol.gov. 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION : On 
February 16, 2021, OSHA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to modify the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to align with the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) Revision 7, to address specific issues that have arisen since OSHA last updated the HCS in 2012, and to provide better alignment with other U.S. agencies and international trading partners, without lowering the overall protections of the standard. 
OSHA received comments concerning 
the proposed rule during the comment period, which ended May 19, 2021. 
Commenters shared information on a variety of topics including proposed definitions of ‘‘release for shipment’’ and ‘‘immediate outer container,’’ changes to paragraph (d)(1) ‘‘normal conditions of use,’’ and clarification of compliance dates. OSHA received two requests for an informal public hearing (Document ID 0276 and 0294). 
Informal Public Hearing—Purpose, 
Rules and Procedures 
OSHA invites interested persons to 
participate in this rulemaking by providing oral testimony and documentary evidence at the informal public hearing. OSHA also welcomes presentation of data and documentary evidence that will provide the agency with the best available evidence to use in developing the final rule. 
Pursuant to 29 CFR 1911.15(a) and 5 
U.S.C. 553(c), members of the public have an opportunity at the informal public hearing to provide oral testimony and evidence on issues raised by the proposal. An administrative law judge (ALJ) will preside over the hearing and will resolve any procedural matters relating to the hearing. 
OSHA’s regulation governing public 
hearings (29 CFR 1911.15) establishes the purpose and procedures of informal 
public hearings. Although the presiding officer of the hearing is an ALJ and questioning of witnesses is allowed on crucial issues, the proceeding is largely informal and essentially legislative in purpose. Therefore, the hearing provides interested persons with an opportunity to make oral presentations in the absence of rigid procedures that could impede or protract the rulemaking process. The hearing is not an adjudicative proceeding subject to the Federal Rules of Evidence. Instead, it is an informal administrative proceeding convened for the purpose of gathering and clarifying information. Accordingly, questions of relevance, procedure, and participation generally will be resolved in favor of developing a clear, accurate, and complete record. 
Conduct of the hearing will conform 
to 29 CFR 1911.15. In addition, pursuant to 29 CFR 1911.4, the Acting Assistant Secretary may, on reasonable notice, issue additional or alternative procedures to expedite the proceedings, to provide greater procedural protections to interested persons, or to further any other good cause consistent with applicable law. Although the ALJ presiding over the hearing makes no decision or recommendation on the merits of the proposal, the ALJ has the responsibility and authority necessary to ensure that the hearing progresses at a reasonable pace and in an orderly manner. To ensure a full and fair hearing, the ALJ has the power to regulate the course of the proceedings; dispose of procedural requests, objections, and comparable matters; confine presentations to matters pertinent to the issues the proposed rule raises; use appropriate means to regulate the conduct of persons present at the 
hearing; question witnesses and permit others to do so; limit the time for such questioning; and leave the record open for a reasonable time after the hearing for the submission of additional data, evidence, comments, and arguments from those who participated in the hearing (29 CFR 1911.16). 
At the close of the hearing, there will 
be a post-hearing comment period for interested persons who filed a timely notice of intention to appear at the hearing, during which those persons may submit final briefs, arguments, summations, and additional data and information to OSHA. 
Notice of Intention To Appear at the 
Hearing 
Interested persons who intend to 
participate in and provide oral testimony or documentary evidence at the hearing must file a written notice of intention to appear prior to the hearing. 
To testify or question witnesses at the hearing, interested persons must electronically submit their notice by June 18, 2021. The notice must provide 
the following information: 
Name, address, email address, and 
telephone number of each individual who will give oral testimony; 
Name of the establishment or 
organization each individual represents, if any; 
Occupational title and position of 
each individual testifying; 
Approximate amount of time required 
for each individual’s testimony; 
A brief statement of the position each 
individual will take with respect to the issues raised by the proposed rule; and 
A brief summary of documentary 
evidence each individual intends to present. Individuals who request more than 10 minutes to present their oral testimony at the hearing or who will submit documentary evidence at the hearing must submit the full text of their testimony and all documentary evidence no later than August 21, 2021. 
The agency will review each 
submission and determine if the information it contains warrants the amount of time the individual requested for the presentation. If OSHA believes the requested time is excessive, the agency will allocate an appropriate amount of time for the presentation. The agency also may limit to 10 minutes the presentation of any participant who fails to comply substantially with these procedural requirements, and may request that the participant return for questioning at a later time. Before the hearing, OSHA will notify participants of the time the agency will allow for their presentation and, if less than requested, the reasons for its decision. In addition, before the hearing, OSHA will provide the hearing procedures and hearing schedule to each participant who filed a notice of intention to appear. OSHA emphasizes that the hearing is open to the public; however, only individuals who file a notice of intention to appear may question witnesses and participate fully at the hearing. If time permits, and at the discretion of the ALJ, an individual who did not file a notice of intention to appear may be allowed to testify at the hearing, but for no more than 10 minutes. 
Certification of the Hearing Record and 
Agency Final Determination 
Following the close of the hearing and 
the post-hearing comment periods, the ALJ will certify the record to the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. The 
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record will consist of all of the written 
comments, oral testimony, and documentary evidence received during the proceeding. The ALJ, however, will not make or recommend any decisions as to the content of the final standard. Following certification of the record, OSHA will review all the evidence received into the record and will issue the final rule based on the record as a whole. 
Authority and Signature 
This document was prepared under 
the direction of James S. Frederick, 
Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210. It is issued under the authority of sections 4, 6, and 8 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 653, 655, 657); 5 U.S.C. 553; section 304, Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (Pub. L. 101–549, reprinted at 29 U.S.C.A. 655 Note); section 41, Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. 941); section 107, Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (40 U.S.C. 3704); section 1031, Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 4853); section 126, Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, as amended (reprinted at 29 U.S.C.A. 655 Note); Secretary of Labor’s Order No. 8–2020 (85 FR 58383–94); and 29 CFR part 1911. 
Signed at Washington, DC, on May 12, 
2021. 
James S. Frederick, Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for 
Occupational Safety and Health. 
[FR Doc. 2021–10523 Filed 5–19–21; 8:45 am] 
BILLING CODE 4510–26–P 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS 
38 CFR Parts 3, 17, 18 and 21 
RIN 2900–AR04 
Vocational Rehabilitation and 
Employment (VR&E) Program: Name Change 
AGENCY : Department of Veterans Affairs. 
ACTION : Proposed rule. 
SUMMARY : The Department of Veterans 
Affairs (VA) proposes to amend the regulations pertaining to the name of the Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program. VA provides benefits and services under the program name of ‘‘Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment’’. VA is proposing to amend the name to ‘‘Veteran Readiness 
and Employment’’ (VR&E). VA further proposes that the references to the position of ‘‘Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Officer’’ be amended to ‘‘Veteran Readiness and Employment Officer’’ and the position of ‘‘Director of Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment’’ be amended to ‘‘Executive Director of Veteran Readiness and Employment’’. 
DATES : Comments must be received on 
or before July 19, 2021. 
ADDRESSES : Comments may be 
submitted through www.Regulations.gov or mailed to Department of Veterans Affairs, Veteran Readiness and Employment (28), 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to RIN 2900–AR04— Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Program: Name 
Change. Comments received will be available at regulations.gov for public viewing, inspection or copies. 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT : 
Allison Bernheimer, Policy Analyst, Veteran Readiness and Employment Services (28), 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420, allison.bernheimer@va.gov, (202) 461– 
9600. (This is not a toll-free telephone number.) 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION : In 
accordance with 38 U.S.C. 3100, the purpose of the Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program is to provide for all services and assistance necessary to enable Veterans with service-connected disabilities to achieve maximum independence in daily living and, to the maximum extent possible, to become employable and to obtain and maintain suitable employment. VA proposes to change the program name from ‘‘Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment’’ to ‘‘Veteran Readiness and Employment’’. 
We begin by proposing to amend 38 
CFR 3.341(c) and 3.342(c)(1) by replacing references to ‘‘Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment’’ with ‘‘Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E)’’ and to amend 38 CFR 17.37(e) by replacing a reference to ‘‘vocational rehabilitation’’ with ‘‘Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E)’’. We also propose to amend 38 CFR part 18, Appendix A to Subpart A, Appendix A to Subpart D, and Appendix A to Subpart E by replacing all references to ‘‘vocational rehabilitation’’ with ‘‘Veteran Readiness and Employment’’. We also propose to amend the title of 38 CFR part 21 from ‘‘Vocational Rehabilitation and Education’’ to ‘‘Veteran Readiness and Employment 
and Education’’ and the title of part 21, subpart A from ‘‘Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 31’’ to ‘‘Veteran Readiness and Employment Under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 31’’. 
The term ‘‘vocational’’ may be 
misinterpreted as referring to a participant who is undergoing training in a skill or trade. For a Service member or Veteran needing assistance to become independent in daily living or to increase the individual’s potential to return to work by obtaining services to lessen or accommodate the effects of a disability(ies), the term ‘‘vocational’’ may be misconstrued in regard to the types of services available. Furthermore, VR&E provides training towards employment goals through a wide variety of programs beyond vocational schools for individuals seeking benefits and services to become employable. Training is provided to the level generally recognized as necessary for entry into employment in a suitable occupational objective. VR&E’s focus includes successful employment outcomes, while still providing services aimed at readjustment and preparation through retraining. The term ‘‘vocational’’ may have deterred individuals from applying for benefits and services. VR&E’s purpose is to enhance a Service member or Veteran’s job-readiness and job-seeking skills to increase the Service member or Veteran’s ability to obtain and maintain employment. The Service member or Veteran is the most important part of the mission; therefore, VR&E Service proposes replacing ‘‘vocational’’ with ‘‘Veteran’’ in the program name for a more Service member and Veteran friendly approach to providing benefits and services. 
VR&E Service recently consulted 
various stakeholders regarding replacing the term ‘‘rehabilitation’’ in the program name. This consultation yielded insights, using a human-centered design approach, from vocational rehabilitation counselors, Service members, Veterans, Veterans Service Organizations, and VR&E claimants. Individuals from each service branch and gender from across the Nation were included to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive data pool. Essentially, we determined that the term ‘‘rehabilitation’’ has a negative connotation, including the perception of it being related to drug and alcohol addiction treatment, which may inhibit some individuals from taking advantage of VR&E benefits and services. Therefore, VR&E Service proposes to 
replace ‘‘rehabilitation’’ with ‘‘readiness’’. The new name is more in 
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