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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 130 (Thursday, July 7, 2011)]
[Unknown Section]
[Pages 40086-40091]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-15493]

[[Page 40085]]

Vol. 76

Thursday,

No. 130

July 7, 2011

Part XI

Department of Labor

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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 130 / Thursday, July 7, 2011 / 

Unified Agenda

[[Page 40086]]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary

20 CFR Chs. I, IV, V, VI, VII, and IX

29 CFR Subtitle A and Chs. II, IV, V, XVII, and XXV

30 CFR Ch. I

41 CFR Ch. 60

48 CFR Ch. 29

Semiannual Agenda of Regulations

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Labor.

ACTION: Semiannual regulatory agenda.

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SUMMARY: This document sets forth the Department's semiannual agenda of 

regulations that have been selected for review or development during 

the coming year. The Department's agencies have carefully assessed 

their available resources and what they can accomplish in the next 12 

months and have adjusted their agendas accordingly.

    The agenda complies with the requirements of both Executive Order 

12866 and the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The agenda lists all 

regulations that are expected to be under review or development between 

April 2011 and April 2012, as well as those completed during the past 

six months.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Franks, Director, Office of 

Regulatory Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy, U.S. 

Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room S-2312, 

Washington, DC 20210; (202) 693-5959.

    Note: Information pertaining to a specific regulation can be 

obtained from the agency contact listed for that particular 

regulation.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Executive Order 12866 requires the 

semiannual publication of an agenda of regulations that contains a 

listing of all the regulations the Department of Labor expects to have 

under active consideration for promulgation, proposal, or review during 

the coming one-year period. The entirety of the Department's semiannual 

agenda is available online at http://www.reginfo.gov.

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 602) requires DOL to 

publish in the Federal Register a regulatory flexibility agenda. The 

Department's Regulatory Flexibility Agenda published with this notice 

includes only those rules on its semiannual agenda that are likely to 

have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 

entities; and those rules identified for periodic review in keeping 

with the requirements of section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. 

Thus, the regulatory flexibility agenda is a subset of the Department's 

semiannual regulatory agenda. At this time, there is only one item, 

listed below, on the Department's Regulatory Flexibility Agenda.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Bloodborne Pathogens (RIN 1218-AC34)

    All interested members of the public are invited and encouraged to 

let departmental officials know how our regulatory efforts can be 

improved, and are invited to participate in and comment on the review 

or development of the regulations listed on the Department's agenda.

Hilda L. Solis,

Secretary of Labor.

        Office of Labor-Management Standards--Proposed Rule Stage

------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                           Regulation

       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

228.......................  Persuader Agreements:              1245-AA03

                             Employer and Labor

                             Relations Consultant

                             Reporting Under the LMRDA.

229.......................  Persuader Agreements:              1245-AA05

                             Consultant Form LM-21

                             Receipts and

                             Disbursements Report.

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       Office of Workers' Compensation Programs--Final Rule Stage

------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                           Regulation

       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

230.......................  Regulations Implementing           1240-AA02

                             the Longshore and Harbor

                             Workers' Compensation

                             Act: Recreational Vessels.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Occupational Safety and Health Administration--Prerule Stage

------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                           Regulation

       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

231.......................  Occupational Exposure to           1218-AB76

                             Beryllium.

232.......................  Occupational Exposure to           1218-AC33

                             Food Flavorings

                             Containing Diacetyl and

                             Diacetyl Substitutes.

233.......................  Bloodborne Pathogens               1218-AC34

                             (Section 610 Review).

------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Occupational Safety and Health Administration--Proposed Rule Stage

------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                           Regulation

       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

234.......................  Occupational Exposure to           1218-AB70

                             Crystalline Silica.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Occupational Safety and Health Administration--Final Rule Stage

------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                           Regulation

       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

235.......................  Confined Spaces in                 1218-AB47

                             Construction.

[[Page 40087]]

 

236.......................  Electric Power                     1218-AB67

                             Transmission and

                             Distribution; Electrical

                             Protective Equipment

                             Protective Equipment.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

+DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

Office of Labor--Management Standards (OLMS)

Proposed Rule Stage

228. Persuader Agreements: Employer and Labor Relations Consultant 

Reporting Under the LMRDA

    Legal Authority: 29 U.S.C. 433; 29 U.S.C. 438

    Abstract: The Department intends to publish notice and comment 

rulemaking seeking consideration of a revised interpretation of section 

203(c) of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA). 

That statutory provision creates an ``advice'' exemption from reporting 

requirements that apply to employers and other persons in connection 

with persuading employees about the right to organize and bargain 

collectively. A proposed revised interpretation would narrow the scope 

of the advice exemption.

    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

               Action                    Date            FR Cite

------------------------------------------------------------------------

NPRM................................   06/00/11  .......................

------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

    Agency Contact: Andrew R. Davis, Chief, Division of Interpretations 

and Standards, Office of Labor-Management Standards, Department of 

Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards, Room N-5609, FP Building, 

200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202 693-1254, 

Fax: 202 693-1340, E-mail: davis.andrew@dol.gov.

    RIN: 1245-AA03

229. Persuader Agreements: Consultant Form LM-21 Receipts and 

Disbursements Report

    Legal Authority: 29 U.S.C. 433 and 438

    Abstract: The Department intends to publish a notice and comment 

rulemaking seeking consideration of the Form LM-21, Receipts and 

Disbursements Report, which is required pursuant to section 203(b) of 

the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA). The 

rulemaking will propose mandatory electronic filing for Form LM-21 

filers, and it will review the layout of the Form LM-21 and its 

instructions, including the detail required to be reported.

    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

               Action                    Date            FR Cite

------------------------------------------------------------------------

NPRM................................   11/00/11  .......................

------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

    Agency Contact: Andrew R. Davis, Chief, Division of Interpretations 

and Standards, Office of Labor-Management Standards, Department of 

Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards, Room N-5609, FP Building, 

200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202 693-

1254, Fax: 202 693-1340, E-mail: davis.andrew@dol.gov.

    RIN: 1245-AA05

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP)

Final Rule Stage

230. Regulations Implementing the Longshore and Harbor Workers' 

Compensation Act: Recreational Vessels

    Legal Authority: 33 U.S.C. 939

    Abstract: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 

amended the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, 33 U.S.C. 

901 to 950, to exclude from the Act's coverage certain employees who 

repair recreational vessels and who dismantle them for repair, 

regardless of the vessel's length. On August 17, 2010, (republished on 

October 15, 2010), the Department issued a Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking revising the definition of recreational vessel and 

addressing coverage of those employees who work in both qualifying 

maritime employment and employment excluded under the amendment. The 

comment period ended on November 17, 2010. The Department anticipates 

publishing a final rule by December 2011.

    Timetable:

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               Action                    Date            FR Cite

------------------------------------------------------------------------

NPRM................................   08/17/10  75 FR 50718

NPRM Republished....................   10/15/10  75 FR 63425

NPRM Comment Period End.............   11/17/10  .......................

Final Action........................   12/00/11  .......................

------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

    Agency Contact: Brandon Miller, Chief, Branch of Financial 

Management, Insurance and Assessment, Department of Labor, Office of 

Workers' Compensation Programs, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room C-

4315, FP Building, Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202 693-0925, Fax: 202 

693-1380, E-mail: miller.brandon@dol.gov.

    RIN: 1240-AA02

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Prerule Stage

231. Occupational Exposure to Beryllium

    Legal Authority: 29 U.S.C. 655(b); 29 U.S.C. 657

    Abstract: In 1999 and 2001, OSHA was petitioned to issue an 

emergency temporary standard by the United Steel Workers (formerly the 

Paper Allied-Industrial, Chemical, and Energy Workers Union), Public 

Citizen Health Research Group, and others. The Agency denied the 

petitions but stated its intent to begin data gathering to collect 

needed information on beryllium's toxicity, risks, and patterns of 

usage.

    On November 26, 2002, OSHA published a Request for Information 

(RFI) (67 FR 70707) to solicit information pertinent to occupational 

exposure to beryllium including: current exposures to beryllium; the 

relationship between exposure to beryllium and the development of 

adverse health effects; exposure assessment and monitoring methods; 

exposure control methods; and medical surveillance. In addition, the 

Agency conducted field surveys of selected work sites to assess current 

exposures and control methods being used to reduce employee exposures 

to beryllium. OSHA convened a Small Business Advocacy Review Panel 

under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) 

and completed the SBREFA Report in January 2008. OSHA completed a 

scientific peer review of its draft risk

[[Page 40088]]

assessment. The economic peer review is scheduled to be completed in 

May 2011.

    Timetable:

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               Action                    Date            FR Cite

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Request for Information.............   11/26/02  67 FR 70707

Request For Information Comment        02/24/03  .......................

 Period End.

SBREFA Report Completed.............   01/23/08  .......................

Initiated Peer Review of Health        03/22/10  .......................

 Effects and Risk Assessment.

Complete Peer Review................   11/19/10  .......................

Economic Peer Review................   06/00/11  .......................

------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

    Agency Contact: Dorothy Dougherty, Director, Directorate of 

Standards and Guidance, Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room N-3718, FP 

Building, Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202 693-1950, Fax: 202 693-1678, 

E-mail: dougherty.dorothy@dol.gov.

    RIN: 1218-AB76

232. Occupational Exposure to Food Flavorings Containing Diacetyl and 

Diacetyl Substitutes

    Legal Authority: 29 U.S.C. 655(b); 29 U.S.C. 657

    Abstract: On July 26, 2006, the United Food and Commercial Workers 

International Union (UFCW) and the International Brotherhood of 

Teamsters (IBT) petitioned DOL for an Emergency Temporary Standard 

(ETS) for all employees exposed to diacetyl, a major component in 

artificial butter flavoring. Diacetyl and a number of other volatile 

organic compounds are used to manufacture artificial butter food 

flavorings. These food flavorings are used by various food 

manufacturers in a multitude of food products including microwave 

popcorn, certain bakery goods, and some snack foods. Evidence indicates 

that exposure to flavorings containing diacetyl is associated with 

adverse effects on the respiratory system, including bronchiolitis 

obliterans, a debilitating and potentially fatal lung disease. OSHA 

denied the petition on September 25, 2007, but has initiated 6(b) 

rulemaking. OSHA published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 

(ANPRM) on January 21, 2009, but withdrew the ANPRM on March 17, 2009, 

in order to facilitate timely development of a standard. The Agency 

subsequently initiated review of the draft proposed standard in 

accordance with the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act 

(SBREFA). The SBREFA Panel Report was completed on July 2, 2009. NIOSH 

is currently developing a criteria document on occupational exposure to 

diacetyl. The criteria document will also address exposure to 2,3-

pentanedione, a chemical that is structurally similar to diacetyl and 

has been used as a substitute for diacetyl in some applications. It 

will include an assessment of the effects of exposure as well as 

quantitative risk assessment. OSHA intends to rely on these portions of 

the criteria document for the health effects analysis and quantitative 

risk assessment for the Agency's diacetyl rulemaking. NIOSH will 

initiate public peer review of the criteria document in April, 2011.

    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

               Action                    Date            FR Cite

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stakeholder Meeting.................   10/17/07  72 FR 54619

ANPRM...............................   01/21/09  74 FR 3937

ANPRM Withdrawn.....................   03/17/09  74 FR 11329

ANPRM Comment Period End............   04/21/09  .......................

Completed SBREFA Report.............   07/02/09  .......................

Initiate Peer Review of Health         06/00/11  .......................

 Effects and Risk Assessment.

End Peer Review.....................   07/00/11  .......................

------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

    Agency Contact: Dorothy Dougherty, Director, Directorate of 

Standards and Guidance, Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room N-3718, FP 

Building, Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202 693-1950, Fax: 202 693-1678, 

E-mail: dougherty.dorothy@dol.gov.

    RIN: 1218-AC33

233. Bloodborne Pathogens (Section 610 Review)

    Legal Authority: 5 U.S.C. 533; 5 U.S.C. 610; 29 U.S.C. 655(b)

    Abstract: OSHA will undertake a review of the Bloodborne Pathogen 

Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) in accordance with the requirements of the 

Regulatory Flexibility Act and section 5 of Executive Order 12866. The 

review will consider the continued need for the rule; whether the rule 

overlaps, duplicates, or conflicts with other Federal, State or local 

regulations; and the degree to which technology, economic conditions, 

or other factors may have changed since the rule was evaluated.

    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

               Action                    Date            FR Cite

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Begin Review........................   10/22/09  .......................

Request for Comments Published......   05/14/10  75 FR 27237

Comment Period End..................   08/12/10  .......................

Analyze Comments....................   06/00/11  .......................

------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No.

    Agency Contact: Keith Goddard, Director, Directorate of Evaluation 

and Analysis, Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., FP Building, Room N-3718, 

Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202 693-2400, Fax: 202 693-1641, E-mail: 

goddard.keith@dol.gov.

    RIN: 1218-AC34

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Proposed Rule Stage

234. Occupational Exposure to Crystalline Silica

    Legal Authority: 29 U.S.C. 655(b); 29 U.S.C. 657

    Abstract: Crystalline silica is a significant component of the 

earth's crust, and many workers in a wide range of industries are 

exposed to it, usually in the form of respirable quartz or, less 

frequently, cristobalite. Chronic silicosis is a uniquely occupational 

disease resulting from exposure of employees over long periods of time 

(10 years or more). Exposure to high levels of respirable crystalline 

silica causes acute or accelerated forms of silicosis that are 

ultimately fatal. The current OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) for 

general industry is based on a formula proposed by the American 

Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) in 1968 (PEL = 

10 mg/cubic meter/(% silica + 2), as respirable dust). The current PEL 

for construction and shipyards (derived from ACGIH's 1970 Threshold 

Limit Value) is based on particle counting technology, which is 

considered obsolete. NIOSH and ACGIH recommend 50 [micro]g/m\3\ and 25 

[micro]g/m\3\

[[Page 40089]]

exposure limits, respectively, for respirable crystalline silica. Both 

industry and worker groups have recognized that a comprehensive 

standard for crystalline silica is needed to provide for exposure 

monitoring, medical surveillance, and worker training. ASTM 

International has published recommended standards for addressing the 

hazards of crystalline silica. The Building Construction Trades 

Department of the AFL-CIO has also developed a recommended 

comprehensive program standard. These standards include provisions for 

methods of compliance, exposure monitoring, training, and medical 

surveillance.

    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

               Action                    Date            FR Cite

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Completed SBREFA Report.............   12/19/03  .......................

Initiated Peer Review of Health        05/22/09  .......................

 Effects and Risk Assessment.

Completed Peer Review...............   01/24/10  .......................

NPRM................................   06/00/11  .......................

Hearings............................   10/00/11  .......................

------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

    Agency Contact: Dorothy Dougherty, Director, Directorate of 

Standards and Guidance, Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room N-3718, FP 

Building, Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202 693-1950, Fax: 202 693-1678, 

E-mail: dougherty.dorothy@dol.gov.

    RIN: 1218-AB70

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Final Rule Stage

235. Confined Spaces in Construction

    Legal Authority: 29 U.S.C. 655(b); 40 U.S.C. 333

    Abstract: In 1993, OSHA issued a rule to protect employees who 

enter confined spaces while engaged in general industry work (29 CFR 

1910.146). This standard has not been extended to cover employees 

entering confined spaces while engaged in construction work because of 

unique characteristics of construction worksites. Pursuant to 

discussions with the United Steel Workers of America that led to a 

settlement agreement regarding the general industry standard, OSHA 

agreed to issue a proposed rule to protect construction workers in 

confined spaces.

    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

               Action                    Date            FR Cite

------------------------------------------------------------------------

SBREFA Panel Report.................   11/24/03  .......................

NPRM................................   11/28/07  72 FR 67351

NPRM Comment Period End.............   01/28/08  .......................

NPRM Comment Period Extended........   02/28/08  73 FR 3893

Public Hearing......................   07/22/08  .......................

Close Record........................   10/23/08  .......................

Final Action........................   11/00/11  .......................

------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

    Agency Contact: Jim Maddux, Directorate of Construction, Department 

of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Department of 

Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room N-3468, Washington, DC 20210, 

Phone: 202 693-2020, Fax: 202 693-1689, E-mail: maddux.jim@dol.gov.

    RIN: 1218-AB47

236. Electric Power Transmission and Distribution; Electrical 

Protective Equipment

    Legal Authority: 29 U.S.C. 655(b); 40 U.S.C. 333

    Abstract: Electrical hazards are a major cause of occupational 

death in the United States. The annual fatality rate for power line 

workers is about 50 deaths per 100,000 employees. The construction 

industry standard addressing the safety of these workers during the 

construction of electric power transmission and distribution lines is 

over 35 years old. OSHA has developed a revision of this standard that 

will prevent many of these fatalities, add flexibility to the standard, 

and update and streamline the standard. OSHA also intends to amend the 

corresponding standard for general industry so that requirements for 

work performed during the maintenance of electric power transmission 

and distribution installations are the same as those for similar work 

in construction. In addition, OSHA will be revising a few miscellaneous 

general industry requirements primarily affecting electric transmission 

and distribution work, including provisions on electrical protective 

equipment and foot protection. This rulemaking also addresses fall 

protection in aerial lifts for work on power generation, transmission, 

and distribution installations. OSHA published an NPRM on June 15, 

2005. A public hearing was held from March 6 through March 14, 2006. 

OSHA reopened the record to gather additional information on minimum 

approach distances for specific ranges of voltages. The record was 

reopened a second time to allow more time for comment and to gather 

information on minimum approach distances for all voltages and on the 

newly revised Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 

consensus standard. Additionally, a public hearing was held on October 

28, 2009. The posthearing comment period ended in September 2010. OSHA 

anticipates publishing a final rule in July 2011.

    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

               Action                    Date            FR Cite

------------------------------------------------------------------------

SBREFA Report.......................   06/30/03  .......................

NPRM................................   06/15/05  70 FR 34821

NPRM Comment Period End.............   10/13/05  .......................

Comment Period Extended to 01/11/      10/12/05  70 FR 59290

 2006.

Public Hearing To Be Held 03/06/2006   10/12/05  70 FR 59290

Posthearing Comment Period End......   07/14/06  .......................

Reopen Record.......................   10/22/08  73 FR 62942

Comment Period End..................   11/21/08  .......................

Close Record........................   11/21/08  .......................

Second Reopening Record.............   09/14/09  74 FR 46958

Comment Period End..................   10/15/09  .......................

Public Hearings.....................   10/28/09  .......................

Posthearing Comment Period End......   02/10/10  .......................

Final Rule..........................   09/00/11  .......................

------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

    Agency Contact: Dorothy Dougherty, Director, Directorate of 

Standards and Guidance, Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room N-3718, FP 

Building, Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202 693-1950, Fax: 202 693-1678, 

E-mail: dougherty.dorothy@dol.gov.

    RIN: 1218-AB67

[FR Doc. 2011-15493 Filed 7-6-11; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-04-P
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