Document ID: OSHA-2014-0004-0001
Agency: osha
Document Type: Notice
Title: Request for Nominations: Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee
Posted Date: 2014-03-13T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 49 (Thursday, March 13, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14300-14302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-05438]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket Number: OSHA-2014-0004]

Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), DOL.

ACTION: Request for nominations to serve on the Whistleblower 
Protection Advisory Committee.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and 
Health requests nominations for membership on the Whistleblower 
Protection Advisory Committee (WPAC).

DATES: Nominations for WPAC must be submitted (postmarked, sent, 
transmitted, or received) by May 12, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit nominations for WPAC, identified by the OSHA 
Docket No., OSHA-2014-0004, by any of the following methods:
    Electronically: Nominations, including attachments, may be 
submitted electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, which is the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions online for making 
electronic submissions.
    Facsimile: If your nomination and supporting materials, including 
attachments, do not exceed 10 pages, you may fax them to the OSHA 
Docket Office at (202) 693-1648.
    Mail, hand delivery, express mail, messenger or courier service: 
Submit your nominations and supporting materials to the OSHA Docket 
Office, Docket No. OSHA-2014-0004, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-
2625, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone 
(202) 693-2350 (OSHA's TTY number is (877) 889-5627). Deliveries (hand, 
express mail, messenger and courier service) are accepted during the 
Department of Labor's and Docket Office's normal business hours, 8:15 
a.m.-4:45 p.m., e.t.
    Instructions: All nominations and supporting materials for WPAC 
must include the Agency name and docket number for this Federal 
Register notice (Docket No. OSHA-2014-0004). Because of security-
related procedures, submitting nominations by regular mail may result 
in a significant delay in their receipt. Please contact the OSHA Docket 
Office for information about security procedures for submitting 
nominations by hand delivery, express delivery, and messenger or 
courier service. For additional information on submitting nominations 
see the ``Public Participation--Submission of Nominations and Access to 
Docket'' heading in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.
    Submissions in response to this Federal Register notice, including 
personal information provided, are posted without change at http://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, OSHA cautions interested parties about 
submitting personal information such as social security numbers and 
dates of birth.
    Docket: To read or download submissions or other material in the 
docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov or the OSHA Docket Office at 
the address above. All documents in the docket are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov index; however, some information (e.g., 
copyrighted material) is not publicly available to read or download 
through that Web site. All submissions, including copyrighted material, 
are available for inspection and copying at the OSHA Docket Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Meghan Smith, OSHA, Directorate of 
Whistleblower Protection Programs, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-
4624, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone 
(202) 693-2199; email address smith.meghan.p@dol.gov.

[[Page 14301]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Assistant Secretary of Labor for 
Occupational Safety and Health invites interested individuals to submit 
nominations for membership on WPAC.
    Background. The WPAC advises the Secretary of Labor (the Secretary) 
and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health 
(the Assistant Secretary) on ways to improve the fairness, efficiency, 
and transparency of OSHA's whistleblower investigations. WPAC is a 
continuing advisory body and operates in compliance with the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2) and its implementing 
regulations (see ``Authority and Signature'' section).
    WPAC membership.
    WPAC is comprised of 12 members, who the Secretary appoints to 
staggered terms not to exceed two years. OSHA is seeking to fill 12 
positions on WPAC that will become vacant on January 1, 2015. Because 
this is the first time that OSHA is staggering terms for WPAC members, 
six members will be appointed to one-year terms and six will be 
appointed to two-year terms. Thereafter, all members will be appointed 
to two-year terms. The composition of WPAC and categories of new 
members to be appointed to one-year terms are as follows:
     Two management representatives who are employers or are 
from employer associations in industries covered by one or more of the 
whistleblower laws;
     Two labor representatives who are workers or from worker 
advocacy organizations in industries covered by one or more of the 
whistleblower laws;
     One member represents the State OSH Plan states; and
     One public representative from colleges, universities, 
non-partisan think tanks, and/or other entities, that have extensive 
knowledge and expertise on whistleblower statutes and issues.
    The composition of WPAC and categories of new members to be 
appointed to two-year terms are as follows:
     Two management representatives who are employers or are 
from employer associations in industries covered by one or more of the 
whistleblower laws;
     Two labor representatives who are workers or from worker 
advocacy organizations in industries covered by one or more of the 
whistleblower laws; and
     Two public representatives from colleges, universities, 
non-partisan think tanks, and/or other entities, that have extensive 
knowledge and expertise on whistleblower statutes and issues.
    In addition, the committee will also have three Ad hoc/Ex-officio/
Non-voting members who are regular government employees from other 
Federal Government agencies. They will be selected by the Secretary of 
Labor from Departments that have jurisdiction over statutes with 
whistleblower provisions, for example, the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (Sarbanes-Oxley Act), or the Department of Transportation's 
Federal Aviation Administration (Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment 
and Reform Act for the 21st Century), or the Federal Railroad 
Administration (Federal Railroad Safety Act).
    If a vacancy occurs before a term expires, the Secretary may 
appoint a new member who represents the same interest as the 
predecessor to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term. The 
committee meets at least two times a year.
    Nomination requirements. Any individual or organization may 
nominate one or more qualified persons for membership. Submissions of 
nominations must include the following information:
    1. The nominee's name, contact information and current occupation 
or position;
    2. The nominee's resume or curriculum vitae, including prior 
membership on WPAC and other relevant organizations, associations and 
committees;
    3. Category of membership (management, labor, state plan, or 
academic/extensive whistleblower knowledge) the nominee is qualified to 
represent;
    4. A summary of the nominee's background, experience and 
qualifications that address the nominee's suitability to serve on WPAC;
    5. Articles or other documents the nominee has authored that 
indicate the nominee's knowledge, experience and expertise in 
whistleblowing; and
    6. A statement that the nominee is aware of the nomination, is 
willing to regularly attend and participate in WPAC meetings, and has 
no apparent conflicts of interest that would preclude membership on 
WPAC.
    Membership selection. WPAC members will be selected on the basis of 
their experience, knowledge, and competence in the field of 
whistleblower protection. The information received through this 
nomination process, in addition to other relevant sources of 
information, will assist the Secretary in appointing members to serve 
on WPAC. In selecting WPAC members, the Secretary will consider 
individuals nominated in response to this Federal Register notice, as 
well as other qualified individuals.
    Before candidates are appointed, the U.S. Department of Labor 
(Department) conducts a basic background check using publically 
available, Internet-based sources.
    The Department is committed to bringing greater diversity of 
thought, perspective and experience to its advisory committees. In 
addition, the Department encourages nominees of all races, genders, 
ages, disabilities and sexual orientations to apply.
    Instructions for submitting nominations. Interested individuals may 
submit nominations and supplemental materials using one of the methods 
listed in the ADDRESSES section. All nominations, attachments and other 
materials must identify the docket number for this Federal Register 
notice (Docket No. OSHA-2014-0004). You may supplement electronic 
nominations by uploading document files electronically. If, instead, 
you wish to submit additional materials in reference to an electronic 
or FAX submission, you must submit them to the OSHA Docket Office (see 
ADDRESSES section). The additional material must clearly identify your 
electronic or FAX submission by name and docket number (Docket No. 
OSHA-2014-0004) so that the materials can be attached to your 
submission.
    Because of security-related procedures, the use of regular mail may 
cause a significant delay in the receipt of nominations. For 
information about security procedures concerning the delivery of 
materials by hand, express delivery, messenger or courier service, 
please contact the OSHA Docket Office (see ADDRESSES section).
    All submissions in response to this Federal Register notice are 
posted without change at http://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, OSHA 
cautions interested parties about submitting personal information, such 
as Social Security numbers and birthdates. Guidance on submitting 
nominations and materials in response to this Federal Register notice 
is available at http://www.regulations.gov and from the OSHA Docket 
Office.
    Access to docket and other materials. To read or download 
nominations and additional materials submitted in response to this 
Federal Register notice, go to Docket No. OSHA-2013-0013 at http://www.regulations.gov. All submissions are listed in the index of that 
docket. However, some documents (e.g., copyrighted material) are not 
publicly available to read or download through that Web page. All 
submissions, including copyrighted material, are available for 
inspection and copying at the OSHA Docket Office. Contact the OSHA 
Docket Office for information

[[Page 14302]]

about materials not available through http://www.regulations.gov and 
for assistance in using the internet to locate submissions.
    Electronic copies of this Federal Register notice are available at 
http://www.regulations.gov. This document, as well as news releases and 
other relevant information, also is available at OSHA's Web page at 
http://www.osha.gov.

Authority and Signature

    David Michaels, Ph.D., MPH, Assistant Secretary of Labor for 
Occupational Safety and Health, directed the preparation of this notice 
under the authority granted by the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(FACA), as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 2), its implementing regulations (41 
CFR Part 102-3), chapter 1600 of Department of Labor Management Series 
3 (Mar. 17, 2008), Secretary of Labor's Order 1-2012 (Jan. 18, 2012), 
77 FR 3912 (Jan. 25, 2012), and the Secretary of Labor's authority to 
administer the whistleblower provisions found in Section 11(c) of the 
Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. 660(c); the Surface 
Transportation Assistance Act, 49 U.S.C. 31105; the Asbestos Hazard 
Emergency Response Act, 15 U.S.C. 2651; the International Safe 
Container Act, 46 U.S.C. 80507; the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. 
300j-9(i); the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. 1367; the 
Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. 2622; the Solid Waste Disposal 
Act, 42 U.S.C. 6971; the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7622; the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 
42 U.S.C. 9610; the Energy Reorganization Act, 42 U.S.C. 5851; the 
Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st 
Century, 49 U.S.C. 42121; the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, 18 U.S.C. 1514A; the 
Pipeline Safety Improvement Act, 49 U.S.C. 60129; the Federal Railroad 
Safety Act, 49 U.S.C. 20109; the National Transit Systems Security Act, 
6 U.S.C. 1142; the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, 15 U.S.C. 
2087; Section 1558 of the Affordable Care Act, P.L. 111-148; the 
Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, 12 U.S.C.A. 5567, the 
Seaman's Protection Act, 46 U.S.C. 2114, Section 402 of the FDA Food 
Safety Modernization Act, P.L. 111-353, and the Moving Ahead for 
Progress in the 21st Century Act, 49 U.S.C. 30171.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on March 7, 2014.
David Michaels,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2014-05438 Filed 3-12-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-P