Revising the Notification Requirements in the Exposure Determination Provisions of the Hexavalent Chromium Standards

AGENCY:

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): Department of Labor.

ACTION:

Proposed rule; withdrawal.

SUMMARY:

With this notice, OSHA is withdrawing the proposed rule that accompanied its direct final rule (DFR) amending the employee notification requirements in the exposure determination provisions of the Hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI)) standards.

DATES:

Effective May 14, 2010, the proposed rule published March 16, 2010 (75 FR 12485), is withdrawn.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For general information and press inquiries contact Ms. Jennifer Ashley, Director, OSHA Office of Communications, Room N-3647, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-1999. For technical inquiries, contact Maureen Ruskin, Office of Chemical Hazards—Metals, Directorate of Standards and Guidance, Room N-3718, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-1950; fax: (202) 693-1678.

Copies of this Federal Register notice are available from the OSHA Office of Publications, Room N-3101, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone (202) 693-1888. Electronic copies of this Federal Register notice and other relevant documents are available at OSHA's Web page at http://www.osha.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On March 17, 2010, OSHA published a DFR amending the employee notification requirements in the exposure determination provisions of the Cr(VI) standards at 29 CFR 1910.1026, 29 CFR 1915.1026, and 29 CFR 1926.1126 (75 FR 12681). OSHA also published a companion proposed rule proposing the same changes to the Cr(VI) standards. (75 FR 12485, March 16, 2010). In the DFR, OSHA stated that it would withdraw the companion proposed rule and confirm the effective date of the DFR if no significant adverse comments were submitted on the DFR by April 16, 2010.

OSHA received eight comments on the DFR, which the Agency has determined were not significant adverse comments. OSHA is publishing a notice announcing and explaining this determination and confirming the effective date of the DFR as June 15, 2010. Accordingly, OSHA is not proceeding with the proposed rule and is withdrawing it from the rulemaking process.

List of Subjects

29 CFR Part 1910

• Exposure determination
• General industry employment
• Health
• Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI))
• Notification of determination results to employees
• Occupational safety and health

29 CFR Part 1915

• Exposure determination
• Health
• Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI))
• Notification of determination results to employees
• Occupational safety and health
• Shipyard employment

29 CFR Part 1926

• Construction employment
• Exposure determination
• Health
• Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI))
• Notification of determination results to employees
• Occupational safety and health

Authority and Signature

David Michaels, PhD, MPH, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, directed the preparation of this notice under the following authorities: Sections 4, 6, and 8 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 653, 655, 657), Secretary of Labor's Order 5-2007 (72 FR 31159), and 29 CFR part 1911.