Standards Improvement Project-Phase IV

AGENCY:

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of written comment period.

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).