[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 141 (Wednesday, July 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39551-39553]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19364]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration


New Mexico State Standards; Notice of Approval

    1. Background. Part 1953 of Title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, 
prescribes procedures under Section 18 of the Occupational Safety and 
Health Act of 1970 (hereinafter called the Act), by which the Regional 
Administrator for

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Occupational Safety and Health (hereinafter called Regional 
Administrator), under a delegation of authority from the Assistant 
Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health (hereinafter 
called the Assistant Secretary) (29 CFR 1953.4), will review and 
approve standards promulgated pursuant to a State Plan, which has been 
approved in accordance with Section 18(c) of the Act and 29 CFR Part 
1902. On December 10, 1975, notice was published in the Federal 
Register (40 FR 57455) of the approval of the New Mexico State Plan and 
the adoption of Subpart DD to Part 1952 containing the decision.
    The New Mexico State Plan provides for the adoption of Federal 
standards as State standards after:
    1. Notice of public hearing published in a newspaper of general 
circulation in the State at least sixty (60) days prior to the date of 
such hearing.
    2. Public hearing conducted by the Environmental Improvement Board.
    3. Filing of adopted regulations, amendments, or revocations under 
the State Rules Act.
    The New Mexico State Plan provides for the adoption of State 
standards which are at least as effective as comparable Federal 
standards promulgated under Section 6 of the Act.

Identical Standards

    By letter dated July 26, 1994, from Sam A. Rogers, Bureau Chief, to 
Gilbert J. Saulter, former Regional Administrator, and incorporated as 
part of the plan, the State submitted State standards identical to 
Federal standards as follow: Amendment to 1910.1200, 1926.59, and 
1928.25, Hazard Communication (59 FR 6169-6184, dated 2/9/94); 
Amendment to 1910, Subpart I, Personal Protective Equipment, Subpart R, 
Special Industries, and Subpart S, Electrical (59 FR 4435-4476, dated 
1/31/94); Amendment to 1910, Subpart I, Personal Protective Equipment 
(59 FR 16360-16364, dated 4/6/94); and Amendment to 1926, Subpart Z, 
Toxic and Hazardous Substances (59 FR 215, dated 1/3/94).
    These standards, contained in New Mexico Occupational Health and 
Safety Regulations OHSR 200 (General Industry), OHSR 300 
(Construction), and OHSR 400 (Agriculture), were promulgated on July 8, 
1994 and July 9, 1994, in accordance with applicable State law.
    The subject standards became effective August 13, 1994, and August 
21, 1994, pursuant to New Mexico State Law, Sections 50-9-1 through 50-
9-25.
    By letter dated July 11, 1995, from Sam A. Rogers, Bureau Chief, to 
Emzell Blanton, Jr., Regional Administrator, and incorporated as part 
of the plan, New Mexico submitted documentation pertaining to the 
recodification of its Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. 
General Industry standards are now codified as 11 NMAC 5.2 [formerly 
OHSR 200]; Construction Industry standards are now codified as 11 NMAC 
5.3 [formerly OHSR 300]; and Agriculture standards are now codified as 
11 NMAC 5.4 [formerly OHSR 400]. In addition, the State submitted State 
standards identical to Federal standards as follow: Amendments to 
1910.19, Special Provisions for Air Contaminants (59 FR 41057, dated 8/
10/94); Amendments to 1910.120, Hazardous Waste Operations and 
Emergency Response (59 FR 43270-43275, dated 8/22/94); Addition of 
1910.266, Logging Operations (50 FR 51741-51748, dated 10/12/94); 
Amendments to 1910.269, Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and 
Distribution, and Electric Protective Equipment (59 FR 33660-33664, 
dated 6/30/94; 59 FR 40729, dated 8/9/94; and 59 FR 51748, dated 10/12/
94); Amendments to 1910.1001, Occupational Exposure to Asbestos (59 FR 
41057-41080, dated 8/10/94); Addition of 1910.1201, Retention of DOT 
Markings, Placards, and Labels (59 FR 36700, dated 7/19/94); Addition 
of 1926.61, Retention of DOT Markings, Placards, and Labels (59 FR 
36700, dated 7/19/94); Amendments to 1926.65, Hazardous Waste 
Operations and Emergency Response (59 FR 43275-43280, dated 8/22/94); 
Amendments to 1926, Safety Standards for Fall Protection in the 
Construction Industry (Subpart E (Means of Egress), Subpart H 
(Materials Handling, Storage, Use, and Disposal), Subpart M (Fall 
Protection), Subpart N (Cranes, Derricks, Hoists, Elevators, and 
Conveyors), Subpart P (Excavations), and Subpart V (Power Transmission 
and Distribution)) (59 FR 40729-40753, dated 8/9/94); Amendments to 
1926.1101, Occupational Exposure to Asbestos (59 FR 41131-41162, dated 
8/10/94); and Amendment to 1928.21, Applicable Standards in 29 CFR Part 
1910 (59 FR 36700, dated 7/19/94, and 59 FR 51748, dated 10/12/94).
    These standards, contained in New Mexico Occupational Health and 
Safety Regulations 11 NMAC 5.2, 11 NMAC 5.3, and 11 NMAC 5.4, were 
promulgated on April 21, 1995, in accordance with applicable State law.
    The subject standards became effective May 26, 1995, pursuant to 
New Mexico State Law, Sections 50-9-1 through 50-9-25.
    By letter dated June 18, 1996, from Sam A. Rogers, Bureau Chief, to 
Emzell Blanton, Jr., Regional Administrator, and incorporated as part 
of the plan, the State submitted State standards identical to Federal 
standards as follow: 29 CFR 1910, General Industry Standards, with 
Federal promulgation date through July 1, 1995; Amendment to 1910.266, 
Logging Operations (60 FR 47035-47037, dated 9/8/95); Amendment to 
1910.1025, Lead (60 FR 52859, dated 10/11/95); Amendment to 1910.272, 
Grain Handling Facilities (61 FR 9583-9584, dated 3/8/96); Amend-ments 
to 1910.133, Eye and Face Protection, 1910.135, Hand Protection, and 
1910.136, Foot Protection (61 FR 19548, dated 5/2/96); 29 CFR 1926, 
Construction Standards, through July 1, 1995; and Corrections to 
1926.1101, Asbestos (60 FR 36044, dated 7/13/95, and 60 FR 50411-50413, 
dated 9/29/95).
    These standards, contained in New Mexico Occupational Health and 
Safety Regulations 11 NMAC 5.2 and 11 NMAC 5.3, were promulgated on 
June 14, 1996, in accordance with applicable State law.
    The subject standards became effective July 15, 1996, pursuant to 
New Mexico State Law, Sections 50-9-1 through 50-9-25.
    By letter dated February 17, 1997, from Sam A. Rogers, Bureau 
Chief, to Emzell Blanton, Regional Administrator, and incorporated as 
part of the plan, the State submitted State standards identical to 
Federal standards as follow: Correction to 1910.136, Foot Protection 
(61 FR 21228, dated 5/9/96); Amendment to 1910.1001, Asbestos (61 FR 
43457, dated 8/23/96); Amendments to 1910.19, Special Provisions for 
Air Contaminants, Amendments to 1910.1000, Air Contaminants, and 
Addition of 1910.1052, Methylene Chloride (62 FR 1600-1618, dated 1/10/
97); Corrections to 1926.416, General Requirements, and 1926.417, 
Lockout and Tagging of Circuits (61 FR 41738-41739, dated 8/12/96); 
Amendment to 1926.1101, Asbestos (61 FR 43458-43459, dated 8/23/96); 
Amendment and Corrections to 1926, Subpart L, Scaffolding (61 FR 46104-
46131, dated 8/30/96, and 61 FR 59831-59832, dated 11/25/96); and 
Addition of 1926.1152, Methylene Chloride (62 FR 1619, dated 1/10/97).
    These standards, contained in New Mexico Occupational Health and 
Safety Regulations 11 NMAC 5.2 and 11 NMAC 5.3, were promulgated on 
February 14, 1997, in accordance with applicable State law.
    The subject standards became effective March 16, 1997, pursuant to

[[Page 39553]]

New Mexico State Law, Sections 50-9-1 through 50-9-25.

Substantially Identical Standards

    By letter dated October 2, 1986, from Sam A. Rogers, Bureau Chief, 
to Gilbert J. Saulter, former Regional Administrator, and incorporated 
as part of the plan, the State submitted OHS Regulation 402, Field 
Sanitation, which adopted OSHA's proposed 1984 Field Sanitation 
standard. The State standard was promulgated on June 12, 1986, and went 
into effect on July 23, 1986, pursuant to New Mexico State Law, 
Sections 50-9-1 through 50-9-25.
    In May 1987, OSHA published a final Field Sanitation standard, 29 
CFR 1928.110, which extended coverage to mushroom harvesting 
operations, and added a training requirement provision. On October 26, 
1987, in response to OSHA's revised standard, the State resubmitted its 
earlier version of the Field Sanitation standard, and was informed that 
the mushroom harvesting and training requirement provisions of the 
standard must be addressed either by amending the standard, or through 
administrative action.
    On February 5, 1993, New Mexico submitted documentation attesting 
to the fact that there is no mushroom harvesting industry in the State, 
and that the training requirements have been implemented through 
administrative action.

Independent State Standard

    By letter dated October 2, 1986, from Sam A. Rogers, Bureau Chief, 
to Gilbert J. Saulter, former Regional Administrator, New Mexico 
submitted a State-initiated standard on Hoes for Weeding and Thinning 
Crops, OHSR 401. The standard was promulgated on June 12, 1986, and 
went into effect on July 23, 1986, in accordance with New Mexico State 
Law, sections 50-9-1 through 50-9-25. The standard prohibits the use of 
a hoe with a handle less than four feet in length for weeding and 
thinning crops, based on the existence of other practical and adequate 
alternatives to the use of these short-handled hoes. There are no 
comparable Federal standards or compliance policies that would apply to 
the conditions regulated by New Mexico under this standard.
    2. Decision. Having reviewed the State submissions [dated 7/26/94; 
7/11/95; 6/18/96; and 2/17/97] in comparison with the Federal 
standards, it has been determined that the State's standards are 
identical to the comparable Federal standards, and are accordingly 
approved. OSHA has also determined that the State's recodified 
standards at 11 NMAC 5.2 (General Industry), 11 NMAC 5.3 
(Construction), and 11 NMAC 5.4 (Agriculture), are identical to the 
comparable Federal standards, and therefore approves the standards.
    OSHA has determined that New Mexico's Field Sanitation standard is 
at least as effective as the comparable Federal standard, as required 
by section 18(c)(2) of the Act. OSHA has determined that the 
differences between the State and Federal standards are minimal, and 
that the standards are ``substantially identical.'' OSHA therefore 
approves this standard.
    OSHA has reviewed New Mexico's independent standard for Tools for 
Weeding and Thinning Crops in comparison to existing OSHA enforcement 
policies and procedures, and has determined that the standard is at 
least as effective. This standard has been in effect since July 23, 
1986. During this time, OSHA has received no indication of significant 
objection to the State's independent standard, as to its conformance 
with the product clause requirements of section 18(c)(2) of the Act. 
[Previously, after an opportunity for public comment, OSHA approved the 
State of Arizona's standard, Hoes for Weeding and Thinning Crops (51 FR 
17684).] OSHA therefore approves New Mexico's standard, Tools for 
Weeding and Thinning Crops. However, the right to reconsider this 
approval is reserved, should substantial objections be submitted to the 
Assistant Secretary.
    3. Location of Supplement for Inspection and Copying. A copy of the 
standards supplement, along with the approved plan, may be inspected 
and copied during normal business hours at the following locations: 
Office of the Regional Administrator, U.S. Department of Labor-OSHA, 
525 Griffin Street, Room 602, Dallas, Texas 75202; Office of the 
Secretary, Environment Department, 1190 St. Francis Drive, Room 2200-
North, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87503; and the Office of State Programs, 
200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room N3700, Washington, D.C. 20210.
    4. Public participation. Under 29 CFR 1953.2(c), the Assistant 
Secretary may prescribe alternative procedures to expedite the review 
process or for other good cause which may be consistent with applicable 
laws. The Assistant Secretary finds that good cause exists for not 
publishing the supplements to the New Mexico State Plan as proposed 
changes, and making the Regional Administrator's approval effective 
upon publication for the following reason.
    The standards were adopted in accordance with the procedural 
requirements of State law, which included public comment, and further 
public participation would be repetitious.
    The decision is effective July 23, 1997.

(Sec. 18, Pub. L. 91-596, 84 Stat. 1608 (29 U.S.C. 667)).

    Signed at Dallas, Texas, this twenty-fifth day of February 1997.
Emzell Blanton, Jr.,
Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-19364 Filed 7-22-97; 8:45 am]
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