[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 2, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 73197-73199]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28608]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

29 CFR Part 1926

[Docket ID-OSHA-2007-0066]
RIN 1218-AC01


Cranes and Derricks in Construction

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

ACTION: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; extension of written comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: On October 9, 2008, OSHA published a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NPRM) titled ``Cranes and Derricks in Construction.'' The 
period for submitting written comments is being extended 45 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 (postmarked or sent) by January 22, 
2009.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments, identified by Docket No.

[[Page 73198]]

OSHA-2007-0066, by any of the following methods:
    Electronically: You may submit comments and attachments 
electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions online for making 
electronic submissions.
    Fax: If your comments, 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: 
You must submit three copies of your comments and attachments to the 
OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. OSHA-2007-0066 or RIN No. 1218-AC01, 
Technical Data Center, 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). Please contact the OSHA 
Docket Office for information about security procedures concerning 
delivery of materials by express delivery, hand delivery, and messenger 
service. 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 submissions must include the Agency name and the 
docket number for this rulemaking (Docket No. OSHA-2007-0066). All 
comments, including any personal information you provide, are placed in 
the public docket without change and may be made available online at 
http://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, OSHA cautions you about 
submitting personal information such as social security numbers and 
birthdates. For further information on submitting comments, plus 
additional information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this document.
    Docket: To read or download comments and materials submitted in 
response to this Federal Register notice, go to Docket No. OSHA-2007-
0066 at http://www.regulations.gov or at the OSHA Docket Office at the 
above address. All comments and submissions 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 page. All comments and submissions, including copyrighted material, 
are available for inspection and copying at the OSHA Docket Office.
    For information on accessing exhibits referenced in the Cranes and 
Derricks in Construction proposal, see the ``Public Participation'' 
heading in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
    Electronic copies of this Federal Register document are available 
at http://www.regulations.gov. This document, as well as news releases 
and other relevant information, also are available at OSHA's Web page 
at http://www.osha.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General information and press 
inquiries: Contact Ms. Jennifer Ashley, Office of Communications, Room 
N-3647, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20210; telephone (202) 693-1999.
    Technical inquiries: Contact Mr. Garvin Branch, Directorate of 
Construction, Room N-3468, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone (202) 693-
2020 or fax (202) 693-1689.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Extension of the Comment Period

    On October 9, 2008, at 73 FR 59713, OSHA published a Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) titled ``Cranes and Derricks in 
Construction.'' In this NPRM, OSHA announced a proposed rule for cranes 
and derricks in construction, provided an explanation of the rule and 
its economic analysis, and solicited comments from the public regarding 
various issues related to the safe operation of cranes and derricks. 
The period for submitting written comments was to expire on December 8, 
2008. However, a significant number of stakeholders have requested an 
extension (ranging from 60-90 days) for submitting their written 
comments and information. Some of the stakeholders noted that the 
length of the Federal Register notice (over 200 pages), the number of 
specific requests for public comments included in the NPRM (estimated 
at 150), and the numerous reference materials related to the NPRM all 
require more time for review than initially provided. In addition to 
those reasons, stakeholders have noted that they have not previously 
had the opportunity to consider many of the issues about which OSHA 
requests public comments, and further note that the Preliminary 
Economic Analysis and Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis are 
complex, extensive, and will require a thorough and accurate 
assessment.
    OSHA believes that a 45-day extension will be sufficient to 
accommodate these considerations, facilitate the submission of more 
thorough reviews, and provide OSHA with a complete record for this 
proposed rule that will improve the information available to OSHA in 
developing a final rule. Accordingly, OSHA is extending the comment 
period by 45 days, and written comments must now be submitted (sent or 
postmarked) by January 22, 2009.

II. Submission of Comments and Access to Comments

    You may submit comments in response to this document: (1) 
Electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal; (2) by facsimile (Fax); or (3) by hard copy. All 
comments, attachments, and other material must identify the Agency name 
and the OSHA docket number for this rulemaking (Docket No. OSHA-2007-
0066). You may supplement electronic submissions by uploading document 
files electronically. If, instead, you prefer to mail additional 
materials in reference to an electronic or fax submission, you must 
submit three copies to the OSHA Docket Office (see ADDRESSES section of 
this notice). The additional materials must clearly identify your 
electronic comments by name, date, and docket number so OSHA can attach 
them to your comments.
    Because of security-related procedures, the use of regular mail may 
cause a significant delay in the receipt of comments. 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 of this notice).
    Comments and submissions in response to this Federal Register 
notice are posted without change at http://www.regulations.gov (Docket 
No. OSHA-2007-0066). Therefore, OSHA cautions commenters about 
submitting personal information such as social security numbers and 
dates of birth.
    Although all submissions in response to this Federal Register 
notice, and all supporting materials cited in the Cranes and Derricks 
in Construction proposal, are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov 
and http://dockets.osha.gov indexes, some information (e.g., 
copyrighted material) is not publicly available to read or download 
from these Web pages. All submissions and supporting materials, 
including copyrighted material, are available for inspection and 
copying at the OSHA Docket Office.
    Information on using the http://www.regulations.gov Web page to 
submit comments is available at the Web page's ``User Tips'' link. 
Contact the OSHA Docket Office for information

[[Page 73199]]

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

Authority and Signature

    This document was prepared under the authority of Thomas M. 
Stohler, Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety 
and Health, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20210, pursuant to sections 4, 6, and 8 of the OSH 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.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on November 25, 2008.
Thomas M. Stohler,
Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
 [FR Doc. E8-28608 Filed 12-1-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-P