[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 29 (Monday, February 13, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7974-7979]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-1652]



[[Page 7973]]

Vol. 77

Monday,

No. 29

February 13, 2012

Part XII





Department of Labor





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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

  Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 29 / Monday, February 13, 2012 / 
Unified Agenda  

[[Page 7974]]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary

20 CFR Chs. I, IV, V, VI, VII, and IX

29 CFR Subtitle A and Chs. II, IV, V, XVII, and XXV

30 CFR Ch. I

41 CFR Ch. 60

48 CFR Ch. 29


Semiannual Agenda of Regulations

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Labor.

ACTION: Semiannual regulatory agenda.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Internet has become the means for disseminating the 
entirety of the Department of Labor's semiannual regulatory agenda. 
However, the Regulatory Flexibility Act requires publication of a 
regulatory flexibility agenda in the Federal Register. This Federal 
Register notice contains the regulatory flexibility agenda. In 
addition, the Department's regulatory plan, a subset of the 
Department's regulatory agenda, is being published in the Federal 
Register. The regulatory plan contains a statement of the Department's 
regulatory priorities and the regulatory actions the Department wants 
to highlight as its most important and significant.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Franks, Director, Office of 
Regulatory Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy, U.S. 
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room S-2312, 
Washington, DC 20210; 202 693-5959.

    Note: Information pertaining to a specific regulation can be 
obtained from the agency contact listed for that particular 
regulation.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Executive Order 12866 requires the 
semiannual publication of an agenda of regulations that contains a 
listing of all the regulations the Department of Labor expects to have 
under active consideration for promulgation, proposal, or review during 
the coming one-year period. The entirety of the Department's semiannual 
agenda is available online at www.reginfo.gov.
    On January 18, 2011, the President issued Executive Order (E.O.) 
13563, entitled ``Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review.'' The 
Department of Labor's fall 2011 regulatory agenda aims to achieve more 
efficient and less burdensome regulation through our renewed commitment 
to conduct retrospective reviews of regulations.
    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 602) requires DOL to 
publish in the Federal Register a regulatory flexibility agenda. The 
Department's Regulatory Flexibility Agenda published with this notice, 
includes only those rules on its semiannual agenda that are likely to 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities; and those rules identified for periodic review in keeping 
with the requirements of section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. 
Thus, the regulatory flexibility agenda is a subset of the Department's 
semiannual regulatory agenda. At this time, there is only one item, 
listed below, on the Department's regulatory flexibility agenda.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Bloodborne Pathogens (RIN 1218-AC34)

    In addition, the Department's regulatory plan, also a subset of the 
Department's regulatory agenda, is being published in the Federal 
Register. The Regulatory Plan contains a statement of the Department's 
regulatory priorities and the regulatory actions the Department wants 
to highlight as its most important and significant.
    All interested members of the public are invited and encouraged to 
let departmental officials know how our regulatory efforts can be 
improved, and are invited to participate in and comment on the review 
or development of the regulations listed on the Department's agenda.

Hilda L. Solis,
Secretary of Labor.

       Office of Workers' Compensation Programs--Completed Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
397.......................  Regulations Implementing           1240-AA02
                             the Longshore and Harbor
                             Workers' Compensation
                             Act: Recreational Vessels.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


     Employee Benefits Security Administration--Proposed Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
398.......................  Filings Required of                1210-AB51
                             Multiple Employer Welfare
                             Arrangements and Certain
                             Other Entities That Offer
                             or Provide Coverage for
                             Medical Care to the
                             Employees of Two or More
                             Employers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


      Occupational Safety and Health Administration--Prerule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
399.......................  Bloodborne Pathogens               1218-AC34
                             (Section 610 Review).
------------------------------------------------------------------------


   Occupational Safety and Health Administration--Proposed Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
400.......................  Occupational Exposure to           1218-AB70
                             Crystalline Silica (Reg
                             Plan Seq No. 100).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
References in boldface appear in The Regulatory Plan in part II of this
  issue of the Federal Register.


[[Page 7975]]


     Occupational Safety and Health Administration--Final Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
401.......................  Confined Spaces in                 1218-AB47
                             Construction.
402.......................  Electric Power                     1218-AB67
                             Transmission and
                             Distribution; Electrical
                             Protective Equipment.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Occupational Safety and Health Administration--Long-Term Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
403.......................  Occupational Exposure to           1218-AB76
                             Beryllium.
404.......................  Occupational Exposure to           1218-AC33
                             Food Flavorings
                             Containing Diacetyl and
                             Diacetyl Substitutes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP)

Completed Actions

397. Regulations Implementing the Longshore and Harbor Workers' 
Compensation Act: Recreational Vessels

    Legal Authority: 33 U.S.C. 939
    Abstract: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 
amended the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, 33 U.S.C. 
901 to 950, to exclude from the Act's coverage certain employees who 
repair recreational vessels and who dismantle them for repair, 
regardless of the vessel's length. On August 17, 2010, (republished on 
Oct. 15, 2010), the Department issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
revising the definition of recreational vessel and addressing coverage 
of those employees who work in both qualifying maritime employment and 
employment excluded under the amendment. The comment period ended on 
November 17, 2010.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   08/17/10  75 FR 50718
NPRM Republished....................   10/15/10  75 FR 63425
NPRM Comment Period End.............   11/17/10  .......................
Final Action........................   12/30/11  76 FR 82117
Final Action Effective..............   01/30/12  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Brandon Miller, Chief, Branch of Financial 
Management, Insurance and Assessment, Department of Labor, Office of 
Workers' Compensation Programs, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., FP 
Building, Room C-4315, Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202 693-0925, Fax: 
202 693-1380, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 1240-AA02

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)

Proposed Rule Stage

398.  Filings Required of Multiple Employer Welfare 
Arrangements and Certain Other Entities That Offer or Provide Coverage 
for Medical Care to the Employees of Two or More Employers

    Legal Authority: sec 6606 of the Patient Protection and Affordable 
Care Act; Pub. L. 111-148; 124 Stat 119 (2010)
    Abstract: This is a proposed rule under title I of the Employee 
Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) that, upon adoption, would 
implement reporting requirements for multiple employer welfare 
arrangements (MEWAs) and certain other entities that offer or provide 
health benefits for employees of two or more employers. The proposal 
amends existing reporting rules to incorporate new requirements enacted 
as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Affordable 
Care Act) and to more clearly address the reporting obligations of 
MEWAs that are ERISA plans.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   12/06/11  76 FR 76222
NPRM Comment Period End.............   03/05/12  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Amy J. Turner, Senior Advisor, Department of Labor, 
Employee Benefits Security Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., 
FP Building, Room N-5653, Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202 693-8335, 
Fax: 202 219-1942.
    RIN: 1210-AB51

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Prerule Stage

399. Bloodborne Pathogens (Section 610 Review)

    Legal Authority: 5 U.S.C. 533; 5 U.S.C. 610; 29 U.S.C. 655(b)
    Abstract: OSHA will undertake a review of the Bloodborne Pathogen 
Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) in accordance with the requirements of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act and section 5 of Executive Order 12866. The 
review will consider the continued need for the rule; whether the rule 
overlaps, duplicates, or conflicts with other Federal, State or local 
regulations; and the degree to which technology, economic conditions, 
or other factors may have changed since the rule was evaluated.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Begin Review........................   10/22/09  .......................
Request for Comments Published......   05/14/10  75 FR 27237
Comment Period End..................   08/12/10  .......................
End Review and Issue Findings.......   04/00/12  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No.
    Agency Contact: Dorothy Dougherty, Acting Director, Directorate of 
Evaluation and Analysis, Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and 
Health Administration, Room N-3641, FP Building, 200 Constitution 
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202 693-2400, Fax: 202 693-
1641, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 1218-AC34


[[Page 7976]]



DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Proposed Rule Stage

400. Occupational Exposure to Crystalline Silica

    Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 100 in part II of this 
issue of the Federal Register.
    RIN: 1218-AB70

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Final Rule Stage

401. Confined Spaces in Construction

    Legal Authority: 29 U.S.C. 655(b); 40 U.S.C. 333
    Abstract: In 1993, OSHA issued a rule to protect employees who 
enter confined spaces while engaged in general industry work (29 CFR 
1910.146). This standard has not been extended to cover employees 
entering confined spaces while engaged in construction work because of 
unique characteristics of construction worksites. Pursuant to 
discussions with the United Steel Workers of America that led to a 
settlement agreement regarding the general industry standard, OSHA 
agreed to issue a proposed rule to protect construction workers in 
confined spaces.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SBREFA Panel Report.................   11/24/03  .......................
NPRM................................   11/28/07  72 FR 67351
NPRM Comment Period End.............   01/28/08  .......................
NPRM Comment Period Extended........   02/28/08  73 FR 3893
Public Hearing......................   07/22/08  .......................
Close Record........................   10/23/08  .......................
Final Action........................   06/00/12  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Jim Maddux, Director, Directorate of Construction, 
Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 
Room N-3468, FP Building, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20210, Phone: 202 693-2020, Fax: 202 693-1689, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 1218-AB47

402. Electric Power Transmission and Distribution; Electrical 
Protective Equipment

    Legal Authority: 29 U.S.C. 655(b); 40 U.S.C. 333
    Abstract: Electrical hazards are a major cause of occupational 
death in the United States. The annual fatality rate for power line 
workers is about 50 deaths per 100,000 employees. The construction 
industry standard addressing the safety of these workers during the 
construction of electric power transmission and distribution lines is 
over 35 years old. OSHA has developed a revision of this standard that 
will prevent many of these fatalities, add flexibility to the standard, 
and update and streamline the standard. OSHA also intends to amend the 
corresponding standard for general industry so that requirements for 
work performed during the maintenance of electric power transmission 
and distribution installations are the same as those for similar work 
in construction. In addition, OSHA will be revising a few miscellaneous 
general industry requirements primarily affecting electric transmission 
and distribution work, including provisions on electrical protective 
equipment and foot protection. This rulemaking also addresses fall 
protection in aerial lifts for work on power generation, transmission, 
and distribution installations. OSHA published an NPRM on June 15, 
2005. A public hearing was held from March 6 through March 14, 2006. 
OSHA reopened the record to gather additional information on minimum 
approach distances for specific ranges of voltages. The record was 
reopened a second time to allow more time for comment and to gather 
information on minimum approach distances for all voltages and on the 
newly revised Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 
consensus standard. Additionally, a public hearing was held on October 
28, 2009.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SBREFA Report.......................   06/30/03  .......................
NPRM................................   06/15/05  70 FR 34821
NPRM Comment Period End.............   10/13/05  .......................
Comment Period Extended to 01/11/      10/12/05  70 FR 59290
 2006.
Public Hearing To Be Held 03/06/2006   10/12/05  70 FR 59290
Posthearing Comment Period End......   07/14/06  .......................
Reopen Record.......................   10/22/08  73 FR 62942
Comment Period End..................   11/21/08  .......................
Close Record........................   11/21/08  .......................
Second Reopening Record.............   09/14/09  74 FR 46958
Comment Period End..................   10/15/09  .......................
Public Hearings.....................   10/28/09  .......................
Posthearing Comment Period End......   02/10/10  .......................
Final Rule..........................   05/00/12  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Dorothy Dougherty, Acting Director, Directorate of 
Evaluation and Analysis, Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and 
Health Administration, Room N-3641, FP Building, 200 Constitution 
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202 693-2400, Fax: 202 693-
1641, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 1218-AB67

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Long-Term Actions

403. Occupational Exposure to Beryllium

    Legal Authority: 29 U.S.C. 655(b); 29 U.S.C. 657
    Abstract: In 1999 and 2001, OSHA was petitioned to issue an 
emergency temporary standard by the United Steel Workers (formerly the 
Paper Allied-Industrial, Chemical, and Energy Workers Union), Public 
Citizen Health Research Group, and others. The Agency denied the 
petitions but stated its intent to begin data gathering to collect 
needed information on beryllium's toxicity, risks, and patterns of 
usage.
    On November 26, 2002, OSHA published a Request for Information 
(RFI) (67 FR 70707) to solicit information pertinent to occupational 
exposure to beryllium, including: Current exposures to beryllium; the 
relationship between exposure to beryllium and the development of 
adverse health effects; exposure assessment and monitoring methods; 
exposure control methods; and medical surveillance. In addition, the 
Agency conducted field surveys of selected worksites to assess current 
exposures and control methods being used to reduce employee exposures 
to beryllium. OSHA convened a Small Business Advocacy Review Panel 
under

[[Page 7977]]

the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) and 
completed the SBREFA Report in January 2008. OSHA completed a 
scientific peer review of its draft risk assessment.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request for Information.............   11/26/02  67 FR 70707
Request For Information Comment        02/24/03  .......................
 Period End.
SBREFA Report Completed.............   01/23/08  .......................
Initiated Peer Review of Health        03/22/10  .......................
 Effects and Risk Assessment.
Complete Peer Review................   11/19/10  .......................
Next Action Undetermined............             .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Dorothy Dougherty, Acting Director, Directorate of 
Evaluation and Analysis, Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and 
Health Administration, Room N-3641, FP Building, 200 Constitution 
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202 693-2400, Fax: 202 693-
1641, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 1218-AB76

404. Occupational Exposure to Food Flavorings Containing Diacetyl and 
Diacetyl Substitutes

    Legal Authority: 29 U.S.C. 655(b); 29 U.S.C. 657
    Abstract: On July 26, 2006, the United Food and Commercial Workers 
International Union (UFCW) and the International Brotherhood of 
Teamsters (IBT) petitioned DOL for an Emergency Temporary Standard 
(ETS) for all employees exposed to diacetyl, a major component in 
artificial butter flavoring. Diacetyl and a number of other volatile 
organic compounds are used to manufacture artificial butter food 
flavorings. These food flavorings are used by various food 
manufacturers in a multitude of food products, including microwave 
popcorn, certain bakery goods, and some snack foods. Evidence indicates 
that exposure to flavorings containing diacetyl is associated with 
adverse effects on the respiratory system, including bronchiolitis 
obliterans, a debilitating and potentially fatal lung disease. OSHA 
denied the petition on September 25, 2007, but has initiated 6(b) 
rulemaking. OSHA published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(ANPRM) on January 21, 2009, but withdrew the ANPRM on March 17, 2009, 
in order to facilitate timely development of a standard. The Agency 
subsequently initiated review of the draft proposed standard in 
accordance with the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act 
(SBREFA). The SBREFA Panel Report was completed on July 2, 2009. NIOSH 
is currently developing a criteria document on occupational exposure to 
diacetyl. The criteria document will also address exposure to 2,3-
pentanedione, a chemical that is structurally similar to diacetyl and 
has been used as a substitute for diacetyl in some applications. It 
will include an assessment of the effects of exposure as well as 
quantitative risk assessment. OSHA intends to rely on these portions of 
the criteria document for the health effects analysis and quantitative 
risk assessment for the Agency's diacetyl rulemaking.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stakeholder Meeting.................   10/17/07  72 FR 54619
ANPRM...............................   01/21/09  74 FR 3937
ANPRM Withdrawn.....................   03/17/09  74 FR 11329
ANPRM Comment Period End............   04/21/09  .......................
Completed SBREFA Report.............   07/02/09  .......................
Next Action Undetermined............             .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Dorothy Dougherty, Acting Director, Directorate of 
Evaluation and Analysis, Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and 
Health Administration, Room N-3641, FP Building, 200 Constitution 
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202 693-2400, Fax: 202 693-
1641, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 1218-AC33

[FR Doc. 2012-1652 Filed 2-10-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-04-P