[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 170 (Thursday, September 1, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60272-60274]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20442]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

29 CFR Part 1910, 1915, and 1926

[Docket No. OSHA-2010-0034]
RIN 1218-AB70


Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica; 
Correction

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Department of 
Labor.

ACTION: Final rule; correcting amendment.

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SUMMARY: OSHA published a final rule on occupational exposure to 
respirable crystalline silica on March 25, 2016 which became effective 
on June 23, 2016. This document corrects typographical errors in the 
final rule by revising these sections.

DATES: Effective September 1, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Annette Iannucci, 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; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 25, 2016, OSHA published a final 
rule entitled Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica 
(81 FR 16285-16890). The final rule retained the preceding permissible 
exposure limits (PELs) for respirable crystalline silica in general 
industry (29 CFR 1910.1000, Table Z-3), shipyards (29 CFR 1915.1000, 
Table Z), and construction (29 CFR 1926.55, appendix A), and added 
footnotes to make clear that these PELs apply to any sectors or 
operations where the new PEL of 50 [mu]g/m\3\ is not in effect. The 
preceding PELs apply to operations that are not covered by the new 
standards, such as the processing of sorptive clays. The preceding PELs 
are also applicable during the time between publication of the silica 
rule and the dates established for compliance with the rule, as well as 
in the event of regulatory delay, a stay, or partial or full 
invalidation by the Court.
    This document corrects typographical errors in the formulas for the 
preceding PELs, so that they will appear as they did prior to 
publication of the final rule.

List of Subjects in 29 CFR Parts 1910, 1915, and 1926

    Cancer, Chemicals, Cristobalite, Crystalline silica, Hazardous 
substances, Health, Lung diseases, Occupational safety and health, 
Quartz, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Silica, Silicosis, 
Tridymite.

Authority and Signature

    This document was prepared under the direction of David Michaels, 
Ph.D., MPH, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and 
Health. It is issued 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); section 107 of the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards 
Act (the Construction Safety Act) (40 U.S.C. 3704); section 41 of the 
Longshore and Harbor Worker's Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. 941); 
Secretary of Labor's Order 1-2012 (77 FR 3912 (1/25/2012)); and 29 CFR 
part 1911.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on August 5, 2016.
David Michaels,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.

    Accordingly, for the reasons set forth in the preamble above, the 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration is amending 29 CFR parts 
1910, 1915, and 1926 as follows:

PART 1910--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS

0
1. The authority citation for part 1910 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  29 U.S.C. 653, 655, 657; Secretary of Labor's Order 
Numbers 12-71 (36 FR 8754), 8-76 (41 FR 25059), 9-83 (48 FR 35736), 
1-90 (55 FR 9033), 6-96 (62 FR 111), 3-2000 (65 FR 50017), 5-2002 
(67 FR 65008), 5-2007 (72 FR 31159), 4-2010 (75 FR 55355), or 1-2012 
(77 FR 3912), as applicable.

    Sections 1910.6, 1910.7, 1910.8 and 1910.9 also issued under 29 
CFR 1911. Section 1910.7(f) also issued under 31 U.S.C. 9701, 29 
U.S.C. 9a, 5 U.S.C. 553; Public Law 106-113 (113 Stat. 1501A-222); 
Pub. L. 11-8 and 111-317; and OMB Circular A-25 (dated July 8, 1993) 
(58 FR 38142, July 15, 1993).

0
2. In Sec.  1910.1000, in Table Z-3, revise the entries for ``Silica: 
Crystalline Quartz (Respirable)'', ``Silica: Crystalline 
Cristobalite'', and ``Silica: Crystalline Tridymite'' to read as 
follows:


Sec.  1910.1000  Air contaminants.

* * * * *

                                            Table Z-3--Mineral Dusts
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Substance                             mppcf \a\                               mg/m \3\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Silica:
    Crystalline
        Quartz (Respirable) \f\..........  250\b\                                  10 mg/m\3 e\
                                          --------------------------------        ------------------------------
                                           % SiO2 + 5                              % SiO2 + 2
    Cristobalite: Use \1/2\ the value
     calculated from the count or mass
     formulae for quartz.\f\
    Tridymite: Use \1/2\ the value
     calculated from the formulae for
     quartz.\f\
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    \a\ Millions of particles per cubic foot of air, based on impinger 
samples counted by light-field techniques.
    \b\ The percentage of crystalline silica in the formula is the 
amount determined from airborne samples, except in those instances in 
which other methods have been shown to be applicable.
* * * * *
    \e\ Both concentration and percent quartz for the application of 
this limit are to be determined from the fraction passing a size-
selector with the following characteristics:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Percent passing
      Aerodynamic diameter (unit density sphere)            selector
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2....................................................                 90
2.5..................................................                 75
3.5..................................................                 50
5.0..................................................                 25
10...................................................                  0
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 60273]]

    The measurements under this note refer to the use of an AEC (now 
NRC) instrument. The respirable fraction of coal dust is determined 
with an MRE; the figure corresponding to that of 2.4 mg/m\3\ in the 
table for coal dust is 4.5 mg/m\3K\.
    \f\ This standard applies to any operations or sectors for which 
the respirable crystalline silica standard, 1910.1053, is stayed or is 
otherwise not in effect.

PART 1915--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS FOR SHIPYARD 
EMPLOYMENT

0
3. The authority citation for part 1915 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  Section 41, Longshore and Harbor Workers' 
Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. 941); 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 No. 12-71 (36 FR 8754), 8-76 (41 FR 
25059), 9-83 (48 FR 35736), 1-90 (55 FR 9033), 6-96 (62 FR 111), 3-
2000 (65 FR 50017), 5-2002 (67 FR 65008), 5-2007 (72 FR 31160), 4-
2010 (75 FR 55355), or 1-2012 (77 FR 3912), as applicable; 29 CFR 
part 1911.

    Sections 1915.120 and 1915.152 of 29 CFR also issued under 29 
CFR part 1911.

0
4. In Sec.  1915.1000, amend Table Z by:
0
a. Revising the entries for ``Silica, crystalline, respirable dust, 
cristobalite'', ``Silica, crystalline, respirable dust, quartz'', 
``Silica, crystalline, respirable dust, tripoli (as quartz)'', and 
``Silica, crystalline, respirable dust, tridymite''; and
0
b. Under the ``MINERAL DUSTS'' heading of the table, revising the entry 
for ``Silica: Crystalline Quartz''.
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  1915.1000  Air contaminants.

* * * * *

                                               Table Z--Shipyards
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Substance                CAS No.\d\       ppm \a*\        mg/m\3 b*\          Skin designation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
Silica, crystalline, respirable
 dust
    Cristobalite; see 1915.1053...      14464-46-1
    Quartz; see 1915.1053 \5\.....      14808-60-7
    Tripoli (as quartz); see             1317-95-9
     1915.1053 \5\.
    Tridymite; see 1915.1053......      15468-32-3
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                              Mineral Dusts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Substance                           mppcf \(j)\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SILICA:
  Crystalline..........................................       250 \(k)\
                                                        ----------------
Quartz. Threshold Limit calculated from the formula          % SiO2 + 5
 \(p)\.................................................
 
                                * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    \5\ See Mineral Dusts table for the exposure limit for any 
operations or sectors where the exposure limit in Sec.  1915.1053 is 
stayed or is otherwise not in effect.
    * The PELs are 8-hour TWAs unless otherwise noted; a (C) 
designation denotes a ceiling limit. They are to be determined from 
breathing-zone air samples.
    \a\ Parts of vapor or gas per million parts of contaminated air by 
volume at 25 [deg]C and 760 torr.
    \b\ Milligrams of substance per cubic meter of air. When entry is 
in this column only, the value is exact; when listed with a ppm entry, 
it is approximate.
* * * * *
    \d\ The CAS number is for information only. Enforcement is based on 
the substance name. For an entry covering more than one metal compound, 
measured as the metal, the CAS number for the metal is given--not CAS 
numbers for the individual compounds.
* * * * *
    \p\ This standard applies to any operations or sectors for which 
the respirable crystalline silica standard, 1915.1053, is stayed or 
otherwise is not in effect.
* * * * *

PART 1926--SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION

Subpart D--Occupational Health and Environmental Controls

0
5. The authority citation for part 1926, subpart D, continues to read 
as follows:

    Authority:  Section 107 of the Contract Work Hours and Safety 
Standards Act (40 U.S.C. 3704); Sections 4, 6, and 8 of the 
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 653, 655, 
657); and Secretary of Labor's Order No. 12-71 (36 FR 8754), 8-76 
(41 FR 25059), 9-83 (48 FR 35736), 1-90 (55 FR 9033), 6-96 (62 FR 
111), 3-2000 (65 FR 50017), 5-2002 (67 FR 65008), 5-2007 (72 FR 
31160), 4-2010 (75 FR 55355), or 1-2012 (77 FR 3912), as applicable; 
and 29 CFR part 1911.
    Sections 1926.58, 1926.59, 1926.60, and 1926.65 also issued 
under 5 U.S.C. 553 and 29 CFR part 1911.
    Section 1926.61 also issued under 49 U.S.C. 1801-1819 and 6 
U.S.C. 553.
    Section 1926.62 also issued under section 1031 of the Housing 
and Community Development Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 4853).
    Section 1926.65 also issued under section 126 of the Superfund 
Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, as amended (reprinted at 
29 U.S.C.A. 655 Note), and 5 U.S.C. 553.

0
6. In Sec.  1926.55, in appendix A, in the table titled ``Threshold 
Limit Values of Airborne Contaminants for Construction'':
0
a. Revise the entries for ``Silica, crystalline, respirable dust, 
cristobalite'', ``Silica, crystalline, respirable dust, quartz'', 
``Silica, crystalline, respirable dust, tripoli (as quartz)'', and 
``Silica, crystalline, respirable dust, tridymite'';
0
b. Under the ``MINERAL DUSTS'' heading of the table, revise the entry 
for ``Silica: Crystalline Quartz''
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  1926.55  Gases, vapors, fumes, dusts, and mists.

* * * * *

Appendix A to Sec.  1926.55--1970 American Conference of Governmental 
Industrial Hygienists' Threshold Limit Values of Airborne Contaminants

[[Page 60274]]



                        Threshold Limit Values of Airborne Contaminants for Construction
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Substance                CAS No.\d\       ppm \a*\         mg/m\3 b\          Skin designation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
Silica, crystalline, respirable
 dust
    Cristobalite; see 1926.1153...      14464-46-1
    Quartz; see 1926.1153 \5\.....      14808-60-7
    Tripoli (as quartz); see             1317-95-9
     1926.1153 \5\.
    Tridymite; see 1926.1153......      15468-32-3
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                              Mineral Dusts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SILICA:
  Crystalline..........................................        250\(k)\
                                                        ----------------
Quartz. Threshold Limit calculated from the formula          % SiO2 + 5
 \(p)\.................................................
 
                                * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    \5\ See Mineral Dusts table for the exposure limit for any 
operations or sectors where the exposure limit in Sec.  1926.1153 is 
stayed or is otherwise not in effect.
    * The PELs are 8-hour TWAs unless otherwise noted; a (C) 
designation denotes a ceiling limit.
* * * * *
    \a\ Parts of vapor or gas per million parts of contaminated air 
by volume at 25 [deg]C and 760 torr.
    \b\ Milligrams of substance per cubic meter of air. When entry 
is in this column only, the value is exact; when listed with a ppm 
entry, it is approximate.
* * * * *
    \d\ The CAS number is for information only. Enforcement is based 
on the substance name. For an entry covering more than one metal 
compound, measured as the metal, the CAS number for the metal is 
given--not CAS numbers for the individual compounds.
* * * * *
    \p\ This standard applies to any operations or sectors for which 
the respirable crystalline silica standard, 1926.1153, is stayed or 
otherwise is not in effect.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2016-20442 Filed 8-31-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-26-P