[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 232 (Friday, December 2, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 86987-86988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28924]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

29 CFR Parts 1904, 1910, 1915 and 1926

[Docket No. OSHA-2012-0007]
RIN 1218-AC67


Standards Improvement Project-Phase IV

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 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

[[Page 86988]]

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: 
[email protected].
    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: [email protected].
    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).

    Signed at Washington, DC, on November 28, 2016.
David Michaels,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2016-28924 Filed 12-1-16; 8:45 am]
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