[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 20 (Monday, January 31, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5252-5254]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-28220]



[[Page 5251]]

Vol. 87

Monday,

No. 20

January 31, 2022

Part XI





 Department of Labor





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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

  Federal Register / Vol. 87 , No. 20 / Monday, January 31, 2022 / UA: 
Reg Flex Agenda  

[[Page 5252]]


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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.

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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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura M. Dawkins, Director, Office of 
Regulatory and Programmatic 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.
    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. The Department's Regulatory Flexibility 
Agenda does not include section 610 items at this time.
    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.

Martin J. Walsh,
Secretary of Labor.

               Wage and Hour Division--Proposed Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
328.......................  Defining and Delimiting            1235-AA39
                             the Exemptions for
                             Executive,
                             Administrative,
                             Professional, Outside
                             Sales and Computer
                             Employees (Reg Plan Seq
                             No. 114).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
References in boldface appear in The Regulatory Plan in part II of this
  issue of the Federal Register.


       Employment and Training Administration--Proposed Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
329.......................  Temporary Employment of H-         1205-AB93
                             2B Foreign Workers in
                             Certain Itinerant
                             Occupations in the United
                             States.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


       Employee Benefits Security Administration--Final Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
330.......................  Requirements Related to            1210-AB99
                             Surprise Billing, Part 1
                             (Reg Plan Seq No. 122).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
References in boldface appear in The Regulatory Plan in part II of this
  issue of the Federal Register.


      Occupational Safety and Health Administration--Prerule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
331.......................  Process Safety Management          1218-AC82
                             and Prevention of Major
                             Chemical Accidents.
332.......................  Emergency Response........         1218-AC91
333.......................  Prevention of Workplace            1218-AD08
                             Violence in Health Care
                             and Social Assistance
                             (Reg Plan Seq No. 126).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
References in boldface appear in The Regulatory Plan in part II of this
  issue of the Federal Register.


   Occupational Safety and Health Administration--Proposed Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
334.......................  Infectious Diseases (Reg           1218-AC46
                             Plan Seq No. 128).
335.......................  Communication Tower Safety         1218-AC90

[[Page 5253]]

 
336.......................  Tree Care Standard........         1218-AD04
------------------------------------------------------------------------
References in boldface appear in The Regulatory Plan in part II of this
  issue of the Federal Register.

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

Proposed Rule Stage

328. Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, 
Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales and Computer Employees

    Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 114 in part II of this 
issue of the Federal Register.
    RIN: 1235-AA39

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

Employment and Training Administration (ETA)

Proposed Rule Stage

329. Temporary Employment of H-2B Foreign Workers in Certain Itinerant 
Occupations in the United States

    Legal Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1184; 8 U.S.C. 1103
    Abstract: The United States Department of Labor's (DOL) Employment 
and Training Administration and Wage and Hour Division, and the United 
States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and 
Immigration Services, are jointly proposing to amend H-2B non-immigrant 
visa program regulations at 20 CFR part 655, subpart A, and 8 CFR 214. 
The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) would establish standards and 
procedures for employers seeking to hire foreign temporary 
nonagricultural workers for certain itinerant job opportunities, 
including entertainers and carnivals and utility vegetation management.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   06/00/22  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Brian Pasternak, Administrator, Department of 
Labor, Employment and Training Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue 
NW, Office of Foreign Labor Certification; Room N-5311, FP Building, 
Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202 693-8200, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 1205-AB93

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)

Final Rule Stage

330. Requirements Related to Surprise Billing, Part 1

    Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 122 in part II of this 
issue of the Federal Register.
    RIN: 1210-AB99

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Prerule Stage

331. Process Safety Management and Prevention of Major Chemical 
Accidents

    Legal Authority: 29 U.S.C. 655; 29 U.S.C. 657
    Abstract: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 
issued a Request for Information (RFI) on December 9, 2013 (78 FR 
73756). The RFI identified issues related to modernization of the 
Process Safety Management standard and related standards necessary to 
meet the goal of preventing major chemical accidents. OSHA completed 
SBREFA in August 2016.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request for Information (RFI).......   12/09/13  78 FR 73756
RFI Comment Period Extended.........   03/07/14  79 FR 13006
RFI Comment Period Extended End.....   03/31/14  .......................
Initiate SBREFA.....................   06/08/15  .......................
SBREFA Report Completed.............   08/01/16  .......................
Stakeholder Meeting.................   01/00/22  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Andrew Levinson, Deputy Director, Directorate of 
Standards and Guidance, Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and 
Health Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, FP Building, Room N-
3718, Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202 693-1950, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 1218-AC82

332. Emergency Response

    Legal Authority: 29 U.S.C. 655(b); 29 U.S.C. 657; 5 U.S.C. 609
    Abstract: OSHA currently regulates aspects of emergency response 
and preparedness; some of these standards were promulgated decades ago, 
and none were designed as comprehensive emergency response standards. 
Consequently, they do not address the full range of hazards or concerns 
currently facing emergency responders, and other workers providing 
skilled support, nor do they reflect major changes in performance 
specifications for protective clothing and equipment. The agency 
acknowledges that current OSHA standards also do not reflect all the 
major developments in safety and health practices that have already 
been accepted by the emergency response community and incorporated into 
industry consensus standards. OSHA is considering updating these 
standards with information gathered through an RFI and public meetings.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stakeholder Meetings................   07/30/14  .......................
Convene NACOSH Workgroup............   09/09/15  .......................
NACOSH Review of Workgroup Report...   12/14/16  .......................
Initiate SBREFA.....................   08/02/21  .......................
Finalize SBREFA.....................   12/00/21  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Andrew Levinson, Deputy Director, Directorate of 
Standards and Guidance, Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and 
Health Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, FP Building, Room N-
3718, Washington, DC 20210, Phone:

[[Page 5254]]

202 693-1950, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 1218-AC91

333. Prevention of Workplace Violence in Health Care and Social 
Assistance

    Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 126 in part II of this 
issue of the Federal Register.
    RIN: 1218-AD08

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Proposed Rule Stage

334. Infectious Diseases

    Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 128 in part II of this 
issue of the Federal Register.
    RIN: 1218-AC46

335. Communication Tower Safety

    Legal Authority: 29 U.S.C. 655(b); 5 U.S.C. 609
    Abstract: While the number of employees engaged in the 
communication tower industry remains small, the fatality rate is very 
high. Over the past 20 years, this industry has experienced an average 
fatality rate that greatly exceeds that of the construction industry. 
Due to recent FCC spectrum auctions and innovations in cellular 
technology, there will be a very high level of construction activity 
taking place on communication towers over the next few years. A similar 
increase in the number of construction projects needed to support 
cellular phone coverage triggered a spike in fatality and injury rates 
years ago. Based on information collected from an April 2016 Request 
for Information (RFI), OSHA concluded that current OSHA requirements 
such as those for fall protection and personnel hoisting, may not 
adequately cover all hazards of communication tower construction and 
maintenance activities. OSHA will use information collected from a 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) panel to 
identify effective work practices and advances in engineering 
technology that would best address industry safety and health concerns. 
The Panel carefully considered the issue of the expansion of the rule 
beyond just communication towers. OSHA will continue to consider also 
covering structures that have telecommunications equipment on or 
attached to them (e.g., buildings, rooftops, water towers, billboards).
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request for Information (RFI).......   04/15/15  80 FR 20185
RFI Comment Period End..............   06/15/15  .......................
Initiate SBREFA.....................   01/04/17  .......................
Initiate SBREFA.....................   05/31/18  .......................
Complete SBREFA.....................   10/11/18  .......................
NPRM................................   10/00/22  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Scott Ketcham, Director, Directorate of 
Construction, Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room N-3468, FP Building, 
Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202 693-2020, Fax: 202 693-1689, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 1218-AC90

336. Tree Care Standard

    Legal Authority: Not Yet Determined
    Abstract: There is no OSHA standard for tree care operations; the 
agency currently applies a patchwork of standards to address the 
serious hazards in this industry. The tree care industry previously 
petitioned the agency for rulemaking and OSHA issued an ANPRM 
(September 2008). OSHA completed a Small Business Regulatory 
Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) panel in May 2020, collecting 
information from affected small entities on a potential standard, 
including the scope of the standard, effective work practices, and 
arboricultural specific uses of equipment to guide OSHA in developing a 
rule that would best address industry safety and health concerns. Tree 
care continues to be a high-hazard industry.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stakeholder Meeting.................   07/13/16  .......................
Initiate SBREFA.....................   01/10/20  .......................
Complete SBREFA.....................   05/22/20  .......................
NPRM................................   06/00/22  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Andrew Levinson, Deputy Director, Directorate of 
Standards and Guidance, Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and 
Health Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, FP Building, Room N-
3718, Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202 693-1950, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 1218-AD04

[FR Doc. 2021-28220 Filed 1-28-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-HL-P