[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 51 (Thursday, March 14, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 18744-18748]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05428]



[[Page 18743]]

Vol. 89

Thursday,

No. 51

March 14, 2024

Part III





Department of Labor





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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda; Correction

  Federal Register / Vol. 89 , No. 51 / Thursday, March 14, 2024 / UA: 
Reg Flex Agenda  

[[Page 18744]]


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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; Correction.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor (Department or DOL) published the 
regulatory flexibility agenda of its semiannual regulatory agenda on 
February 9, 2024 (89 FR 9696). The listing of all of the Department's 
regulatory flexibility items were inadvertently omitted from that 
document. This Federal Register Notice corrects the February 9, 2024, 
document and contains the Department's regulatory flexibility agenda.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Albert T. Herrera, 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.

Julie A. Su,
Acting Secretary of Labor.

               Wage and Hour Division--Proposed Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
382.......................  Defining and Delimiting            1235-AA39
                             the Exemptions for
                             Executive,
                             Administrative,
                             Professional, Outside
                             Sales, and Computer
                             Employees (Reg Plan Seq
                             No. 161).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
References in boldface appear in The Regulatory Plan in part II of this
  issue of the Federal Register.


                Wage and Hour Division--Final Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
383.......................  Employee or Independent            1235-AA43
                             Contractor Classification
                             Under the Fair Labor
                             Standards Act (Reg Plan
                             Seq No. 163).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
References in boldface appear in The Regulatory Plan in part II of this
  issue of the Federal Register.


                Wage and Hour Division--Completed Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
384.......................  Updating the Davis-Bacon           1235-AA40
                             and Related Acts
                             Regulations.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


       Employment and Training Administration--Proposed Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
385.......................  Temporary Employment of H-         1205-AB93
                             2B Foreign Workers in the
                             United States.
386.......................  Improving Protections For          1205-AC12
                             Workers in Temporary
                             Agricultural Employment
                             in the United States (Reg
                             Plan Seq No. 164).
387.......................  National Apprenticeship            1205-AC13
                             System Enhancements (Reg
                             Plan Seq No. 165).
388.......................  Employer-Provided Survey           1205-AC15
                             Wage Methodology for the
                             Temporary Non-
                             Agricultural Employment H-
                             2B Program.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
References in boldface appear in The Regulatory Plan in part II of this
  issue of the Federal Register.


[[Page 18745]]


     Employee Benefits Security Administration--Proposed Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
389.......................  Retirement Security Rule:          1210-AC02
                             Definition of an
                             Investment Advice
                             Fiduciary (Reg Plan Seq
                             No. 167).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
390.......................  Process Safety Management          1218-AC82
                             and Prevention of Major
                             Chemical Accidents.
391.......................  Prevention of Workplace            1218-AD08
                             Violence in Health Care
                             and Social Assistance.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


   Occupational Safety and Health Administration--Proposed Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
392.......................  Infectious Diseases (Reg           1218-AC46
                             Plan Seq No. 174).
393.......................  Communication Tower Safety         1218-AC90
394.......................  Emergency Response (Reg            1218-AC91
                             Plan Seq No. 175).
395.......................  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

382. Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, 
Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales, and Computer Employees 
[1235-AA39]

    Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 161 in part II of this 
issue of the Federal Register.
    RIN: 1235-AA39

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

Final Rule Stage

383. Employee or Independent Contractor Classification Under the Fair 
Labor Standards Act [1235-AA43]

    Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 163 in part II of this 
issue of the Federal Register.
    RIN: 1235-AA43

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

Completed Actions

384. Updating the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts Regulations [1235-AA40]

    Legal Authority: 40 U.S.C. 3141 et seq.; 40 U.S.C. 3145
    Abstract: The Davis-Bacon Act (DBA) was enacted in 1931 and amended 
in 1935 and 1964. The DBA requires the payment of locally prevailing 
wages and fringe benefits to laborers and mechanics as determined by 
the Department of Labor. The DBA applies to direct Federal contracts 
and District of Columbia contracts in excess of $2,000 for the 
construction, alteration, or repair of public buildings or public 
works. Congress has included DBA prevailing wage requirements in 
numerous statutes (referred to as Related Acts) under which Federal 
agencies assist construction projects through grants, loans, 
guarantees, insurance, and other methods. Covered contractors and 
subcontractors must pay their laborers and mechanics employed under the 
contract no less than the locally prevailing wage rates and fringe 
benefits as required by the applicable wage determination. The 
Department issued a final rule on August 23, 2023, to update and 
modernize the regulations implementing the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts 
to provide greater clarity and enhance their usefulness in the modern 
economy.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   03/18/22  87 FR 15698
NPRM Comment Period End.............   05/17/22  .......................
Final Rule..........................   08/23/23  88 FR 57526
Final Rule Effective................   10/23/23  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Amy DeBisschop, Director of the Division of 
Regulations, Legislation, and Interpretation, Department of Labor, Wage 
and Hour Division, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, FP Building, Room S-
3502, Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202 693-0406.
    RIN: 1235-AA40

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

Employment and Training Administration (ETA)

Proposed Rule Stage

385. Temporary Employment of H-2B Foreign Workers in the United States 
[1205-AB93]

    Legal Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1184; 8 U.S.C. 1103; sec. 655.0 issued 
under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(E)(iii), 1101(a)(15)(H)(i) and (ii); 8 
U.S.C. 1103(a)(6), 1182(m), (n) and (t), 1184(c), (g), and (j), 1188, 
and 1288(c) and (d); sec. 3(c)(1), Pub. L. 101-238; 103 Stat. 2099, 
2102 (8 U.S.C. 1182 note); sec. 221(a), Pub. L. 101-649, 104 Stat. 
4978, 5027 (8 U.S.C. 1184 note); sec. 303(a)(8), Pub. L. 102-232, 105 
Stat. 733, 1748 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note); sec. 323(c), Pub. L. 103-206, 107 
Stat. 2428; sec. 412(e); Pub. L. 105-277, 112 Stat. 2681 (8 U.S.C. 1182 
note); sec. 2(d), Pub. L. 106-95, 113 Stat. 1312, 1316 (8 U.S.C. 1182 
note); 29 U.S.C. 49k; Pub. L. 107-296, 116 Stat. 2135, as amended; Pub. 
L. 109-423, 120 Stat. 2900; . . .
    Abstract: The United States Department of Labor's (DOL)

[[Page 18746]]

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 update 
the H-2B visa program regulations at 20 CFR part 655, subpart A, the 
related prevailing wage regulations at 20 CFR 656, and 8 CFR 214 
governing the certification of the employment of H-2B non-immigrant 
workers in temporary or seasonal non-agricultural employment and the 
enforcement of the obligations applicable to employers of such 
nonimmigrant workers and U.S. workers in corresponding employment. 
Specifically, the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) would update the 
process by which employers seeking to employ H-2B workers would obtain 
temporary certification from DOL for use in petitioning DHS to employ a 
nonimmigrant worker in H-2B status. The updates would also establish 
standards and procedures for employers seeking to hire foreign 
temporary non-agricultural workers for certain itinerant job 
opportunities, including entertainers, tree planting, and utility 
vegetation management.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   10/00/24  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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

386. Improving Protections for Workers in Temporary Agricultural 
Employment in the United States [1205-AC12]

    Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 164 in part II of this 
issue of the Federal Register.
    RIN: 1205-AC12

387. National Apprenticeship System Enhancements [1205-AC13]

    Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 165 in part II of this 
issue of the Federal Register.
    RIN: 1205-AC13

388.  Employer-Provided Survey Wage Methodology for the 
Temporary Non-Agricultural Employment H-2B Program [1205-AC15]

    Legal Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b); 8 U.S.C. 
1103(a)(6); 8 U.S.C. 1184(c)(1); Pub. L. 117-328, 12/29/22, 136 Stat. 
4459, Div. H, title I, sec. 110; Pub. L. 118-15, 9/30/23, 137 Stat. 71, 
Division A, sec. 101(8)
    Abstract: The Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, requires 
the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), prior to the approval of H-
2B visa petitions, consult with the Department of Labor (Department). 
DHS' regulation at 8 CFR 214.2(h)(6) requires that employer must first 
apply for a temporary labor certification from the Department. 
Specifically, the Department must certify that there is not sufficient 
U.S. worker(s) able, available, willing, and qualified at the time of 
an application for a visa, and that the employment of the H-2B workers 
will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of similarly 
employed U.S. workers. To ensure that there is no adverse effect, DOL 
requires employers to pay the prevailing wage to H-2B workers and U.S. 
workers hired in response to the required recruitment. Employer-
provided surveys are one of the prevailing wage sources under the H-2B 
regulations and has been the subject of recent litigation. On December 
23, 2022, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia held the 
employer-provided survey provision under the Wage Methodology for the 
Temporary Non-Agricultural Employment H-2B Program (2015 Wage Rule) in, 
20 CFR part 655 subpart A did not satisfy the notice and comment 
requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). Mary Jane 
Williams, et al. v. Martin J. Walsh, et al. (Williams), Civil No. 1:21-
cv-01150 (RC), 2022 WL 17904227 (D.D.C. December 23, 2022). The Court 
remanded the rule without vacatur and ordered act[ion] with haste for 
further consideration consistent with the Court's opinion. The 
Department is proposing to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking on the 
employer-provided survey provision of the 2015 Wage Rule to cure the 
procedural defect of the 2015 Wage Rule, pursuant to the decision in 
Williams.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   01/00/24  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-AC15

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)

Proposed Rule Stage

389. Retirement Security Rule: Definition of an Investment Advice 
Fiduciary [1210-AC02]

    Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 167 in part II of this 
issue of the Federal Register.
    RIN: 1210-AC02

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Prerule Stage

390. Process Safety Management and Prevention of Major Chemical 
Accidents [1218-AC82]

    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. OSHA held a stakeholder meeting on October 12, 
2022, and kept the docket open for comments until November 14, 2022.
    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.................   10/12/22  .......................

[[Page 18747]]

 
Analyze Comments....................   11/00/23  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Andrew Levinson, 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

391. Prevention of Workplace Violence in Health Care and Social 
Assistance [1218-AD08]

    Legal Authority: 29 U.S.C. 655(b); 5 U.S.C. 609
    Abstract: The Request for Information (RFI) (published on December 
7, 2016, 81 FR 88147)) provides OSHA's history with the issue of 
workplace violence in health care and social assistance, including a 
discussion of the Guidelines that were initially published in 1996, a 
2014 update to the Guidelines, the agency's use of 5(a)(1) in 
enforcement cases in health care. The RFI solicited information 
primarily from health care employers, workers and other subject matter 
experts on impacts of violence, prevention strategies, and other 
information that will be useful to the agency. OSHA was petitioned for 
a standard preventing workplace violence in health care by a broad 
coalition of labor unions, and in a separate petition by the National 
Nurses United. On January 10, 2017, OSHA granted the petitions. OSHA is 
preparing for SBREFA.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request for Information (RFI).......   12/07/16  81 FR 88147
RFI Comment Period End..............   04/06/17  .......................
Initiate SBREFA.....................   12/29/22  .......................
Complete SBREFA.....................   05/01/23  .......................
Analyze SBREFA Report...............   12/00/23  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Andrew Levinson, 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-AD08

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Proposed Rule Stage

392. Infectious Diseases [1218-AC46]

    Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 174 in part II of this 
issue of the Federal Register.
    RIN: 1218-AC46

393. Communication Tower Safety [1218-AC90]

    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 2015 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................................   03/00/24  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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

394. Emergency Response [1218-AC91]

    Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 175 in part II of this 
issue of the Federal Register.
    RIN: 1218-AC91

395. Tree Care Standard [1218-AD04]

    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................................   01/00/24  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 18748]]

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Andrew Levinson, 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. 2024-05428 Filed 3-13-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-HL-P