[December 10, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 236)] [Unified Agenda] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [frwais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID: f:ua071012.wais] [Page 70088-70093] Department of Labor ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Part XII ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Semiannual Regulatory Agenda [[Page 70088]] DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL) _______________________________________________________________________ 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: This document sets forth the Department's semiannual agenda of regulations that have been selected for review or development during the coming year. The Department's agencies have carefully assessed their available resources and what they can accomplish in the next 12 months and have adjusted their agendas accordingly. The agenda complies with the requirements of both Executive Order 12866 and the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The agenda lists all regulations that are expected to be under review or development between October 2007 and October 2008, as well as those completed during the past 6 months. 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 and the Regulatory Flexibility Act require the semiannual publication in the Federal Register of an agenda of regulations. As permitted by law, the Department of Labor is combining the publication of its agendas under the Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order 12866. Executive Order 12866 became effective September 30, 1993, and, in substance, requires the Department of Labor to publish an agenda listing all the regulations it expects to have under active consideration for promulgation, proposal, or review during the coming 1-year period. The focus of all departmental regulatory activity will be on the development of effective rules that advance the Department's goals and that are understandable and usable to the employers and employees in all affected workplaces. For this edition of the Department's regulatory agenda, the most important significant regulatory actions and a Statement of Regulatory Priorities are included in The Regulatory Plan, which appears in both the online Unified Agenda and in part II of the Federal Register that includes the Unified Agenda. In addition, beginning with the fall 2007 edition, the Internet will be the basic means for disseminating the Unified Agenda. The complete Unified Agenda will be available online at www.reginfo.gov, in a format that offers users a greatly enhanced ability to obtain information from the Agenda database. The Regulatory Flexibility Act, which became effective on January 1, 1981, requires the Department of Labor to publish an agenda, listing all the regulations it expects to propose or promulgate that are likely to have a ``significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities'' (5 U.S.C. 602). The Regulatory Flexibility Act (under section 610) also requires agencies to periodically review rules ``which have or will have a significant economic impact upon a substantial number of small entities'' and to annually publish a list of the rules that will be reviewed during the succeeding 12 months. The purpose of the review is to determine whether the rule should be continued without change, amended, or rescinded. The next 12-month review list for the Department of Labor is provided below, and public comment is invited on the listing. A brief description of each rule, the legal basis for the rule, and the agency contact are provided with each agenda item. Occupational Safety and Health Administration Lead in Construction (RIN 1218-AC18) Methylene Chloride (RIN 1218-AC23) Employee Benefits Security Administration Plan Assets-Participant Contributions Regulations (RIN 1210- AB11) All interested members of the public are invited and encouraged to let departmental officials know how our regulatory efforts can be improved, and, of course, to participate in and comment on the review or development of the regulations listed on the agenda. Elaine L. Chao, Secretary of Labor. Employment Standards Administration--Long-Term Actions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 408 Labor Organization Annual Financial Reports........................................... 1215-AB62 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 70089]] Employee Benefits Security Administration--Prerule Stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 409 Plan Assets-Participant Contributions Regulation (Section 610 Review)................. 1210-AB11 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Employee Benefits Security Administration--Final Rule Stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 410 Proposed Revision of Annual Information Return/Reports................................ 1210-AB14 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Occupational Safety and Health Administration--Prerule Stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 411 Occupational Exposure to Crystalline Silica (Reg Plan Seq No. 107).................... 1218-AB70 412 Occupational Exposure to Beryllium.................................................... 1218-AB76 413 Methylene Chloride (Section 610 Review)............................................... 1218-AC23 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 414 Confined Spaces in Construction (Part 1926): Preventing Suffocation/Explosions in 1218-AB47 Confined Spaces....................................................................... 415 Cranes and Derricks (Reg Plan Seq No. 108)............................................ 1218-AC01 416 Occupational Exposure to Diacetyl and Food Flavorings Containing Diacetyl............. 1218-AC33 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- References in boldface appear in the Regulatory Plan in part II of this issue of the Federal Register. Occupational Safety and Health Administration--Final Rule Stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 417 Electric Power Transmission and Distribution; Electrical Protective Equipment......... 1218-AB67 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Occupational Safety and Health Administration--Completed Actions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identifier Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 418 Lead in Construction (Completion of a Section 610 Review)............................. 1218-AC18 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________________________________ Department of Labor (DOL) Long-Term Actions Employment Standards Administration (ESA) _______________________________________________________________________ 408. LABOR ORGANIZATION ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTS Legal Authority: 29 USC 431(b); 29 USC 438 Abstract: The Department of Labor's Employment Standards Administration proposes to establish standards and procedures by which the Office of Labor Management Standards, pursuant to section 208 of the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA), 29 U.S.C. 438, may revoke the privilege of a labor organization to file a simplified annual financial disclosure [[Page 70090]] report, Form LM-3, and instead require it to file the more detailed Form LM-2. The Department also proposes to establish reporting requirements and create a form to be used by labor organizations to file trust annual financial reports pursuant to section 208 of the LMRDA. The Department proposes to revise Form LM-2. The proposed revisions will improve financial disclosure and clarity within categories of receipts and disbursements. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM To Be Determined Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes Agency Contact: Kay H. Oshel, Director, Office of Policy, Reports and Disclosure, Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., FP Building, Room N-5609, Washington, DC 20210 Phone: 202 693-1233 TDD Phone: 800 877-8399 Fax: 202 693-1340 Email: oshel.kay@dol.gov RIN: 1215-AB62 _______________________________________________________________________ Department of Labor (DOL) Prerule Stage Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) _______________________________________________________________________ 409. PLAN ASSETS-PARTICIPANT CONTRIBUTIONS REGULATION (SECTION 610 REVIEW) Legal Authority: 29 USC 1135 Abstract: EBSA is conducting a review of the plan assets-participant contributions regulation in accordance with the requirements of section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The review will cover the continued need for the rule; the nature of complaints or comments received from the public concerning the rule; the complexity of the rule; the extent to which the rule overlaps, duplicates, or conflicts with other Federal rules and, to the extent feasible, with State and local rules; and the extent to which technology, economic conditions, or other factors have changed in industries affected by the rule. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Begin Review 03/01/06 End Review 07/00/08 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined Agency Contact: Melissa R. Spurgeon, Pension Law Specialist, Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., FP Building, Washington, DC 20210 Phone: 202 693-8500 Fax: 202 219-7291 RIN: 1210-AB11 _______________________________________________________________________ Department of Labor (DOL) Final Rule Stage Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) _______________________________________________________________________ 410. PROPOSED REVISION OF ANNUAL INFORMATION RETURN/REPORTS Legal Authority: 29 USC 1135; 29 USC 1021; 29 USC 1023; 29 USC 1024; PL 109-208, sec 101 to 116, sec 201 to 221, sec 503, sec 1103 Pension Protection Act of 2006 Abstract: This proposal supplements previously published proposed revisions to the Form 5500 Annual Return/Report as required by the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA). Specifically, this proposal includes separate Schedules B for single-employer plans and multiemployer plans reflecting PPA changes in funding and annual reporting requirements; new questions to the Schedule R and Schedule H designed to collect additional information regarding single and multiemployer pension defined benefit plans; and a proposal to have the Form 5500-SF Annual Return/Report be the simplified report required under the PPA for plans with fewer than 25 participants. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 12/11/06 71 FR 71562 NPRM Comment Period End 01/10/07 Final Action 11/00/07 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes Agency Contact: Elizabeth A. Goodman, Senior Pension Law Specialist, Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., FP Building Room N5669, Washington, DC 20210 Phone: 202 693-8523 Fax: 202 219-7291 RIN: 1210-AB14 [[Page 70091]] _______________________________________________________________________ Department of Labor (DOL) Prerule Stage Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) _______________________________________________________________________ 411. OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO CRYSTALLINE SILICA Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 107 in part II of this issue of the Federal Register. RIN: 1218-AB70 _______________________________________________________________________ 412. OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO BERYLLIUM Legal Authority: 29 USC 655(b); 29 USC 657 Abstract: In 1999 and 2001, OSHA was petitioned to issue an emergency temporary standard by 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 work sites to assess current exposures and control methods being used to reduce employee exposures to beryllium. OSHA is planning to use this information to develop a proposed rule addressing occupational exposure to beryllium. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Request for Information 11/26/02 67 FR 70707 Complete SBREFA Report 01/00/08 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes Agency Contact: Dorothy Dougherty, Director, Directorate of Standards and Guidance, Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., FP Building, Room N3718, Washington, DC 20210 Phone: 202 693-1950 Fax: 202 693-1678 Email: dougherty.dorothy@dol.gov RIN: 1218-AB76 _______________________________________________________________________ 413. METHYLENE CHLORIDE (SECTION 610 REVIEW) Legal Authority: 29 USC 655(b); 5 USC 553; 5 USC 610 Abstract: OSHA will undertake a review of the Methylene Chloride Standard (29 CFR 1910.1052) 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 12/01/06 Request for Comments 07/10/07 72 FR 37501 End Review 06/00/08 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Agency Contact: John Smith, Directorate of Evaluation and Analysis, Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., FP Building, Room N 3641, Washington, DC 20210 Phone: 202 693-2225 Fax: 202 693-1641 Email: smith.john@dol.gov RIN: 1218-AC23 _______________________________________________________________________ Department of Labor (DOL) Proposed Rule Stage Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) _______________________________________________________________________ 414. CONFINED SPACES IN CONSTRUCTION (PART 1926): PREVENTING SUFFOCATION/EXPLOSIONS IN CONFINED SPACES Legal Authority: 29 USC 655(b); 40 USC 333 Abstract: In January 1993, OSHA issued a general industry rule to protect employees who enter confined spaces (29 CFR 1910.146). This standard does not apply to the construction industry because of differences in the nature of the worksite in the construction industry. In discussions with the United Steel Workers of America on a settlement agreement for the general industry standard, OSHA agreed to issue a proposed rule to extend confined-space protection to construction workers appropriate to their work environment. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ SBREFA Panel Report 11/24/03 NPRM 11/00/07 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes Agency Contact: Steven F. Witt, Director, Directorate of Construction, Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room N-3467, FP Building, Washington, DC 20210 Phone: 202 693-2020 Fax: 202 693-1678 RIN: 1218-AB47 _______________________________________________________________________ 415. CRANES AND DERRICKS Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 108 in part II of this issue of the Federal Register. RIN: 1218-AC01 _______________________________________________________________________ 416. OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO DIACETYL AND FOOD FLAVORINGS CONTAINING DIACETYL Legal Authority: 29 USC 655(b); 29 USC 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 [[Page 70092]] 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. OSHA denied the petition on September 25, 2007. Evidence from NIOSH and other sources indicated that employee exposure to diacetyl and food flavorings containing diacetyl is associated with bronchiolitis obliterans, a debilitating and potentially fatal disease of the small airways in the lung. Severe obstructive airway disease has been observed in the microwave popcorn industry and in food flavoring manufacturing plants. Experimental evidence has shown that inhalation exposure to artificial butter flavoring vapors and diacetyl damaged tissue lining, the nose, and airways of rats and mice. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Stakeholder Meeting 10/17/07 72 FR 54619 Initiate SBREFA 01/00/08 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes Agency Contact: Dorothy Dougherty, Director, Directorate of Standards and Guidance, Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., FP Building, Room N3718, Washington, DC 20210 Phone: 202 693-1950 Fax: 202 693-1678 Email: dougherty.dorothy@dol.gov RIN: 1218-AC33 _______________________________________________________________________ Department of Labor (DOL) Final Rule Stage Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) _______________________________________________________________________ 417. ELECTRIC POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION; ELECTRICAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Legal Authority: 29 USC 655(b); 40 USC 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 30 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 power generation, transmission and distribution work. OSHA published an NPRM on June 15, 2005. A public hearing was held March 6 to 14, 2006. 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/ 11/2006 10/12/05 70 FR 59290 Public Hearing to be held 03/06/ 2006 10/12/05 70 FR 59290 Post-Hearing Comment Period End 07/14/06 Final Action 04/00/08 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes Agency Contact: Dorothy Dougherty, Director, Directorate of Standards and Guidance, Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., FP Building, Room N3718, Washington, DC 20210 Phone: 202 693-1950 Fax: 202 693-1678 Email: dougherty.dorothy@dol.gov RIN: 1218-AB67 _______________________________________________________________________ Department of Labor (DOL) Completed Actions Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) _______________________________________________________________________ 418. LEAD IN CONSTRUCTION (COMPLETION OF A SECTION 610 REVIEW) Legal Authority: 29 USC 655(b); 5 USC 553; 5 USC 610 Abstract: OSHA will undertake a review of the Lead in Construction Standard (29 CFR 1926.62) 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; impacts of the rule; comments on the rule received from the public; the complexity of 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 last evaluated. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Begin Review 06/06/05 70 FR 32739 End Review Comment 09/06/05 70 FR 32739 Comment Period Extended 08/29/05 70 FR 50996 Extended Comment Period End 11/07/05 70 FR 50996 Completed Review 09/27/07 72 FR 54826 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No [[Page 70093]] Agency Contact: John Smith, Directorate of Evaluation and Analysis, Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., FP Building, Room N 3641, Washington, DC 20210 Phone: 202 693-2225 Fax: 202 693-1641 Email: smith.john@dol.gov RIN: 1218-AC18 [FR Doc. 07-04840 Filed 12-07-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-23-S