[Federal Register: January 23, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 15)][Proposed Rules] [Page 3893-3894]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23ja08-16]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
29 CFR Part 1926
[Docket ID-OSHA-2007-0026]
RIN 1218-AB47
Confined Spaces in Construction
AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.
ACTION: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; extension of written comment
period.
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SUMMARY: On November 28, 2007, OSHA published a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM) titled ``Confined Spaces in Construction.'' The
period for submitting written 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 (postmarked or sent) by February 28,
2008.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments, identified by Docket No.
OSHA-2007-0026, by any of the following methods:
Electronically: You may submit comments and attachments
electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal
eRulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions online for making
electronic submissions.
Fax: If your comments, including attachments, do not exceed 10
pages, you may fax them to the OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-1648.
Mail, hand delivery, express mail, messenger or courier service:
You must submit three copies of your comments and attachments to the
OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. OSHA-2007-0026, U.S. Department of
Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210;
telephone (202) 693-2350 (OSHA's TTY number is (877) 889-5627).
Deliveries (hand, express mail, messenger and courier service) are
accepted during the Department of Labor's and Docket Office's normal
business hours, 8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m., E.T.
Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency name and the
docket number for this rulemaking (Docket No. OSHA-2007-0026). All
comments, including any personal information you provide, are placed in
the public docket without change and may be made available online at
http://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, OSHA cautions you about
submitting personal information such as social security numbers and
birthdates. For further information on submitting comments, plus
additional information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section of this document.
Docket: To read or download comments and materials submitted in
response to this Federal Register notice, go to Docket No. OSHA-2007-
0026 at http://www.regulations.gov or at the OSHA Docket Office at the above address. All comments and submissions are listed in the http://
http://www.regulations.gov index; however, some information (e.g., copyrighted
material) is not publicly available to read or download through that
Web page. All comments and submissions, including copyrighted material,
are available for inspection and copying at the OSHA Docket Office.
For information on accessing exhibits referenced in the Confined
Spaces in Construction proposal, see the ``Public Participation''
heading in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
Electronic copies of this Federal Register document are available
at http://www.regulations.gov. Copies also are available from the OSHA
Office of Publications, Room N-3101, U.S. Department of Labor, 200
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone (202) 693-
1888. This document, as well as news releases and other relevant
information, also are available at OSHA's Web page at http://www.osha.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General information and press
inquiries: Contact Mr. Kevin Ropp, Office of Communications, Room N-
3647, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20210; telephone (202) 693-1999.
Technical inquiries: Contact Mr. Garvin Branch, Directorate of
Construction, Room N-3468, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, 200
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone (202) 693-
2020 or fax (202) 693-1689.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Extension of Comment Period
On November 28, 2007, at 72 FR 67351, OSHA published a Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) titled ``Confined Spaces in Construction.''
In this NPRM, OSHA announced a proposed rule for confined spaces in
construction; provided an explanation of the rule and its economic
analysis; and solicited comments from the public regarded various
confined-spaces issues. The period for submitting written comments was
to expire on January 28, 2008. However, the following associations have
requested a 60-day extension for submitting their written comments and
information: The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the
National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA), and the Associated
Builders and Contractors Association (ABC). The NAHB cites as reasons
for its request the complexity of the rule and its need for additional
time to enable them to consult with their members. The ABC cites these
reasons and notes that the comment period coincided with the holiday
season, which made it more difficult for ABC to survey its members on
the NPRM.
OSHA believes that a 30-day extension will be sufficient to
accommodate these considerations, facilitate the submission of more
thorough reviews, and provide OSHA with a complete record for this
proposed rule. Accordingly, the comment period has been extended by 30
days and written comments must now be submitted (sent or postmarked) by
February 28, 2008.
II. Submission of Comments and Access to Comments
You may submit comments in response to this document (1)
electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal
eRulemaking Portal; (2) by facsimile (FAX); or (3) by hard copy. All
comments, attachments and other material must identify the Agency name
and the OSHA docket number for this rulemaking (Docket No. OSHA-2007-
0026). You may supplement electronic submissions by uploading document
files electronically. If, instead, you wish to mail additional
materials in reference to an electronic or fax submission, you must
submit three copies to the OSHA Docket Office (see ADDRESSES section).
The additional materials must clearly identify your electronic comments
by name, date, and docket number so OSHA can attach them to your
comments.
Because of security-related procedures, the use of regular mail may
cause a significant delay in the receipt of comments. For information
about security procedures concerning the delivery of materials by hand,
express delivery, messenger or courier service, please contact the OSHA
Docket Office (see ADDRESSES section).
Comments and submissions in response to this Federal Register
notice are posted without change at http://www.regulations.gov (Docket
No. OSHA-2007-0026). Therefore, OSHA cautions commenters about
submitting personal information such as social security numbers and
date of birth.
Although all submissions in response to this Federal Register
notice and all supporting materials cited in the Confined Spaces in
Construction proposal are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov and
http://dockets.osha.gov indexes, some information (e.g., copyrighted
material) is not publicly available to read or download from that Web
page. All submissions and supporting materials, including copyrighted
material, are available for inspection and copying at the OSHA Docket
Office.
Information on using the http://www.regulations.gov Web page to
submit comments is available at the Web page's User Tips link. Contact
the OSHA Docket Office for information about materials not available
through the Web pages and for assistance in using the Internet to
locate docket submissions.
Electronic copies of this Federal Register document are available
at http://www.regulations.gov. This document, as well as news releases
and other relevant information, also are available at OSHA's Web page
at http://www.osha.gov.
Authority and Signature
This document was prepared under the authority of Edwin G. Foulke,
Jr., Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health,
U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC
20210, pursuant to Sections 4, 6, and 8 of the OSH Act of 1970 (29
U.S.C. 653, 655, 657), Secretary of Labor's Order 5-2007 (72 FR 31159),
and 29 CFR part 1911.
Signed at Washington, DC this 17th day of January, 2008.
Edwin G. Foulke, Jr.,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. E8-1081 Filed 1-22-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-P
