[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 96 (Thursday, May 17, 2012)][Notices][Pages 29368-29369]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-11982]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket Number: OSHA-2012-0020]


Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee (WPAC)

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), DOL.

ACTION: Notice of establishment of the Whistleblower Protection
Advisory Committee (WPAC).

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act, as amended (5. U.S.C., App. 2), the Secretary of Labor
intends to establish the Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee
(WPAC).
    The WPAC advises, consults with, and makes recommendations to the
Secretary of Labor (Secretary) and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for
Occupational Safety and Health (Assistant Secretary) on ways to improve
the fairness, efficiency, effectiveness and transparency of OSHA's
whistleblower protection activities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For press inquiries: Mr. Francis
Meilinger, OSHA, Office of Communications, Room N-3647, U.S. Department
of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210; Telephone:
(202) 693-1999. This is not a toll-free number. Email:
meilinger.francis2@dol.gov.
    For general information: Sandra Dillon, Director, Office of the
Whistleblower Protection Program, Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-3610, 200 Constitution
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone (202) 693-2199. This is not
a toll-free number. Email: dillon.sandra@dol.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With this Federal Register notice, the
Assistant Secretary notifies the public of the establishment of
Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee (WPAC). WPAC's duties will
be solely advisory and consultative. WPAC will advise, consult with,
and make recommendations to the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary
on ways to improve the fairness, efficiency, effectiveness, and
transparency of OSHA's whistleblower protection activities. In
particular, WPAC will make recommendations regarding the development
and/or implementation of:
     Better customer service to both workers who raise
complaints and employers who are the subject of investigations;
     Improvement in the investigative and enforcement process,
and the training of OSHA investigators;
     Improvement of regulations governing OSHA investigations;
     Cooperative activities with federal agencies responsible
for areas also covered by the whistleblower protection statutes
enforced by OSHA; and
     Other matters concerning the fairness, efficiency and
transparency of OSHA's whistleblower investigations as
identified by the Secretary or the Assistant Secretary.

Authority and Signature

    David Michaels, Ph.D., MPH, Assistant Secretary of Labor for
Occupational Safety and Health, directed the preparation of this notice
under the authority granted by the Federal Advisory Committee Act
(FACA), as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 2), its implementing regulations (41
CFR part 102-3), chapter 1600 of Department of Labor Management Series
3 (Mar. 17, 2008), Secretary of Labor's Order 1-2012 (Jan. 18, 2012),
77 FR 3912 (Jan. 25, 2012), and the Secretary of Labor's authority to
administer the whistleblower provisions found in Section 11(c) of the
Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. 660(c); the Surface
Transportation Assistance Act, 49 U.S.C. 31105; the Asbestos Hazard
Emergency Response Act, 15 U.S.C. 2651; the International Safe
Container Act, 46 U.S.C. 80507; the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C.
300j-9(i); Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. 1367; the
Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. 2622; the Solid Waste Disposal
Act, 42 U.S.C. 6971; the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7622; the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act,
42 U.S.C. 9610; the Energy Reorganization Act, 42 U.S.C. 5851; the
Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st
Century, 49 U.S.C. 42121; the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, 18 U.S.C. 1514A; the
Pipeline Safety Improvement Act, 49 U.S.C. 60129; the Federal Railroad
Safety Act, 49 U.S.C. 20109; the National Transit Systems Security Act,
6 U.S.C. 1142; the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, 15 U.S.C.
Sec.  2087; Section 1558 of the Affordable Care Act, Public Law 111-
148; the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, 12 U.S.C.A. 5567;
the Seaman's Protection Act, 46 U.S.C. 2114; and Section 402 of the FDA
Food Safety Modernization Act, Public Law 111-353.

    Signed at Washington, DC on May 14, 2012.
David Michaels,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2012-11982 Filed 5-16-12; 8:45 am]
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