[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 22, 2023)]
[Unknown Section]
[Pages 11252-11256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-02030]
Vol. 88
Wednesday,
No. 35
February 22, 2023
Part XII
Department of Labor
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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 35 / Wednesday, February 22, 2023 /
UA: Reg Flex Agenda
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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: 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.
Martin J. Walsh,
Secretary of Labor.
Wage and Hour Division--Proposed Rule Stage
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
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361....................... Defining and Delimiting 1235-AA39
the Exemptions for
Executive,
Administrative,
Professional, Outside
Sales and Computer
Employees (Reg Plan Seq
No. 133).
362....................... Employee or Independent 1235-AA43
Contractor Classification
Under the Fair Labor
Standards Act.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
363....................... Temporary Employment of H- 1205-AB93
2B Foreign Workers in the
United States.
364....................... Improving Protections For 1205-AC12
Workers in Temporary
Agricultural Employment
in the United States.
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Employee Benefits Security Administration--Final Rule Stage
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
365....................... Implement SECURE Act and 1210-AB97
Related Revisions to
Employee Benefit Plan
Annual Reporting on the
Form 5500.
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Employee Benefits Security Administration--Completed Actions
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
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366....................... Requirements Related to 1210-AB99
Surprise Billing, Part 1.
367....................... Prudence and Loyalty in 1210-AC03
Selecting Plan
Investments and
Exercising Shareholder
Rights.
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Occupational Safety and Health Administration--Prerule Stage
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
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368....................... Process Safety Management 1218-AC82
and Prevention of Major
Chemical Accidents.
369....................... Prevention of Workplace 1218-AD08
Violence in Health Care
and Social Assistance
(Reg Plan Seq No. 141).
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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
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
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370....................... Infectious Diseases (Reg 1218-AC46
Plan Seq No. 143).
371....................... Communication Tower Safety 1218-AC90
372....................... Emergency Response........ 1218-AC91
373....................... Tree Care Standard........ 1218-AD04
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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
361. Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive,
Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales and Computer Employees
[1235-AA39]
Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 133 in part II of this
issue of the Federal Register.
RIN: 1235-AA39
362. Employee or Independent Contractor Classification Under
the Fair Labor Standards Act [1235-AA43]
Legal Authority: 52 Stat. 1060, as amended; 29 U.S.C. 201-219
Abstract: On January 7, 2021, the Department of Labor (Department)
published a final rule on independent contractor status under the Fair
Labor Standards Act (FLSA). See 86 FR 1168 (2021 IC Rule). The
Department subsequently published final rules to delay and withdraw the
2021 IC Rule on March 4, 2021, and May 6, 2021, respectively. See 86 FR
12535 (Delay Rule); 86 FR 24303 (Withdrawal Rule). On March 14, 2022, a
district court in the Eastern District of Texas vacated the
Department's Delay and Withdrawal Rules, concluding that the 2021 IC
Rule became effective as of March 8, 2021.The Department continues to
believe that the 2021 IC Rule does not fully comport with the FLSA's
text and purpose as interpreted by courts and has proposed to rescind
the 2021 IC rule and set forth an analysis for determining employee or
independent contractor status under the Act that is more consistent
with existing judicial precedent and the Department's longstanding
guidance prior to the 2021 IC rule.
Timetable:
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Action Date FR Cite
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NPRM................................ 10/13/22 87 FR 62218
NPRM Comment Period Extended........ 10/26/22 87 FR 64749
NPRM Comment Period Extended End.... 12/13/22 .......................
Final Rule.......................... 05/00/23 .......................
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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-AA43
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)
Employment and Training Administration (ETA)
Proposed Rule Stage
363. 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) 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:
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Action Date FR Cite
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NPRM................................ 08/00/23
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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:
pasternak.brian@dol.gov.
RIN: 1205-AB93
364. Improving Protections for Workers in Temporary
Agricultural Employment in the United States [1205-AC12]
Legal Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1188, 29 U.S.C. 49 et seq.
Abstract: The Department of Labor's (DOL) Employment and Training
Administration and Wage and Hour Division propose to amend regulations
to improve working conditions and protections for workers engaged in
temporary agricultural employment in the United States; and strengthen
protections in the recruitment, job order clearance, and oversight
processes. The proposed regulatory changes involve the Employment
Service and the H-2A non-immigrant visa program at 29 CFR part 501 and
20 CFR parts 651, 653, 654, 655, and 658.
The Department has identified a need to strengthen and clarify
protections for all temporary agricultural workers, including U.S.
workers and workers employed through the H-2A temporary agricultural
program. The H-2A temporary agricultural program allows agricultural
employers to perform agricultural labor or services of a temporary or
seasonal nature so long as there are not sufficient able, willing, and
qualified U.S. workers to perform the work and the employment of H-2A
workers does not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of
similarly employed workers in the United States. The use of the H-2A
program has grown substantially in recent years and the Department is
committed to protecting agricultural workers in light of their
significant vulnerabilities.
Timetable:
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Action Date FR Cite
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NPRM................................ 06/00/23
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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:
pasternak.brian@dol.gov.
RIN: 1205-AC12
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)
Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)
Final Rule Stage
365. Implement Secure Act and Related Revisions to Employee Benefit
Plan Annual Reporting on the Form 5500 [1210-AB97]
Legal Authority: 29 U.S.C. 1021, 1023-24, 1026-27, and 1029-30; 29
U.S.C. 1135
Abstract: This regulatory action would implement SECURE Act and
related changes to the Form 5500 Annual Return/Report of Employee
Benefit Plan and annual reporting regulations under ERISA.
Timetable:
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Action Date FR Cite
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NPRM................................ 09/15/21 86 FR 51284
NPRM Comment Period End............. 11/01/21
Notice of Proposed Forms Revision... 09/15/21 86 FR 51488
Notice of Proposed Forms Revision 11/01/21
Comment Period End.
Final Rule Phase I.................. 12/29/21 86 FR 73976
Final Rule Phase II................. 05/23/22 87 FR 31133
Final Rule Phase III................ 12/00/22
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Jeffrey J. Turner, Deputy Director, Office of
Regulations and Interpretations, Department of Labor, Employee Benefits
Security Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, FP Building, Room
N-5655, Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202 693-8500.
RIN: 1210-AB97
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)
Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)
Completed Actions
366. Requirements Related to Surprise Billing, Part 1 [1210-AB99]
Legal Authority: Pub. L. 116-260, Division BB, Title I and Title II
Abstract: This interim final rule with comment would implement
certain protections against surprise medical bills under the No
Surprises Act, including requirements on group health plans, issuers
offering group or individual health insurance coverage, providers,
facilities, and providers of air ambulance services.
Timetable:
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Action Date FR Cite
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Interim Final Rule.................. 07/13/21 86 FR 36872
Interim Final Rule Comment Period 09/07/21
End.
Interim Final Rule Effective 09/13/21
(Applicability Date 1/1/2022).
Final Rule.......................... 08/26/22 87 FR 52618
Final Rule Effective................ 10/25/22
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Amber Rivers, Director, Office of Health Plan
Standards and Compliance Assistance, Department of Labor, Employee
Benefits Security Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202 693-8335, Email: rivers.amber@dol.gov.
RIN: 1210-AB99
367. Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising
Shareholder Rights [1210-AC03]
Legal Authority: 29 U.S.C. 1104; 29 U.S.C. 1135
Abstract: This rulemaking implements Executive Order 13990 of
January 20, 2021, titled Protecting Public Health and the Environment
and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis, and Executive Order
14030 of May 20, 2021, titled Climate-Related Financial Risks. Among
other things, these Executive Orders direct Federal agencies to review
existing regulations promulgated, issued, or adopted between January
20, 2017, and January 20, 2021, that are or may be inconsistent with,
or present obstacles to, the policies set forth in section 1 of the
orders 86 FR 7037 (January 25, 2021); 86 FR 27967 (May 25, 2021). Such
policies include the promotion and protection of public health and the
environment and ensuring that agency activities are guided by the best
science and protected by processes that ensure the integrity of Federal
decision-making, and to advance consistent, clear, intelligible,
comparable, and accurate disclosure of climate-related financial risk,
including both physical and transition risks. Section 2 of Executive
Order 13990 provides that for any such regulatory actions identified by
the agencies, the heads of agencies shall, as appropriate and
consistent with applicable law, consider suspending, revising, or
rescinding the agency actions. Section 4
of Executive Order 14030 directs the Secretary of Labor to consider
publishing, by September 2021, for notice and comment a proposed rule
to suspend, revise, or rescind ``Financial Factors in Selecting Plan
Investments,'' 85 FR 72846 (November 13, 2020), and ``Fiduciary Duties
Regarding Proxy Voting and Shareholder Rights,'' 85 FR 81658 (December
16, 2020). Following review, the Department of Labor's Employee
Benefits Security Administration proposed amendments to these rules on
October 14, 2021. 86 FR 57272.
Timetable:
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Action Date FR Cite
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NPRM................................ 10/14/21 86 FR 57272
NPRM Comment Period End............. 12/13/21
Final Rule.......................... 12/01/22 87 FR 73822
Final Rule Effective................ 01/30/23
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Jeffrey J. Turner, Deputy Director, Office of
Regulations and Interpretations, Department of Labor, Employee Benefits
Security Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, FP Building, Room
N-5655, Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202 693-8500.
RIN: 1210-AC03
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Prerule Stage
368. 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.
Timetable:
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Action Date FR Cite
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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
Analyze Comments.................... 11/00/23
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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:
levinson.andrew@dol.gov.
RIN: 1218-AC82
369. Prevention of Workplace Violence in Health Care and Social
Assistance [1218-AD08]
Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 141 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
370. Infectious Diseases [1218-AC46]
Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 143 in part II of this
issue of the Federal Register.
RIN: 1218-AC46
371. 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:
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Action Date FR Cite
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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................................ 03/00/23
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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:
ketcham.scott@dol.gov.
RIN: 1218-AC90
372. Emergency Response [1218-AC91]
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:
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Action Date FR Cite
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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..................... 12/02/21 .......................
NPRM................................ 09/00/23 .......................
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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:
levinson.andrew@dol.gov.
RIN: 1218-AC91
373. 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:
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Action Date FR Cite
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Stakeholder Meeting................. 07/13/16 .......................
Initiate SBREFA..................... 01/10/20 .......................
Complete SBREFA..................... 05/22/20 .......................
NPRM................................ 05/00/23 .......................
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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:
levinson.andrew@dol.gov.
RIN: 1218-AD04
[FR Doc. 2023-02030 Filed 2-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-HL-P