DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

29 CFR Parts 1910, 1915 and 1926

[Docket No. H-041]

Occupational Exposure to 1,3-Butadiene

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Department of Labor.

ACTION: Proposed Rule; Extension of time to submit comments.

SUMMARY: On March 8, 1996, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reopened the record for the proposed revision of the 1,3 Butadiene (BD) standard. (61 FR 9381, March xx, 1996). OSHA is extending the comment period to allow additional time for parties to address the issues raised in the document, including the joint labor/industry recommendations of January 29, 1996. The labor/industry agreement recommended that OSHA reduce the permissible exposure limits and expanded on some provisions that were addressed in OSHA's 1990 proposal. (55 FR 32736, August 10, 1990).

DATES: Written comments must be postmarked by April 26, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted in quadruplicate to the Docket Office, Docket No. H-041, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2634, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. Telephone (202) 219-7894. Written comments limited to 10 pages or less in length may also be transmitted by facsimile to (202) 219-5046, provided the original and 3 copies are sent to the Docket Office thereafter.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anne C. Cyr, Office of Information and Consumer Affairs, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-3647, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. Telephone (202) 219-8148. Copies of the labor/industry recommendations and submissions to the record are available for inspection and copying in the Docket Office. For electronic copies of this notice, contact the Labor News Bulletin Board (202) 219-4784; or OSHA's WebPage on the Internet at http://www.osha.gov/. For news releases, fact sheets, and other short documents, contact OSHA FAX at (900) 555-3400 at $1.50 per minute.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

On August 10, 1990, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a notice of proposed rulemaking on BD. (55 FR 32736). Following receipt of recommendations from a joint labor/industry group, OSHA reopened the BD rulemaking record for 30 days, until April 8, 1996, (61 FR 9381), in order to give the public opportunity to comment. The notice reprinted the agreement and raised issues related to its provisions along with some agency concerns. Representatives of the labor/industry group have requested additional time to submit a clarification of their recommendations and their responses to issues raised by the agency in the notice reopening the BD record. OSHA is granting their request. Accordingly, this notice extends the period for the submission of comments until April 26, 1996.

II. Public Participation--Comments

Written comments must be postmarked by April 26, 1996. Four copies of these comments must be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket No. HS-041), U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20210. Written comments limited to 10 pages or less in length may also be transmitted by facsimile to (202) 219-5046, provided the original and 3 copies are sent to the Docket Office thereafter. All materials submitted will be available for inspection and copying at the above address. Materials previously submitted to the Docket for this rulemaking need not be re-submitted.

III. Authority

This document was prepared under the direction of Joseph A. Dear, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20210. It is issued pursuant to section 6(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (29 U.S.C. 655), and 29 CFR part 1911.

Signed at Washington, D.C., this 1st day of April, 1996.

Joseph A. Dear,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.

[FR Doc. 96-8504 Filed 4-4-96; 8:45 am]