[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 178 (Monday, September 15, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48175-48176]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24350]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
29 CFR Part 1910
RIN 1218-AA95
Methylene Chloride; Amendment; Extension of Start-Up Date
AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA),
Department of Labor.
ACTION: Final Rule; amendment; extension of start-up date for
compliance.
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SUMMARY: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is
extending the start-up date for most provisions of the methylene
chloride by 30 days to November 6, 1997 for larger employers. Employers
with fewer than 20 employees and foam manufacturers with 20 to 99
employees have substantially later start-up dates which are not
changed.
DATES: The effective date of this amendment is September 15, 1997.
Compliance: The start-up date for all provisions of the methylene
chloride standard except initial monitoring and engineering controls
for employers specified in Sec. 1910.1052(n)(2)(iii)(c) is extended to
November 6, 1997 (210 days after the effective date of the standard).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bonnie Freeman, Director, OSHA Office of Public Affairs, U.S.
Department of Labor, Room N3647, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20210, telephone (202) 219-8151.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OSHA published a new methylene chloride
standard January 10, 1997 (62 FR 1494). That standard included extended
start-up dates for its various provisions depending on the size of the
employer. The three categories of employers were employers with fewer
than 20 employees, foam manufacturers with 20-99 employees and ``all
other employers.''
OSHA published notification of OMB approval of information
collection requirements on August 8, 1997 (62 FR 42666). As the start-
up date for initial monitoring for ``all other employers'' was August
8, 1997, OSHA extended that date to September 7, 1997 to provide added
notice to implement compliance.
The next start-up date specified for ``all other employers'' is
October 7, 1997 for all provisions except engineering controls and
initial monitoring. That is only 30 days after the extended date for
completion of initial monitoring.
OSHA has concluded that more time is needed between completion of
initial monitoring and implementation of the other provisions except
engineering controls. This allows for a more efficient and effective
implementation of those provisions such as for training, medical
surveillance and other specified provisions. This is also consistent
with OSHA's initial determination that 60 days is needed between
completion of initial monitoring and implementation of the other
provisions. OSHA is amending Sec. 1910.1052(n)(2)(iii)(c) to implement
this decision.
The date for completion of initial monitoring for employers with
fewer than 20 employees is February 4, 1998 and for foam manufacturers
with 20-99 employees is November 6, 1997. The date for all other
provisions except engineering controls is 60 days later for each group.
See 62 FR 1606 (January 10, 1997) for a listing of effective and start-
up dates.
OSHA finds that there is good cause to issue this extension without
notice and public comment because following such procedures would be
impractical, unnecessary or contrary to the public interest in this
case. OSHA believes that it is in the public interest to give certain
employers additional time between completion of initial monitoring and
implementation of other provisions.
Authority And Signature
This document was prepared under the direction of Gregory R.
Watchman, Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety
and Health, U.S.
[[Page 48176]]
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC
20210.
Signed at Washington, DC, this 9th day of September 1997.
Gregory R. Watchman,
Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor.
PART 1910--[AMENDED]
1. The general authority citation for subpart Z of CFR 29 part 1910
continues to read, in part, as follows:
Authority: Sections 4, 6, and 8 of the Occupational Safety and
Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 653, 655, and 657); Secretary of
Labor's Order No. 12-71 (36 FR 8754), 8-76 (41 FR 25059), 9-83 (48
FR 35736), 1-90 (55 FR 9033), or 6-96 (62 FR 111), as applicable;
and 29 CFR Part 1911.
* * * * *
2. Paragraph (n)(2)(iii)(C) of Sec. 1910.1052 is revised to read as
follows:
Sec. 1910.1052 Methylene chloride.
* * * * *
(n) * * *
(2) * * *
(iii) * * *
(C) For all other employers, within 210 days after the effective
date of this section.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 97-24350 Filed 9-12-97; 8:45 am]
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