[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 247 (Thursday, December 26, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 71155-71160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26582]
[[Page 71155]]
Vol. 84
Thursday,
No. 247
December 26, 2019
Part X
Department of Labor
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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda
Federal Register / Vol. 84 , No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2019 /
UA: Reg Flex Agenda
[[Page 71156]]
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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: Laura M. Dawkins, 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.
Eugene Scalia,
Secretary of Labor.
Wage and Hour Division--Completed Actions
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
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292....................... Defining and Delimiting 1235-AA20
the Exemptions for
Executive,
Administrative,
Professional, Outside
Sales and Computer
Employees.
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Employment and Training Administration--Long-Term Actions
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
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293....................... Temporary Employment of H- 1205-AB93
2B Foreign Workers in
Certain Itinerant
Occupations in the United
States.
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Employment and Training Administration--Completed Actions
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
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294....................... Modernizing Recruitment 1205-AB90
Requirements Under the H-
2A Program.
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Employee Benefits Security Administration--Completed Actions
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
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295....................... Revision of the Form 5500 1210-AB63
Series and Implementing
Related Regulations Under
the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of
1974 (ERISA).
296....................... Definition of an 1210-AB88
``Employer'' Under
Section 3(5) of ERISA--
Association Retirement
Plans and Other Multiple
Employer Plans.
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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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297....................... Emergency Response........ 1218-AC91
298....................... Tree Care Standard........ 1218-AD04
299....................... Prevention of Workplace 1218-AD08
Violence in Health Care
and Social Assistance.
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[[Page 71157]]
Occupational Safety and Health Administration--Proposed Rule Stage
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
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300....................... Communication Tower Safety 1218-AC90
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Occupational Safety and Health Administration--Long-Term Actions
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
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301....................... Infectious Diseases....... 1218-AC46
302....................... Process Safety Management 1218-AC82
and Prevention of Major
Chemical Accidents.
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)
Wage and Hour Division (WHD)
Completed Actions
292. Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive,
Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales and Computer Employees
E.O. 13771 Designation: Deregulatory.
Legal Authority: 29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.; 29 U.S.C.213(a)(1)
Abstract: The Department issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(NPRM) to determine the appropriate salary level for exemption of
executive, administrative and professional employees. The Department
also proposed to increase the highly compensated employees (HCE) total
compensation level, allow the inclusion of up to 10 percent of the
standard salary level to include nondiscretionary bonus and incentive
payments as long as paid at least annually, and special salary levels
for the U.S. territories and the motion picture industry. In developing
the final rule, the Department will be informed by the comments
received in response to its NPRM.
Timetable:
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Action Date FR Cite
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Request for Information (RFI)....... 07/26/17 82 FR 34616
RFI Comment Period End.............. 09/25/17 .......................
NPRM................................ 03/22/19 84 FR 10840
NPRM Comment Period End............. 05/21/19 .......................
Final Rule.......................... 09/27/19 84 FR 51230
Final Rule Effective................ 01/01/20 .......................
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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-
2502, Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202 693-0406.
RIN: 1235-AA20
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)
Employment and Training Administration (ETA)
Long-Term Actions
293. Temporary Employment of H-2B Foreign Workers in Certain Itinerant
Occupations in the United States
E.O. 13771 Designation: Regulatory.
Legal Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1184; 8 U.S.C. 1103
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 amending regulations regarding the H-
2B non-immigrant visa program at 20 CFR part 655, subpart A. The Notice
of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) will establish standards and procedures
for employers seeking to hire foreign temporary nonagricultural workers
for certain itinerant job opportunities, including entertainers and
carnivals and utility vegetation management.
Timetable:
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Action Date FR Cite
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NPRM................................ 12/00/20 .......................
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Thomas M. Dowd, Deputy Assistant Secretary,
Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, 200
Constitution Avenue NW, FP Building, Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202
513-7350.
RIN: 1205-AB93
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)
Employment and Training Administration (ETA)
Completed Actions
294. Modernizing Recruitment Requirements Under the H-2A Program
E.O. 13771 Designation: Deregulatory.
Legal Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1188
Abstract: The United States Department of Labor's (DOL) Employment
and Training Administration is amending regulations regarding the H-2A
non-immigrant visa program at 20 CFR part 655, subpart B. The final
rule includes necessary technical improvements, which eliminates print
newspaper advertisements and modernizes the requirements employers must
meet for advertising job opportunities to U.S. workers.
Timetable:
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Action Date FR Cite
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NPRM................................ 11/09/18 83 FR 55985
NPRM Comment Period End............. 12/10/18 .......................
NPRM Comment Period End Extended to 12/10/18 83 FR 63456
12/28/2018.
Final Rule.......................... 09/20/19 84 FR 49439
Final Rule Effective................ 10/21/19 .......................
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Thomas M. Dowd, Deputy Assistant Secretary,
Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, 200
Constitution Avenue NW, FP Building, Washington, DC 20210, Phone: 202
513-7350.
RIN: 1205-AB90
[[Page 71158]]
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)
Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)
Completed Actions
295. Revision of the Form 5500 Series and Implementing Related
Regulations Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
(ERISA)
E.O. 13771 Designation: Regulatory.
Legal Authority: 29 U.S.C. 1021 to 1025; 29 U.S.C. 1027; 29 U.S.C.
1029 and 1030; 29 U.S.C. 1134 and 1135; 29 U.S.C. 1059; 29 U.S.C. 1204
Abstract: This regulatory action is part of a long-term strategic
project with the Internal Revenue Service and the Pension Benefit
Guaranty Corporation (collectively ``Agencies'') to modernize and
improve the Form 5500 Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan.
The Agencies published proposals in 2016 that included a range of
proposed changes in the reporting forms and implementing regulations.
Those proposals were never finalized. The Employee Benefits Security
Administration is withdrawing this entry from the agenda at this time,
due to agency reprioritization.
Timetable:
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Action Date FR Cite
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NPRM................................ 07/21/16 81 FR 47496
NPRM Comment Period End............. 10/04/16 .......................
Notice of Proposed Forms Revision... 07/21/16 81 FR 47534
Notice of Proposed Forms Revision 10/04/16 .......................
Comment Period End.
NPRM Comment Period Extended........ 09/23/16 81 FR 65594
NPRM Comment Period Extended End.... 12/05/16 .......................
Withdrawn........................... 09/30/19 .......................
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Mara S. Blumenthal, Employee Benefits Law
Specialist, 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-AB63
296. Definition of an ``Employer'' Under Section 3(5) of ERISA--
Association Retirement Plans and Other Multiple Employer Plans
E.O. 13771 Designation: Deregulatory.
Legal Authority: 29 U.S.C. 1002(2), 1002(5) and 1135
Abstract: This regulatory action would establish criteria under
section 3(5) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) for
purposes of being an ``employer'' able to establish and maintain an
employee pension benefit plan (as defined in section 3(2) of ERISA)
that is a multiple employer retirement savings plan (other than a
multiemployer plan defined in section 3(37) of ERISA).
Timetable:
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Action Date FR Cite
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NPRM................................ 10/23/18 83 FR 53534
NPRM Comment Period End............. 12/24/18 .......................
Final Rule.......................... 07/31/19 84 FR 37508
Final Rule Effective................ 09/30/19 .......................
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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-AB88
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Prerule Stage
297. Emergency Response
E.O. 13771 Designation: Regulatory.
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
acknowledged 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..................... 08/00/20 .......................
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: William Perry, 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, Fax: 202 693-1678, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 1218-AC91
298. Tree Care Standard
E.O. 13771 Designation: Regulatory.
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). 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..................... 11/00/19 .......................
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: William Perry, 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, Fax: 202 693-1678, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 1218-AD04
299. Prevention of Workplace Violence in Health Care and Social
Assistance
E.O. 13771 Designation: Regulatory.
Legal Authority: 29 U.S.C. 655(b); 5 U.S.C. 609
Abstract: The Request for Information (RFI) (published on December
7, 2016 81 FR 88147)) provides OSHA's history with the issue of
workplace violence in
[[Page 71159]]
health care and social assistance, including a discussion of the
Guidelines that were initially published in 1996, a 2014 update to the
Guidelines, the Agency's use of 5(a)(1) in enforcement cases in health
care. The RFI solicited information primarily from health care
employers, workers and other subject matter experts on impacts of
violence, prevention strategies, and other information that will be
useful to the Agency. OSHA was petitioned for a standard preventing
workplace violence in health care by a broad coalition of labor unions,
and in a separate petition by the National Nurses United. On January
10, 2017, OSHA granted the petitions.
Timetable:
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Action Date FR Cite
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Request for Information (RFI)....... 12/07/16 81 FR 88147
RFI Comment Period End.............. 04/06/17 .......................
Initiate SBREFA..................... 01/00/20 .......................
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: William Perry, 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, Fax: 202 693-1678, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 1218-AD08
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Proposed Rule Stage
300. Communication Tower Safety
E.O. 13771 Designation: Regulatory.
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 2016 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,
etc.).
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................................ 09/00/20 .......................
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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:
[email protected].
RIN: 1218-AC90
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Long-Term Actions
301. Infectious Diseases
E.O. 13771 Designation: Regulatory.
Legal Authority: 5 U.S.C. 533; 29 U.S.C. 657 and 658; 29 U.S.C.
660; 29 U.S.C. 666; 29 U.S.C. 669; 29 U.S.C. 673
Abstract: Employees in health care and other high-risk environments
face long-standing infectious disease hazards such as tuberculosis
(TB), varicella disease (chickenpox, shingles), and measles (rubella),
as well as new and emerging infectious disease threats, such as Severe
Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and pandemic influenza. Health care
workers and workers in related occupations, or who are exposed in other
high-risk environments, are at increased risk of contracting TB, SARS,
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), and other
infectious diseases that can be transmitted through a variety of
exposure routes. OSHA is examining regulatory alternatives for control
measures to protect employees from infectious disease exposures to
pathogens that can cause significant disease. Workplaces where such
control measures might be necessary include: health care, emergency
response, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, drug treatment
programs, and other occupational settings where employees can be at
increased risk of exposure to potentially infectious people. A standard
could also apply to laboratories, which handle materials that may be a
source of pathogens, and to pathologists, coroners' offices, medical
examiners, and mortuaries.
Timetable:
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Action Date FR Cite
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Request for Information (RFI)....... 05/06/10 75 FR 24835
RFI Comment Period End.............. 08/04/10 .......................
Analyze Comments.................... 12/30/10 .......................
Stakeholder Meetings................ 07/05/11 76 FR 39041
Initiate SBREFA..................... 06/04/14 .......................
Complete SBREFA..................... 12/22/14 .......................
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NPRM................................ To Be Determined
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: William Perry, 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, Fax: 202 693-1678, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 1218-AC46
302. Process Safety Management and Prevention of Major Chemical
Accidents
E.O. 13771 Designation: Regulatory.
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
[[Page 71160]]
Management standard and related standards necessary to meet the goal of
preventing major chemical accidents.
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 .......................
Next Action Undetermined............ .......................
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: William Perry, 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, Fax: 202 693-1678, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 1218-AC82
[FR Doc. 2019-26582 Filed 12-23-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-04-P