Semiannual Agenda of Regulations

AGENCY:

Office of the Secretary, Labor.

ACTION:

Semiannual Regulatory Agenda.

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.

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

Proposed Rule Stage

125. Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales and Computer Employees [1235–AA39]

Legal Authority: 29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.; 29 U.S.C. 213

Abstract: WHD is reviewing the regulations at 29 CFR 541, which implement the exemption of bona fide executive, administrative, and professional employees from the Fair Labor Standards Act's minimum wage and overtime requirements.

Timetable:

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–AA39

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

Employment and Training Administration (ETA)

Proposed Rule Stage

126. 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:

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

127. 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:

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)

Completed Actions

128. 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:

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)

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Prerule Stage

129. 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:

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

130. Prevention of Workplace Violence in Health Care and Social Assistance [1218–AD08]

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 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. OSHA is preparing for SBREFA.

Timetable:

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–AD08

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Proposed Rule Stage

131. Infectious Diseases [1218–AC46]

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, as well as new and emerging infectious disease threats, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID–19), 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), COVID–19, 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:

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–AC46

132. 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:

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

133. 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:

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

134. 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:

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