Steel Erection Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

29 CFR Part 1926

Steel Erection Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee

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

ACTION: Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act

(FACA), notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Steel Erection

Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee (SENRAC). Notice is also given

of the location of the meeting. This meeting will be open to the

public.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled for December 16th, 1999. The meeting

will begin at 8:00 a.m. on December 16th.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Hyatt Regency Washington--

400 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001; Telephone (202) 737-

1234.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Bonnie Friedman, Director, Office

of Information and Consumer Affairs, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor,

Room N3647, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20210, (202)

693-1999.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 11, 1994, OSHA established the Steel

Erection Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee (SENRAC)(59 FR 24389)

in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the

Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1990 (NRA) and section 7(b) of the

Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act). OSHA appointed

representatives from labor, industry, public interests and government

agencies to the Committee.

SENRAC began negotiations in mid June, 1994, and met eleven times

over an 18-month period. On December 1, 1995, SENRAC agreed on a

recommended regulatory text for a revised steel erection standard. In

its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), OSHA based its proposed

regulatory text on the Committee's recommendations. In addition, the

NPRM included a summary and explanation of the provisions, set out the

legal tests that OSHA standards must meet and solicited public comments

and evidence on the proposed rule. In addition, OSHA asked the public

for comments and evidence on specific issues related to the Committee's

recommendations. The Committee approved OSHA's NPRM on July 24, 1997.

At that time, OSHA stated that it would consult with the Committee

prior to the issuance of the final standard.

OSHA's proposed rule for steel erection was published in the

Federal Register on August 13, 1998. OSHA received 367 sets of comments

in response to the notice. A public hearing was held from December 1,

1998, through December 11, 1998, in Washington, DC. Approximately 50

individuals/panels provided testimony on various topics in the proposed

rule. Interest was expressed on a number of issues, including

controlling contractors, fall protection, providing bolt holes in

joists over 40', controlled decking zones, the scope of subpart R and

slippery surfaces (both structural steel and decking). OSHA received 55

comments during the post-hearing comment period that ended April 12,

1999.

Now, the Agency has completed an analysis of the record evidence

and has developed a draft final steel erection standard. OSHA is

convening this meeting for the purposes of consulting with the SENRAC

Committee prior to the issuance of the final standard.

All interested parties are invited to attend the Committee meeting

at the time and place indicated above. No advanced registration is

required. Seating will be available to the public on a first-come,

first-served basis. Persons with disabilities who need special

accommodations should contact the Facilitator by December 9, 1999.

During the meeting members of the general public may informally

request permission to address the Committee.

After the meeting, minutes of the meeting and materials prepared

for the Committee will be available for public inspection at the OSHA

Docket Office, N-2625, 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20210;

telephone (202) 693-2350. Copies of these materials may be obtained by

sending a written request to the Facilitator.

The Facilitator, Philip J. Harter, can be reached at Suite 404,

2301 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037; telephone (202) 887-1033, FAX

(202) 887-1036.

Authority: This document was prepared under the direction of

Charles N. Jeffress, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational

Safety and Health, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution

Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210, pursuant to section 3 of the

Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1990 (104 Stat. 4969, Title 5 U.S.C.

561 et seq.); and Section 7(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health

Act of 1970 (84 Stat. 1597, Title 29 U.S.C. 656).

Signed at Washington, DC, this 18th day of November, 1999.

Charles N. Jeffress,

Assistant Secretary of Labor.

[FR Doc. 99-30822 Filed 11-26-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-26-P