September 12, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces a public webcast for all interested parties, including individuals and entities possessing, using, or transferring biological agents and toxins. The purpose of the webcast is to provide guidance related to the select agent regulations established under the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002. The webcast is being organized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), HHS/CDC, and the Department of Justice's Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Criminal Justice Information Services. Changes to Section 11(Security) of the select agent regulations including information security, physical security, and personnel suitability will be discussed. Topics will focus on additional requirements for entities possessing select agents and toxins designated as Tier 1 agents.

EPA is approving a redesignation request and State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of West Virginia. The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) requested that the West Virginia portion of the Parkersburg- Marietta, WV-OH fine particulate matter (PM2.5) nonattainment area (``Parkersburg-Marietta Area'' or ``Area'') be redesignated as attainment for the 1997 annual PM2.5 national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). In this rulemaking action, EPA is approving the 1997 annual PM2.5 redesignation request for the West Virginia portion of the Area. EPA is also approving the maintenance plan SIP revision that the State submitted in conjunction with its redesignation request. The maintenance plan provides for continued attainment of the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS for 10 years after redesignation of the West Virginia portion of the Area. The maintenance plan includes an insignificance determination for the onroad motor vehicle contribution of PM2.5, nitrogen oxides (NOX), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) for the West Virginia portion of the Area for purposes of transportation conformity. EPA is also approving West Virginia's insignificance determination for transportation conformity. In addition, EPA is also finding that the Area continues to attain the standard. This rulemaking action approving the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS redesignation request, maintenance plan, and insignificance determination for transportation conformity for the West Virginia portion of the Area is based on EPA's determination that the Area has met the criteria for redesignation to attainment specified in the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposes to amend its existing standards for occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica. The basis for issuance of this proposal is a preliminary determination by the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health that employees exposed to respirable crystalline silica face a significant risk to their health at the current permissible exposure limits and that promulgating these proposed standards will substantially reduce that risk. This document proposes a new permissible exposure limit, calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average, of 50 micrograms of respirable crystalline silica per cubic meter of air (50 [mu]g/m\3\). OSHA also proposes other ancillary provisions for employee protection such as preferred methods for controlling exposure, respiratory protection, medical surveillance, hazard communication, and recordkeeping. OSHA is proposing two separate regulatory textsone for general industry and maritime, and the other for constructionin order to tailor requirements to the circumstances found in these sectors.