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DOL/OSHA

RIN: 1218-AB90

Publication ID: Fall 2000

Title: ●Cotton Dust: Washed Cotton Exemption(Rulemaking Resulting From a Section 610 Review)
Abstract: OSHA has completed a Lookback Review of the Cotton Dust Standard pursuant to Section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act and Section 5 of Executive Order 12866. As part of that review OSHA requested public comments (63 FR 32140, June 22, 1998) and held two public meetings. During that review commenters representing the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the Washed Cotton Task Force, and industry and union representatives on the task force recommended that OSHA expand the washed cotton partial exemption that appears in the cotton dust standard. Raw cotton washed according to certain protocols creates a much lower risk of byssinosis, and the current cotton dust standard at 29 CFR 1910.1043(n) provides a partial exemption from the standard for such washed cotton. The Washed Cotton Task Force, made up of representatives of government, industry and unions, has sponsored research which demonstrates that cotton washed pursuant to an additional process, batch kier washing following a specific protocol, also creates a much lower risk of byssinosis. One of the purposes of a Lookback Review is to streamline regulation when that is appropriate based on experience or new science. Expanding the washed cotton partial exemption is supported by new science and seems generally to be supported by the affected community. Accordingly, OSHA intends to promptly issue a direct final rule to expand the partial exemption from the cotton dust standard to batch kier washed in accordance with the protocol recommended by the Task Force.
Agency: Department of Labor(DOL)	Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant
RIN Status: First time published in the Unified Agenda	Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Final Rule Stage
Major: No	Unfunded Mandates: No
RFA Section 610 Review: Rulemaking Resulting From a Section 610 Review
CFR Citation: 29 CFR 1910.1043(n)
Legal Authority: 29 USC 655(b)

Legal Deadline: None

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
Direct Final Rule	10/00/2000

Additional Information: Will permit cotton textile mills, many of which are small businesses pursuant to the SBA definition, to choose an option which will reduce their costs to comply with OSHA's cotton dust standard.
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No	Government Levels Affected: None
Small Entities Affected: Businesses	Federalism: No
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No
Agency Contact: Steven F. Witt Director, Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs Department of Labor 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room N-3700, FP Building, Washington, DC 20210 Phone:202 693-2200 Fax:202 693-1671 Email: witt.steven@dol.gov