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DOL/OSHA RIN: 1218-AC74 Publication ID: Spring 2015 
Title: Chemical Management and Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) 
Abstract:

The majority of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) were adopted in 1971, under section 6(a) of the OSH Act and only a few have been successfully updated since that time. There is widespread agreement among industry, labor, and professional occupational safety and health organizations that OSHA's PELs are outdated and need revising in order to take into account newer scientific data that indicates that significant occupational health risks exist at levels below OSHA's current PELs. In 1989, OSHA issued a final standard that lowered PELs for over 200 chemicals and added PELs for 164. However, the final rule was challenged and ultimately vacated by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in 1991 citing deficiencies in OSHA's analyses. Since that time OSHA has made attempts to examine its outdated PELs in light of the court's 1991 decisions. On October 10, 2014, OSHA published a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit comment from the public on approaches it may take to reduce the risk of developing illness caused by exposure to hazardous chemicals. This RFI does not address Process Safety Management issues being addressed under the Executive Order, but rather lower, longer-term exposures. 

 
Agency: Department of Labor(DOL)  Priority: Other Significant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Prerule Stage 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: Not Yet Determined     (To search for a specific CFR, visit the Code of Federal Regulations.)
Legal Authority: 29 U.S.C. 655(b)    29 U.S.C. 657   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
Request for Information (RFI)  10/10/2014  79 FR 61383   
RFI Comment Period End  04/08/2015 
RFI Comment Period Extended  03/25/2015  80 FR 15702   
RFI Comment Period Extended End  10/09/2015 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined  Government Levels Affected: Undetermined 
Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
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: perry.bill@dol.gov