Reopening a closed record after an advisory committee weighs in — a second comment period on the benzene standard
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration reopened the record on its proposal to revise the benzene standard. Following consideration by its construction safety advisory committee, an additional 30 days for comment were provided.
Document overview (primary data)
- Document typeProposed rule
- AgencyDepartment of Labor
- Citation91 FR 47160
Key points
- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration reopened the record on its proposal to revise the benzene standard.
- It followed consideration by the agency construction safety and health advisory committee, providing an additional 30 days for comment.
- Written comments were due August 27, 2026.
- The regulations span five parts of title 29, from general industry through construction.
- Comments are placed in the public docket without change including personal information, and the agency cautions commenters accordingly.
1Reopening a record
In rulemaking, the record closes when the comment period ends, and consideration afterward proceeds on that closed record. When new material arrives partway through, leaving it closed means no one can comment on that material. A procedure therefore exists for reopening the record, and this is an instance of it.
2What was added
- 1The proposalA revision to the benzene standard is proposed
- 2The first comment periodIt ends and the record closes
- 3Advisory committee considerationThe construction safety and health advisory committee considers the rulemaking
- 4Reopening (this document)An additional 30 days for comment are provided in light of that consideration
What arrived is the advisory committee consideration. If the committee has spoken, the reasoning goes, outside parties should be able to comment on what it said, so the record reopens. This site also covers notices of advisory committee public meetings at other agencies, and here the route by which committee advice flows into rulemaking becomes concrete.
3How wide the reach
| Part of the Code of Federal Regulations | Field covered |
|---|---|
| Part 1910 | General industry |
| Part 1915 | Shipyard employment |
| Part 1917 | Marine terminals |
| Part 1918 | Longshoring |
| Part 1926 | Construction |
The revision spans five parts. A standard for one substance still sits in separate parts by industry. That the construction advisory committee considered it follows from construction being among them.
4A caution about commenting
The document notes that all comments, including personal information, are placed in the public docket without change, and cautions against submitting materials containing information such as Social Security numbers and birthdates. Taking part in an open procedure can also mean publishing your own information. The same caution recurs across the Federal Register documents this site covers.
5Why bound the period
The reopened period is 30 days. Left open indefinitely, argument never ends. Bound it, and reopen again if needed. That cycle lets a procedure move forward while still taking in new material.
Why it matters
When advisory committee input enters a rulemaking, a fresh opportunity to comment on it arises. Bounding periods while reopening as needed lets a procedure advance and still absorb new material.
FAQ
Why reopen a record?
Why does it span five parts?
Sources (primary)
Source: Federal Register (federal documents, public domain). Links go to the official site.