Proposed Rule2025-11636

Coke Oven Emissions

Primary source

Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.

Published
July 1, 2025

Issuing agencies

Labor DepartmentOccupational Safety and Health Administration

Abstract

This proposed rule would revise some substance-specific respirator requirements to allow different types of respirators to be used under OSHA's Coke Oven Emissions standard and better align this standard with OSHA's Respiratory Protection standard.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 124 (Tuesday, July 1, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 1, 2025)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 28354-28358]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-11636]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

29 CFR Parts 1910, 1917, and 1918

[Docket No. OSHA-2025-0014]
RIN 1218-AD61


Coke Oven Emissions

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This proposed rule would revise some substance-specific 
respirator requirements to allow different types of respirators to be 
used under OSHA's Coke Oven Emissions standard and better align this 
standard with OSHA's Respiratory Protection standard.

DATES: Comments and other information, including requests for a 
hearing, must be received on or before September 2, 2025.
    Informal public hearing: OSHA will schedule an informal public 
hearing on the rule if requested during the comment period. If a 
hearing is requested, the location and date of the hearing, procedures 
for interested parties to notify the agency of their intention to 
participate, and procedures for participants to submit their testimony 
and documentary evidence will be announced in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: 
    Written comments: You may submit comments and attachments, 
identified by Docket No. OSHA-2025-0014, electronically at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, which is the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Follow 
the instructions online for making electronic submissions.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency's name and 
the docket number for this rulemaking (Docket No. OSHA-2025-0014). When 
uploading multiple attachments to <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>, please number all of 
your attachments because <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> will not automatically number 
the attachments. This will be very useful in identifying all 
attachments. For example, Attachment 1--title of your document, 
Attachment 2--title of your document, Attachment 3--title of your 
document. For assistance with commenting and uploading documents, 
please see the Frequently Asked Questions on <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
    All comments, including any personal information you provide, are 
placed in the public docket without change and may be made available 
online at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Therefore, OSHA cautions 
commenters about submitting information they do not want made available 
to the public, or submitting materials that contain personal 
information (either about themselves or others), such as Social 
Security Numbers and birthdates.
    Docket: The docket for this rulemaking (Docket No. OSHA-2025-0014) 
is available at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal. Most exhibits are available at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>; 
some exhibits (e.g., copyrighted material) are not available to 
download from that web

[[Page 28355]]

page. However, all materials in the dockets are available for 
inspection at the OSHA Docket Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    For press inquiries: Contact Frank Meilinger, Director, OSHA Office 
of Communications, Occupational Safety and Health Administration; 
telephone: (202) 693-1999; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#adc0c8c4c1c4c3cac8df83cbdfccc3cec4de9fedc9c2c183cac2db"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2548404c494c4b4240570b4357444b464c561765414a490b424a53">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.
    General information and technical inquiries: Contact Andrew 
Levinson, Director, OSHA Directorate of Standards and Guidance, 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration; telephone: (202) 693-
1950; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0a6579626b246e796d4a6e6566246d657c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="533c203b327d37203413373c3f7d343c25">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.
    Copies of this Federal Register notice: Electronic copies are 
available at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. This Federal Register notice, 
as well as news releases and other relevant information, also are 
available at OSHA's web page at <a href="https://www.osha.gov">https://www.osha.gov</a>. A ``100-word 
summary'' is also available on <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Executive Summary
II. Legal Authority and Preliminary Findings
III. Events Leading to the Proposed Rule
IV. Summary and Explanation of the Proposed Requirements
V. Economic Analysis
VI. Additional Requirements
VII. Authority and Signature
VIII. Regulatory Text

I. Executive Summary

    This proposed rule is intended to provide greater compliance 
flexibility and clarify the policies and procedures employers must 
follow when implementing a respiratory protection program in 
conjunction with OSHA's Coke Oven Emissions standard (29 CFR 
1910.1029). OSHA is proposing to revise a respirator-related provision 
that is unnecessarily prescriptive, which would result in employers 
having greater flexibility in the respirators they select for exposed 
workers, while providing equivalent worker protection. This proposal is 
also consistent with OSHA's intent, when it published the revised 
Respiratory Protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134), to use it as a 
foundation for respirator selection in substance-specific standards.
    Additionally, OSHA believes that this proposed rule appropriately 
incorporates advances in technology, which have made some provisions of 
the Coke Oven Emissions standard outdated. This proposed standard is 
intended to account for modern knowledge and technology and to 
streamline the selection of respirators.

II. Legal Authority and Preliminary Findings

    The purpose of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (29 U.S.C. 
651 et seq.) (``the Act'' or ``the OSH Act'') is ``to assure so far as 
possible every working man and woman in the Nation safe and healthful 
working conditions and to preserve our human resources'' (29 U.S.C. 
651(b)). To achieve this goal, Congress authorized the Secretary of 
Labor (``the Secretary'') to promulgate standards to protect workers, 
including the authority ``to set mandatory occupational safety and 
health standards applicable to businesses affecting interstate 
commerce'' (29 U.S.C. 651(b)(3); see also 29 U.S.C. 654(a)(2) 
(requiring employers to comply with OSHA standards)), 29 U.S.C. 655(a) 
(authorizing summary adoption of existing consensus and established 
federal standards within two years of the Act's enactment), 29 U.S.C. 
655(b) (authorizing promulgation, modification or revocation of 
standards pursuant to notice and comment), and 29 U.S.C. 655(b)(7) 
(authorizing OSHA to include among a standard's requirements labeling, 
monitoring, medical testing, and other information-transmittal 
provisions). An occupational safety and health standard is ``. . . a 
standard which requires conditions, or the adoption or use of one or 
more practices, means, methods, operations, or processes, reasonably 
necessary or appropriate to provide safe or healthful employment and 
places of employment'' (29 U.S.C. 652(8)). The Secretary may also issue 
regulations requiring employers to keep records regarding their 
activities relating to the Act, as well as records of work-related 
deaths, injuries, and illnesses (29 U.S.C. 657(c)(1)-(2)).
    Before OSHA may promulgate a health or safety standard, it must 
find that a standard is reasonably necessary or appropriate within the 
meaning of section 652(8) of the OSH Act, which OSHA did here in 1976 
when it published the Coke Oven Emissions standard (41 FR 46742). The 
Supreme Court, in its decision on OSHA's Benzene standard, interpreted 
OSHA's obligation under section 652(8) as requiring it to evaluate 
``whether significant risks are present and can be eliminated or 
lessened by a change in practices'' (Indus. Union Dep't, AFL-CIO v. Am. 
Petroleum Inst., 448 U.S. 607, 642 (1980) (plurality opinion)). In the 
1976 final rule, OSHA determined that coke oven emissions posed a 
significant risk of cancer to exposed workers (41 FR 46744). When, as 
here, OSHA has previously determined that its standard substantially 
reduces a significant risk, it is unnecessary for the agency to make 
additional findings on risk for every provision of that standard (see, 
e.g., Pub. Citizen Health Research Grp. v. Tyson, 796 F.2d 1479, 1502 
n.16 (D.C. Cir. 1986) (rejecting the argument that OSHA must ``find 
that each and every aspect of its standard eliminates a significant 
risk'')). Rather, once OSHA makes a general significant risk finding in 
support of a standard, the next question is whether a particular 
requirement is reasonably related to the purpose of the standard as a 
whole (see Asbestos Info. Ass'n/N. Am. v. Reich, 117 F.3d 891, 894 (5th 
Cir. 1997); Forging Indus. Ass'n v. Sec'y of Labor, 773 F.2d 1436, 1447 
(4th Cir. 1985); United Steelworkers of Am., AFL-CIO-CLC v. Marshall, 
647 F.2d 1189, 1237-38 (D.C. Cir. 1980) (``Lead I'')). Therefore, while 
OSHA is not making a preliminary finding of significant risk for this 
proposed rule, the agency has made a preliminary determination that the 
proposed changes are reasonably related to the purpose of the Coke Oven 
Emissions standard as a whole.
    A standard is technologically feasible if the protective measures 
it requires already exist, can be brought into existence with available 
technology, or can be created with technology that is reasonably 
expected to be developed (see Am. Iron and Steel Inst. v. OSHA, 939 
F.2d 975, 980 (D.C. Cir. 1991)). Courts have also interpreted 
technological feasibility to mean that a typical firm in each affected 
industry or application group will reasonably be able to implement the 
requirements of the standard in most operations most of the time (see, 
e.g., Public Citizen v. OSHA, 557 F.3d 165, 170-71 (3d Cir. 2009) 
(citing Lead I at 1272)).
    This proposed rule would not substantially modify existing 
requirements for respiratory protection in workplaces; nor would it 
create new requirements. All employers in compliance with the existing 
standard would also be in compliance with the revised standard. 
Therefore, OSHA has made a preliminary determination that the proposed 
rule would be technologically feasible.
    In evaluating economic feasibility, OSHA must consider the average 
cost of compliance in an industry rather than costs for individual 
employers. In its economic analyses, OSHA ``must construct a reasonable 
estimate of compliance costs and demonstrate a reasonable likelihood 
that these costs will not threaten the existence or competitive 
structure of an industry, even if it does portend disaster for some 
marginal firms'' (Am. Iron and Steel

[[Page 28356]]

Inst., 939 F.2d at 980, quoting Lead I at 1272). OSHA has made a 
preliminary finding that this proposal is economically feasible because 
it is deregulatory and is expected to reduce costs for employers. 
OSHA's economic analysis is presented in Section V.
    The Administrative Procedures Act directs agencies to include in 
each rule adopted ``a concise general statement of [the rule's] basis 
and purpose'' (5 U.S.C. 553(c)); cf. 29 U.S.C. 655(e) (requiring the 
Secretary to publish a ``statement of reasons'' for any standard 
promulgated)). This notice satisfies this concise statement 
requirement.

III. Events Leading to the Proposed Rule

    OSHA adopted a Coke Oven Emissions standard in 1976 (41 FR 46742). 
OSHA also has a general Respiratory Protection standard, 29 CFR 
1910.134, which it first promulgated in 1971 (39 FR 9835). OSHA 
published a revised Respiratory Protection standard on January 8, 1998 
(63 FR 1152). The Respiratory Protection standard contains worksite-
specific requirements for program administration, as well as procedures 
for respirator selection, employee training, fit testing, medical 
evaluation, and respirator use, among other provisions. OSHA noted that 
the revised standard was to ``serve as a `building block' standard with 
respect to future standards that may contain respiratory protection 
requirements'' (63 FR 1265). In 2006, OSHA revised the Respiratory 
Protection standard again to incorporate assigned protection factors 
(APFs) in the respirator selection process (71 FR 50122-01).
    Several OSHA standards regulating exposure to toxic substances and 
harmful physical agents, including the Coke Oven Emissions standard, 
require compliance with many provisions of 29 CFR 1910.134. However, 
when revising the respirator rule, the Agency decided to retain several 
special respirator selection provisions in the existing substance-
specific standards. In this regard, OSHA noted that the respirator 
selection requirements retained in the substance-specific standards 
were developed in rulemakings to provide protection against a hazardous 
characteristic or condition unique to the regulated substance. 
Consequently, OSHA felt that preserving these provisions in the 
individual substance-specific standards would maintain the level of 
respiratory protection afforded to employees.
    In this proposal, OSHA is revisiting some of those determinations; 
the agency now believes that there are additional ways that substance-
specific standards can rely on 29 CFR 1910.134 without compromising 
employee safety. The purpose of revising the respirator-related 
provisions of OSHA's Coke Oven Emissions standard is to conform them, 
to the extent possible, with other substance-specific standards and to 
the revised 29 CFR 1910.134 in general. The proposed updates would 
improve these substance-specific standards, including Coke Oven 
Emissions, because they will allow employers to select from a wider 
range of respirators, based on current technology and practices for 
respirator use, to protect workers. OSHA also believes that advances in 
technology have made the substance-specific standards outdated in some 
areas. This revised standard is intended to take account of new 
knowledge and technology.
    OSHA expects that the rule would ultimately reduce the compliance 
burden on the regulated community, without compromising worker safety. 
Therefore, OSHA believes this proposed rule is consistent with 
Executive Order (E.O.) 14219, ``Ensuring Lawful Governance and 
Implementing the President's `Department of Government Efficiency' 
Deregulatory Initiative,'' E.O. 14192, ``Unleashing Prosperity Through 
Deregulation,'' and the goal of removing regulations that harm the 
national interest by impeding technological innovation or private 
enterprise and entrepreneurship.

IV. Summary and Explanation of the Proposed Requirements

    OSHA is proposing to revise paragraphs (g) and (k) of its general 
industry Coke Oven Emissions standard (29 CFR 1910.1029) to reduce 
compliance burdens, allow for the use of more up-to-date technology, 
and improve the comprehensibility of the requirements for respiratory 
protection programs. These revisions would improve comprehensibility 
and simplify compliance for employers by removing requirements in 
1910.1029 that are duplicative with the requirements in 1910.134. The 
proposed revisions would also provide more compliance options by 
removing unnecessary restrictions on respirator selection where another 
equally protective option exists. Finally, these revisions would also 
conform this standard, to the extent possible, to other substance-
specific standards and to 29 CFR 1910.134, which would simplify review 
of these regulations by employers. The Agency preliminarily concludes, 
therefore, that updating these rules is consistent with the goal of 
facilitating the use of new technology and reducing undue burden.
    OSHA has preliminarily determined that paragraphs (g)(1)(i) through 
(iv) of the Coke Oven Emissions standard unnecessarily duplicate the 
general provisions covered by 1910.134(a) and is proposing to remove 
those paragraphs and add a cross reference to 1910.134(a)(2) in 
paragraph (g)(1). OSHA does not intend for these changes to add to or 
change the regulatory burden on employers; actions that comply with the 
requirements in 1910.1029(g) would also be in compliance with proposed 
paragraph (g).
    OSHA is also proposing to remove the portion of paragraph (g)(3) 
requiring employers to provide a filtering facepiece respirator ``only 
when it functions as a filter respirator for coke oven emissions 
particulates.'' OSHA has preliminary determined that the respirator-
selection provisions for coke oven emissions are covered by 
1910.134(d), the prohibition on filtering facepieces was based on 
outdated technology and certification data, and the use of filtering 
facepieces will not reduce worker safety and health.
    Finally, the agency has preliminarily determined that two 
respiratory protection training requirements in the Coke Oven Emissions 
standard are unnecessary. First, OSHA is proposing to remove a 
provision in paragraph (k)(1)(iii) that requires more frequent employee 
training on the hazards of exposure to coke oven emissions, which 
expired in 1978. Second, paragraph (k)(1)(iv)(b) of the Coke Oven 
Emissions standard, which requires training on ``The purpose, proper 
use, and limitations of respiratory protection devices,'' unnecessarily 
duplicates the training requirements in the Respiratory Protection 
standard at 1910.134(k). OSHA is therefore proposing to remove and 
reserve paragraph (k)(1)(iv)(b).
    OSHA recognizes that adopting these revisions will also result in 
the revision of the respiratory protection requirements in OSHA's 
marine terminals and longshoring standards for coke oven emissions (see 
29 CFR 1917.1 and 29 CFR 1918.1, which apply the requirements in 
1910.1029 to longshoring and marine terminals). OSHA requests comment 
regarding whether there are any considerations that are unique to the 
use of respirators for protection against coke oven emissions hazards 
in marine terminals or longshoring, that OSHA should consider when 
finalizing this proposal.
    OSHA requests comments on the following issues:
    1. Are there any concerns that making the changes described in this 
proposal will decrease worker safety?

[[Page 28357]]

    2. Should OSHA retain the prohibition on using filtering facepiece 
respirators unless they function as a filter respirator for coke oven 
emissions particulates?
    3. Will references to 1910.134 adequately capture the material in 
the current provisions that OSHA is proposing to remove?
    4. Are there alternative approaches OSHA should consider to the 
revisions it is proposing?

V. Economic Analysis

    This proposed rule would expand compliance options for employers 
under the Coke Oven Emissions standard, 29 CFR 1910.1029, and therefore 
OSHA has preliminarily concluded that there will be no additional costs 
imposed by this proposed revision. OSHA also anticipates that there 
would be some cost savings associated with this rule, including savings 
based on employers being able to choose more cost-effective respirators 
and a reduction of the burdens associated with reviewing unnecessarily 
duplicative regulations. Because this rule would impose no new costs, 
OSHA has made a preliminary determination that the rule would be 
economically feasible.
    Based on the Supporting Statement for the Information Collection 
Request for the Coke Oven Emissions standard, OSHA estimates that there 
are 1,196 employees exposed to coke oven emissions in the U.S.\1\ This 
proposed rule would, among other things, remove the limitations on 
employees using filtering facepiece respirators under the standard. 
Assuming that employers were previously providing half face 
respirators, OSHA estimates that a 3M model 5000 half face respirator 
replaced annually, a 3M P100 particulate filter replaced every 40 hours 
of use (assumed to be weekly), and one cleaning wipe per shift results 
in an estimated per-use cost of about $1.72.\2\ An N95 respirator 
replaced every shift costs of $1.15.\3\ Over the course of a year 
(assuming an employee works 5 shifts per week and 50 weeks per year) 
this means a difference in per-employee costs of $142. Assuming 50 
percent of employers opt for disposable N95 respirators, the cost 
savings could be $85,000 annually (or about $632,000 over 10 years at a 
3 percent discount rate).
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    \1\ See Document ID OSHA-2011-0181-0014 for additional detail.
    \2\ Prices based on those listed on <a href="http://uline.com">uline.com</a>, accessed June 3, 
2025.
    \3\ Prices based on those listed on <a href="http://uline.com">uline.com</a>, accessed June 3, 
2025.
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    OSHA is seeking comments and data on this preliminary analysis, 
including on the following questions:
    1. How much do employers expect to save based on the increased 
flexibility in respirator selection?
    2. Are there any other savings for employers that would result from 
the proposed change?
    3. Are there any benefits for worker protection that can be 
anticipated from this proposed change?
    4. Are there any costs for employers that would result from this 
change that OSHA has not considered?

A. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) requires 
preparation of an initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA) and a 
final regulatory flexibility analysis (FRFA) for any rule that by law 
must be proposed for public comment, unless the agency certifies that 
the rule, if promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities.
    OSHA reviewed this proposed rule under the provisions of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act. This rule would eliminate burdensome 
regulations. Therefore, OSHA initially concludes that the impacts of 
the revisions would not have a ``significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities,'' and that the preparation of an 
IRFA is not warranted. OSHA will transmit this certification and 
supporting statement of factual basis to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy 
of the Small Business Administration for review under 5 U.S.C. 605(b).

B. Review Under Executive Order 12866

    E.O. 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review'' (58 FR 51735 (Oct. 
4, 1993)), requires agencies, to the extent permitted by law, to (1) 
propose or adopt a regulation only upon a reasoned determination that 
its benefits justify its costs (recognizing that some benefits and 
costs are difficult to quantify); (2) tailor regulations to impose the 
least burden on society, consistent with obtaining regulatory 
objectives, taking into account, among other things, and to the extent 
practicable, the costs of cumulative regulations; (3) select, in 
choosing among alternative regulatory approaches, those approaches that 
maximize net benefits; (4) to the extent feasible, specify performance 
objectives, rather than specifying the behavior or manner of compliance 
that regulated entities must adopt; and (5) identify and assess 
available alternatives to direct regulation, including providing 
economic incentives to encourage the desired behavior, such as user 
fees or marketable permits, or providing information upon which choices 
can be made by the public.
    Section 6(a) of E.O. 12866 also requires agencies to submit 
``significant regulatory actions'' to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review. OIRA has determined that this 
proposed rule would not constitute a ``significant regulatory action'' 
under section 3(f) of E.O. 12866. Accordingly, this proposal was not 
submitted to OIRA for review under E.O. 12866.

VI. Additional Requirements

A. Requirements for States With OSHA-Approved State Plans

    Under section 18 of the OSH Act (29 U.S.C. 651 et seq.), Congress 
expressly provides that States may adopt, with Federal approval, a plan 
for the development and enforcement of occupational safety and health 
standards that are ``at least as effective'' as the Federal standards 
in providing safe and healthful employment and places of employment (29 
U.S.C. 667). OSHA refers to these OSHA-approved, State-administered 
occupational safety and health programs as ``State Plans.'' \4\
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    \4\ Of the 29 States and U.S. territories with OSHA-approved 
State Plans, 22 cover public and private-sector employees: Alaska, 
Arizona, California, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, 
Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, 
Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, 
Washington, and Wyoming. The remaining six States and one U.S. 
territory cover only State and local government employees: 
Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, 
and the Virgin Islands.
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    When Federal OSHA promulgates a new standard or a more stringent 
amendment to an existing standard, State Plans must either amend their 
standards to be identical to, or ``at least as effective as,'' the new 
Federal standard or amendment, or show that an existing State Plan 
standard covering this issue is ``at least as effective'' as the new 
Federal standard or amendment (29 CFR 1953.5(a)). However, when OSHA 
promulgates a new standard or amendment that does not impose additional 
or more stringent requirements than an existing standard, State Plans 
do not have to amend their standards, although they may opt to do so. 
OSHA has preliminarily determined this proposed rule does not impose 
additional or more stringent requirements than the existing standard, 
and therefore State Plans are not required to amend their standards. 
OSHA seeks comment on this assessment of its proposal.

[[Page 28358]]

B. OMB Review Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    The Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) defines ``collection of 
information'' to mean ``the obtaining, causing to be obtained, 
soliciting, or requiring the disclosure to third parties or the public, 
of facts or opinions by or for an agency, regardless of form or 
format'' (44 U.S.C. 3502(3)(A)). Under the PRA, a Federal agency cannot 
conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it is approved by 
OMB under the PRA and the agency displays a currently valid OMB control 
number (44 U.S.C. 3507). Also, notwithstanding any other provisions of 
law, no person shall be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a 
collection of information if the collection of information does not 
display a currently valid OMB control number (44 U.S.C. 3512(a)(1)). 
The process for OMB approval is found in 5 CFR part 1320.
    This proposed rule would impose no new information collection 
requirements. Because the revisions are deregulatory and affect only 
minor changes to the existing information collections in the Coke Oven 
Emissions standard (OMB Control Number 1218-0128), OMB has waived the 
requirements of 5 CFR part 1320 and approved the modified Information 
Collection Request (ICR) under existing OMB Control Number 1218-0128 
(see 5 CFR 1320.18(d)).

C. Environmental Impacts/National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

    OSHA has reviewed this proposed rule according to the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), as 
amended by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (Pub. L. 118-5, 321, 
137 Stat. 10), and the Department of Labor's NEPA procedures (29 CFR 
part 11). OSHA has determined that this proposal would have no impact 
on the quality of the human environment.

D. Other Statutory and Executive Order Considerations

    OSHA has considered its obligations under the Unfunded Mandates 
Reform Act (UMRA) (2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) and the Executive Orders on 
Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments (E.O. 
13175, 65 FR 67249 (Nov. 6, 2000)), Federalism (E.O. 13132, 64 FR 43255 
(Aug. 10, 1999)), and Protection of Children From Environmental Health 
Risks and Safety Risks (E.O. 13045, 62 FR 19885 (Apr. 23, 1997)). Given 
that this is a proposed deregulatory action that involves the removal 
of requirements, that OSHA does not foresee economic impacts of $100 
million or more, and that the action does not constitute a policy that 
has federalism or tribal implications, OSHA has determined that no 
further agency action or analysis is required to comply with these 
statutes and executive orders. Furthermore, OSHA has determined that 
this proposal is consistent with the policies and directives outlined 
in E.O. 14192, ``Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation'' and is an 
Executive Order 14192 deregulatory action.

List of Subjects in 29 CFR Part 1910

    Assigned protection factors, Airborne contaminants, Health, 
Occupational safety and health, Respirators, Respirator selection.

VII. Authority and Signature

    This document was prepared under the direction of Amanda Laihow, 
Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. 
It is issued under the authority of sections 4, 6, and 8 of the 
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 653, 655, and 
657), 5 U.S.C. 553, Secretary of Labor's Order No. 8-2020 (85 FR 
58393), and 29 CFR part 1911.

    Dated: June 20, 2025.
Amanda Laihow,
Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.

VIII. Regulatory Text

Proposed Amendments

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, OSHA is amending 29 CFR 
part 1910 as follows:

PART 1910--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS

Subpart Z--Toxic and Hazardous Substances

0
1. The authority for 29 CFR 1910 subpart Z is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  33 U.S.C. 941; 29 U.S.C. 653, 655, 657; Secretary of 
Labor's Order No. 12-71 (36 FR 8754), 8-76 (41 FR 25059), 9-83 (48 
FR 35736), 1-90 (55 FR 9033), 6-96 (62 FR 111), 3-2000 (65 FR 
50017), 5-2002 (67 FR 65008); 5-2007 (72 FR 31160), 4-2010 (75 FR 
55355), 1-2012 (77 FR 3912), or 8-2020 (85 FR 58393); 29 CFR part 
1911; and 5 U.S.C. 553, as applicable.

    All of subpart Z issued under 29 U.S.C. 655(b), except those 
substances that have exposure limits listed in Tables Z-1, Z-2, and 
Z-3 of Sec.  1910.1000. The latter were issued under 29 U.S.C. 
655(a).
    Section 1910.1000, Tables Z-1, Z-2 and Z-3 also issued under 5 
U.S.C. 553, but not under 29 CFR part 1911 except for the arsenic 
(organic compounds), benzene, cotton dust, and chromium (VI) 
listings.
    Section 1910.1001 also issued under 40 U.S.C. 3704 and 5 U.S.C. 
553.
    Section 1910.1002 also issued under 5 U.S.C. 553, but not under 
29 U.S.C. 655 or 29 CFR part 1911.
    Sections 1910.1018, 1910.1029, and 1910.1200 also issued under 
29 U.S.C. 653.
    Section 1910.1030 also issued under Public Law 106-430, 114 
Stat. 1901.
    Section 1910.1201 also issued under 49 U.S.C. 1801-1819 and 5 
U.S.C. 553.

0
2. Sec.  1910.1029 is revised as follows:
0
a. Revise and republish paragraphs (g)(1), (g)(3), and (k)(1)(iii)
0
b. Remove paragraphs (g)(1)(i)-(iv)
0
c. Remove and reserve paragraph (k)(1)(iv)(b).
    The revisions and additions read as follows:
    (g) * * *
    (1) General. For employees who use respirators required by this 
section, the employer must provide each employee with an appropriate 
respirator that complies with the requirements of this paragraph. 
Respirators must be used when the employer determines that they are 
necessary to protect the health of an employee as required under 29 CFR 
1910.134(a)(2).
    (2) * * *
    (3) Respirator selection. Employers must select, and provide to 
employees, the appropriate respirators specified in paragraph 
(d)(3)(i)(A) of 29 CFR 1910.134.
* * * * *
    (k) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (iii) The training program shall be provided at least annually for 
all employees who are employed in the regulated area.
    (iv) * * *
    (a) * * *
    (b) [Reserved]
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2025-11636 Filed 6-30-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on July 1, 2025.

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