OSHA withdraws direct final rule

Because of significant adverse comment, on Feb. 18 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) withdrew the direct final rule of Updating OSHA Standards Based on National Consensus Standards [69 FR 68712], which covers various topics, including hazardous materials, flammable and combustible liquids; general environmental controls, temporary labor camps; hand and portable powered tools and other hand held equipment, guarding of portable powered tools; and welding, cutting, and brazing, arc welding and cutting.

In the document published Nov. 24, 2004, OSHA stated that if it received significant adverse comment, it would "publish a notice of significant adverse comment in the Federal Register withdrawing this direct final rule." The agency published a companion proposed rule identical to the direct final rule on the same day [69 FR 68706].

The agency will address the significant adverse comment and the other comments on the direct final and proposed rules in a new final rule. It will not institute a second comment period.