To anyone who thought the Office of Management and Budget had forgotten about OSHA’s proposed Crystalline Silica Standard: fear not.

On March 12, OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs hosted a meeting with stakeholders about the proposal. Representatives from the foundry industry, OSHA, OMB and the Department of Labor Office of the Solicitor attended the meeting.

The meeting effectively “broke the silence” OMB had maintained on the proposed Silica Standard, as it was the first meeting on the matter since Aug. 10, 2011. The proposed rule has been under OIRA review for more than 750 days. Reviews are not supposed to exceed 90 days.

Is the March 12 meeting a sign OMB is getting ready to move on silica and allow OSHA to publish the proposal? Or is it simply a sign that the office is getting ready to discuss the subject more? Time will tell.

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