WASHINGTON. DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is extending the public comment period for the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Occupational Exposure to Crystalline Silica for an additional 15 days to February 11, 2014.

In response to concerns raised about possible public confusion due to an error on www.regulations.gov, the federal government's online portal for submitting rulemaking comments, the deadline has been extended from January 27 to February 11 to allow stakeholders additional time to comment on the proposed rule.

To submit comments using www.regulations.gov, stakeholders may click on the "COMMENT NOW!" box next to the title "Occupational Exposure to Crystalline Silica; Extension of Comment Period” and follow the instructions for making electronic submissions.

Public hearings on the proposed rule are scheduled to begin on March 18, 2014. Information on the proposed rule is available at www.osha.gov/silica.