81 FR 18892 - Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 63 (April 1, 2016)

The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health requests nominations for membership on the Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee (WPAC).

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 63 (Friday, April 1, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18892-18893]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07427]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket Number: OSHA-2016-0006]


Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee

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

ACTION: Request for nominations to serve on the Whistleblower 
Protection Advisory Committee.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and 
Health requests nominations for membership on the Whistleblower 
Protection Advisory Committee (WPAC).

DATES: Nominations for WPAC must be submitted (postmarked, sent, 
transmitted, or received) by May 31, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit nominations for WPAC, identified by the OSHA 
Docket No. OSHA-2016-0006, by any of the following methods:
    Electronically: Nominations, including attachments, may be 
submitted electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, which is the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions online for making 
electronic submissions.
    Facsimile: If your nomination and supporting materials, including 
attachments, do not exceed 10 pages, you may fax them to the OSHA 
Docket Office at (202) 693-1648.
    Mail, hand delivery, express mail, messenger or courier service: 
Submit your nominations and supporting materials to the OSHA Docket 
Office, Docket No. OSHA-2016-0006, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-
2625, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone 
(202) 693-2350 (OSHA's TTY number is (877) 889-5627). Deliveries (hand, 
express mail, messenger and courier service) are accepted during the 
Department of Labor's and Docket Office's normal business hours, 8:15 
a.m.-4:45 p.m., e.t.
    Instructions: All nominations and supporting materials for WPAC 
must include the Agency name and docket number for this Federal 
Register notice (Docket No. OSHA-2016-0006). Because of security-
related procedures, submitting nominations by regular mail may result 
in a significant delay in their receipt. Please contact the OSHA Docket 
Office for information about security procedures for submitting 
nominations by hand delivery, express delivery, and messenger or 
courier service. For additional information on submitting nominations 
see the ``Public Participation--Submission of Nominations and Access to 
Docket'' heading in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.
    Submissions in response to this Federal Register notice, including 
personal information provided, are posted without change at http://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, OSHA cautions interested parties about 
submitting personal information such as social security numbers and 
dates of birth.
    Docket: To read or download submissions or other material in the 
docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov or the OSHA Docket Office at 
the address above. All documents in the docket are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov index; however, some information (e.g., 
copyrighted material) is not publicly available to read or download 
through that Web site. All submissions, including copyrighted material, 
are available for inspection at the OSHA Docket Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Rosa, OSHA, Directorate of 
Whistleblower Protection Programs, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-
4618, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone 
(202) 693-2199; email address [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Assistant Secretary of Labor for 
Occupational Safety and Health invites interested individuals to submit 
nominations for membership on WPAC.
    Background. The WPAC advises the Secretary of Labor (the Secretary) 
and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health 
(the Assistant Secretary) on ways to improve the fairness, efficiency, 
and transparency of OSHA's whistleblower investigations. WPAC is a 
continuing advisory body and operates in compliance with the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2) and its implementing 
regulations (see ``Authority and Signature'' section).
    WPAC membership. WPAC is comprised of 12 members, whom the 
Secretary appoints to staggered terms, not to exceed 2 years. OSHA is 
seeking to fill six positions on WPAC that will become vacant on 
December 1, 2016. The composition of WPAC and categories of new members 
to be appointed to new two-year terms are as follows:
     Two management representatives who are or represent 
employers or employer associations in industries covered by one or more 
of the whistleblower laws enforced by OSHA;
     Two labor representatives who are or represent workers or 
worker advocacy organizations in industries covered by one or more of 
the whistleblower laws enforced by OSHA; and
     Two public representatives from a college, university, 
non-partisan think tank, or other entity who have extensive knowledge 
and expertise on whistleblower statutes and issues.
    If a vacancy occurs before a term expires, the Secretary may 
appoint a new member who represents the same interest as the 
predecessor to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term. The 
committee meets at least two times a year.
    Nomination requirements. Any individual or organization may 
nominate one or more qualified persons for membership. If an individual 
or organization nominates more than one person, each person must be 
named. Submissions of nominations must include the following 
information for each nominee:
    1. The nominee's name, contact information and current occupation 
or position (required);

[[Page 18893]]

    2. The nominee's resume or curriculum vitae, including prior 
membership on WPAC and other relevant organizations, associations and 
committees (required);
    3. Category of membership (management, labor, state plan, or 
academic/extensive whistleblower knowledge) the nominee is qualified to 
represent (required);
    4. A summary of the nominee's background, experience and 
qualifications that address the nominee's suitability to serve on WPAC 
(required);
    5. Articles or other documents the nominee has authored that 
indicate the nominee's knowledge, experience and expertise in 
whistleblower protections (optional); and
    6. A statement that the nominee is aware of the nomination, is 
willing to regularly attend and participate in WPAC meetings, and has 
no apparent conflicts of interest that would preclude membership on 
WPAC (required).
    Nominations that do not contain all required information will not 
be considered.
    Membership selection. WPAC members will be selected on the basis of 
their experience, knowledge, and competence in the field of 
whistleblower protection. The information received through this 
nomination process, in addition to other relevant sources of 
information, will assist the Secretary in appointing members to serve 
on WPAC. In selecting WPAC members, the Secretary will consider 
individuals nominated in response to this Federal Register notice, as 
well as other qualified individuals. The Department encourages the 
nomination of individuals with diverse viewpoints, perspectives and 
experiences to the WPAC, including individuals with disabilities and 
individuals of all races, genders, ages, and sexual orientations.
    Before candidates are appointed, the U.S. Department of Labor 
(Department) conducts a basic background check using publically 
available, Internet-based sources.
    Instructions for submitting nominations. Interested individuals may 
submit nominations and supplemental materials using one of the methods 
listed in the ADDRESSES section. All nominations, attachments and other 
materials must identify the docket number for this Federal Register 
notice (Docket No. OSHA-2016-0006). To submit nominations through 
http://www.regulations.gov, search for the docket (OSHA-2016-0006), 
open the docket, click on the button that states ``Comment Now'', and 
follow the instructions. You may supplement electronic nominations by 
uploading document files electronically. If, instead, you wish to 
submit additional materials in reference to an electronic or FAX 
submission, you must submit them to the OSHA Docket Office (see 
ADDRESSES section). The additional material must clearly identify your 
electronic or FAX submission by name and docket number (Docket No. 
OSHA-2016-0006) so that the materials can be attached to your 
submission.
    Because of security-related procedures, the use of regular mail may 
cause a significant delay in the receipt of nominations. For 
information about security procedures concerning the delivery of 
materials by hand, express delivery, messenger or courier service, 
please contact the OSHA Docket Office (see ADDRESSES section).
    All submissions in response to this Federal Register notice are 
posted without change at http://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, OSHA 
cautions interested parties about submitting personal information, such 
as Social Security numbers and birthdates. Guidance on submitting 
nominations and materials in response to this Federal Register notice 
is available at http://www.regulations.gov and from the OSHA Docket 
Office.
    Access to docket and other materials. To read or download 
nominations and additional materials submitted in response to this 
Federal Register notice, go to Docket No. OSHA-2016-0006, at: http://www.regulations.gov. All submissions are listed in the index of that 
docket. However, some documents (e.g., copyrighted material) are not 
publicly available to read or download through that Web page. All 
submissions, including copyrighted material, are available for 
inspection at the OSHA Docket Office. Contact the OSHA Docket Office 
for information about materials not available through http://www.regulations.gov and for assistance in using the internet to locate 
submissions.
    Electronic copies of this Federal Register notice are available at: 
http://www.regulations.gov. This document, as well as news releases and 
other relevant information, also is available at the Directorate of 
Whistleblower Protection Program's Web page at http://www.whistleblowers.gov.

Authority and Signature

    David Michaels, Ph.D., MPH, Assistant Secretary of Labor for 
Occupational Safety and Health, authorized the preparation of this 
notice under the authority granted by 5 U.S.C. App. 2, 41 CFR part 102-
3, chapter 1600 of Department of Labor Management Series 3 (Aug. 15, 
2013), 77 FR 3912 (Jan. 25, 2012), and the Secretary of Labor's 
authority to administer the whistleblower provisions found in 29 U.S.C. 
660(c), 49 U.S.C. 31105, 15 U.S.C. 2651, 46 U.S.C. 80507, 42 U.S.C. 
300j-9(i), 33 U.S.C. 1367, 15 U.S.C. 2622, 42 U.S.C. 6971, 42 U.S.C. 
7622, 42 U.S.C. 9610, 42 U.S.C. 5851, 49 U.S.C. 42121, 18 U.S.C. 1514A, 
49 U.S.C. 60129, 49 U.S.C. 20109, 6 U.S.C. 1142, 15 U.S.C. 2087, 29 
U.S.C. 218c, 12 U.S.C. 5567, 46 U.S.C. 2114, 21 U.S.C. 399d, and 49 
U.S.C. 30171.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on March 29, 2016.
David Michaels,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2016-07427 Filed 3-31-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-26-P