OSHA will announce in the Aug. 1, 2005Federal Registerthat it is extending until Nov. 28, 2005, the period for the public to submit comments and information to help the agency determine what action, if any, OSHA should take to update its standards for occupational exposure to ionizing radiation.

The agency is extending the comment period to give stakeholders adequate time to comment on the National Academy of Science's Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) VII report on health risks for exposure to low levels of ionizing radiation, which was not issued until June 29, 2005.

OSHA's May 3, 2005 request for information addresses current uses of ionizing radiation in the workplace and issues related to its use, such as employee exposure levels, health effects of ionizing radiation exposure, and workplace programs to control such exposure. The agency will use the information to determine if and how its ionizing radiation standards should be updated.

Written comments must be submitted by Nov. 28, 2005. Written comments (10 pages or fewer) can be faxed to OSHA's Docket Office at (202) 693-1648 or sent electronically to http://ecomments.osha.gov. Three copies of written comments and attachments must be submitted to the OSHA Docket Office, Docket H-016, Room N-2625, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., Washington, DC, 20210.

For further information on submitting comments, call the Docket Office at (202) 693-2350.