{"abstract":"This document provides the interim final text of regulations governing the employee protection (retaliation or whistleblower) provisions of section 31307 of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21 or the Act). This rule establishes procedures and time frames for the handling of retaliation complaints under MAP- 21, including procedures and time frames for employee complaints to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), investigations by OSHA, appeals of OSHA determinations to an administrative law judge (ALJ) for a hearing de novo, hearings by ALJs, review of ALJ decisions by the Administrative Review Board (ARB) (acting on behalf of the Secretary of Labor) and judicial review of the Secretary's final decision. It also sets forth the Secretary's interpretations of the MAP-21 whistleblower provision on certain matters.","action":"Interim final rule; request for comments.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF LABOR","name":"Labor Department","id":271,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/labor-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/271","parent_id":null,"slug":"labor-department"},{"raw_name":"Occupational Safety and Health Administration","name":"Occupational Safety and Health Administration","id":386,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/occupational-safety-and-health-administration","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/386","parent_id":271,"slug":"occupational-safety-and-health-administration"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2016/03/16/2016-05414.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":1988,"title":29}],"citation":"81 FR 13976","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":"2016-05-16","correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"This interim final rule is effective on March 16, 2016. Comments and additional materials must be submitted (post-marked, sent or received) by May 16, 2016.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["Docket Number: OSHA-2015-0021"],"dockets":[{"supporting_documents":[],"agency_name":null,"documents":[{"comment_count":5,"comment_start_date":"2016-03-16","updated_at":"2023-02-28T16:21:03.832-05:00","comment_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/OSHA-2015-0021-0001","allow_late_comments":null,"id":"OSHA-2015-0021-0001","comment_end_date":"2016-05-17","regulations_dot_gov_open_for_comment":false}],"supporting_documents_count":0,"id":"OSHA-2015-0021","title":"Procedures for the Handling of Retaliation Complaints Under the Employee Protection Provision of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act "}],"document_number":"2016-05414","effective_on":"2016-03-16","end_page":13989,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"explanation":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2016/03/16/2016-05414.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/03/16/2016-05414/procedures-for-handling-retaliation-complaints-under-section-31307-of-the-moving-ahead-for-progress","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2016-05414?publication_date=2016-03-16","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2016-03-16/2016-05414/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":14,"page_views":{"count":1454,"last_updated":"2026-04-04 22:15:03 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2016-03-16/pdf/2016-05414.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2016-05414.pdf?1458045918","publication_date":"2016-03-16","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2016/03/16/2016-05414.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"1218-AC88":{"issue":"201610","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1218-AC88/procedures-for-the-handling-of-retaliation-complaints-under-the-employee-protection-provision-of-the","title":"Procedures for the Handling of Retaliation Complaints Under the Employee Protection Provision of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201610&RIN=1218-AC88&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["1218-AC88"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[],"regulatory_plan":{"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1218-AC88/procedures-for-the-handling-of-retaliation-complaints-under-the-employee-protection-provision-of-the","title":"Procedures for the Handling of Retaliation Complaints Under the Employee Protection Provision of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act"},"comments_count":5,"agency_id":"OSHA","comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=OSHA-2015-0021","supporting_documents_count":0,"docket_id":"OSHA-2015-0021","document_id":"OSHA-2015-0021-0001","regulation_id_number":"1218-AC88","title":"Procedures for the Handling of Retaliation Complaints Under the Employee Protection Provision of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act ","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2023-02-28T21:21:02Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":13976,"subtype":null,"title":"Procedures for Handling Retaliation Complaints Under Section 31307 of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21)","toc_doc":"Procedures for Handling Retaliation Complaints under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act","toc_subject":null,"topics":["Administrative practice and procedure","Employment","Investigations","Motor vehicle safety","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements","Whistleblowing"],"type":"Rule","volume":81}