Regulatory Specialist

Duties

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This is a career ladder progression position; the incumbent will serve in a developmental capacity, wherein the work is less complex in nature and the supervisor or a senior level employee provides specific instruction and guidance. For the GS-09 level:

• Drafts regulations or assists senior regulatory specialists in drafting regulations pertaining to MSHA programs. Responsible for ensuring promulgated regulations reflect MSHA policies and are consistent with Federal law, executive orders, and guidance, including the Mine Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, EO 12866, and the Federal Register Document Drafting Handbook.
• Responsible for reviewing and analyzing comments received on proposed occupational health and safety regulations and determining significant issues raised in written comments. Support senior regulatory specialists in drafting responses to received comments.
• Responsible for determining if proposed regulations or standards require regulatory impact and regulatory flexibility analyses. Where required, supports economists in the preparation of such analyses. Assists technical specialists in using the results of these analyses to modify draft standards, where warranted.
• Participates in reviews and analyses of existing Agency regulations to identify those which may need revision in view of changing Agency requirements or policies or actions taken by other regulatory agencies and provides this information to the Chief of the Regulatory Development Division.
• Manages and drafts correspondences to the Office of the Solicitor, other MSHA program areas, and members of the regulated community.

For the GS-11 level:

• Drafts the complex or sensitive regulations pertaining to MSHA programs. Responsible for ensuring promulgated regulations reflect MSHA policies and are consistent with Federal law, EOs, and guidance, including the Mine Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, and the Federal Register Document Drafting Handbook.
• Responsible for reviewing and analyzing comments received on proposed occupational health and safety regulations and determining, in conjunction with technical program personnel, management, and the Office of the Solicitor, whether the issues raised in written comments have sufficient merit to warrant changes in the proposed regulation. Drafts responses to substantial comments and explains MSHA position on those topics.
• Responsible for determining if proposed regulations or standards require regulatory impact and regulatory flexibility analyses. Where required, supports economists in the preparation of such analyses. Assists technical specialists in using the results of these analyses to modify draft standards, where warranted.
• Conducts continuing reviews and analyses of existing Agency regulations to identify those which may need revision in view of changing Agency requirements or policies or actions taken by other regulatory agencies and provides this information to the Chief of the Regulatory Development Division and other MSHA officials.
• Manages and drafts correspondences to the Office of the Solicitor, Office of Mine Safety and Health Enforcement, other agencies, and members of the regulated community. Exercises a leadership role to resolve any differences within MSHA.

For the GS-12 level:

• Drafts the most complex, controversial, or sensitive regulations pertaining to MSHA programs. Coordinates with the Office of the Solicitor as needed.
• Ensures that promulgated regulations reflect DOL policies and are consistent with Federal law, executive orders, and official guidance, and the Federal Register Document Drafting Handbook. Collaborates with MSHA program offices, the Office of the Solicitor, and Departmental personnel to build consensus on regulatory strategy and rule text.
• Responsible for reviewing and analyzing comments received on proposed regulations and determining, in conjunction with technical program personnel, management, and the Office of the Solicitor, whether the issues raised by the comments have sufficient merit to warrant changes in the proposed regulation. Drafts updates to regulation and clearly explains MSHA positions on complex topics.
• Conducts continuing reviews and analyses of existing Agency occupational health and safety regulations to identify those which may need revision in view of changing Agency requirements or policies or actions taken by other regulatory agencies and provides this information to the Assistant Secretary and top MSHA officials.
• Manages and drafts correspondences to the Office of the Solicitor, Office of Mine Safety and Health Enforcement, other agencies, members of the regulated community, and Congress. Exercises a leadership role to resolve any differences within MSHA or between MSHA and external stakeholders.
• Prepares documents for the Semi-annual Regulatory Agenda and Regulatory Plan. Responsible for ensuring assigned rulemakings are delivered within time frames defined in the Semi-annual Regulatory Agenda.