Protecting the Privacy of Workers: Labor Standards Provisions Applicable to Contracts Covering Federally Financed and Assisted Construction, 62229-62234 [E8-24762]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
• Wage and Hour Division

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 203 (Monday, October 20, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 62229-62234]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-24762]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

 Wage and Hour Division

29 CFR Parts 3 and 5

RIN 1215-AB67


Protecting the Privacy of Workers: Labor Standards Provisions 
Applicable to Contracts Covering Federally Financed and Assisted 
Construction

AGENCY: Wage and Hour Division, Employment Standards Administration, 
Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In this proposed rule, the Department of Labor (Department or 
DOL) proposes to revise regulations issued pursuant to the Davis-Bacon 
and Related Acts and the Copeland Anti-Kickback Act to better protect 
the personal privacy of laborers and mechanics employed on covered 
construction contracts.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 19, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by RIN 1215-AB67, by 
either one of the following methods:
     Electronic comments, through the federal eRulemaking 
Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments.
     Mail: Wage and Hour Division, Employment Standards 
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room S-3502, 200 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210.
    Instructions: Please submit one copy of your comments by only one 
method. All submissions received must include the agency name and 
Regulatory Information Number (RIN) identified above for this 
rulemaking. Comments

[[Page 62230]]

received will be posted to https://www.regulations.gov, including any 
personal information provided. Because we continue to experience delays 
in receiving mail in the Washington, DC, area, commenters are strongly 
encouraged to transmit their comments electronically via the federal 
eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov or to submit them by 
mail early. For additional information on submitting comments and the 
rulemaking process, see the ``Public Participation'' heading of the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to the federal eRulemaking Portal at https://
www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard M. Brennan, Director, Office 
of Interpretations and Regulatory Analysis, Wage and Hour Division, 
Employment Standards Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room S-
3506, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone: 
(202) 693-0051 (this is not a toll-free number). Copies of this notice 
may be obtained in alternative formats (Large Print, Braille, Audio 
Tape or Disc), upon request, by calling (202) 693-0023 (not a toll-free 
number). TTY/TDD callers may dial toll-free (877) 889-5627 to obtain 
information or request materials in alternative formats.
    Questions of interpretation and/or enforcement of regulations 
issued by this agency or referenced in this notice may be directed to 
the nearest Wage and Hour Division (WHD) District Office. Locate the 
nearest office by calling our toll-free help line at (866) 4USWAGE 
((866) 487-9243) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. in your local time zone, or 
log onto the WHD's Web site for a nationwide listing of WHD District 
and Area Offices at: https://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/america2.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Electronic Access and Filing Comments

    Public Participation: This notice is available through the Federal 
Register and the https://www.regulations.gov Web site. You may also 
access this notice via the WHD home page at https://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/
regulations/DBRA2008.htm. To comment electronically on federal 
rulemakings, go to the federal eRulemaking Portal at https://
www.regulations.gov, which will allow you to find, review, and submit 
comments on federal documents that are open for comment and published 
in the Federal Register. Please identify all comments submitted in 
electronic form by the RIN docket number (1215-AB67). Because of delays 
in receiving mail in the Washington, DC area, commenters should 
transmit their comments electronically via the federal eRulemaking 
Portal at https://www.regulations.gov, or submit them by mail early to 
ensure timely receipt prior to the close of the comment period. Submit 
one copy of your comments by only one method.
    Request for Comments: The DOL requests comments on all issues 
related to this notice of proposed rulemaking. This proposed rule, if 
implemented as a final rule, will enhance the privacy of workers and 
reduce paperwork requirements. The changes will not result in 
additional compliance costs for regulated entities.

II. Discussion of Changes

    Summary of Pertinent Laws: Section 1 of the Davis-Bacon Act (DBA), 
as amended, 40 U.S.C. 3141 requires that each contract over $2,000 to 
which the United States or the District of Columbia is a party for the 
construction, alteration, or repair of public buildings or public works 
shall contain a clause setting forth the minimum wages to be paid to 
various classes of laborers and mechanics employed under the contract. 
The DBA requires contractors or their subcontractors to pay workers 
employed directly upon the site of the work no less than the locally 
prevailing wages and fringe benefits paid on projects of a similar 
character as determined by the Secretary of Labor. Regulations in 29 
CFR part 5 contain the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts required contract 
clauses, and descriptions and interpretations of the labor standards 
requirements.
    The Copeland Anti-Kickback Act, 40 U.S.C. 3145, requires, among 
other things, that contractors and subcontractors performing work on 
most federally financed or assisted construction contracts furnish 
weekly a statement with respect to the wages paid each worker during 
the preceding week. See 29 CFR 3.3(b), 3.4. Contractors must submit 
weekly a copy of all payrolls to the federal agency contracting for or 
financing the construction project, if the agency is a party to the 
contract, but if the agency is not such a party, the contractor will 
submit the payrolls to the applicant, sponsor, or owner, as the case 
may be, for transmission to the contracting agency. 29 CFR 
5.5(a)(3)(ii)(A). A signed ``Statement of Compliance'' indicating the 
payrolls are correct and complete and that each laborer or mechanic has 
been paid not less than the proper Davis-Bacon and Related Act 
prevailing wage rate for the work performed must accompany the payroll. 
Id. 3.3(b), 5.5(a)(3)(ii)(B). Regulations implementing the Copeland Act 
are contained in 29 CFR parts 3 and 5.
    In addition to the statutory authorities above, Reorganization Plan 
No. 14 of 1950 conferred upon the Secretary of Labor the authority to 
coordinate the administration and enforcement of the labor standards 
provisions of the above laws by the federal agencies providing the 
federal funding or assistance for the covered construction activities. 
See 5 U.S.C. Appendix.
    The Secretary delegated her authority under the Davis-Bacon Act; 
the Copeland Act, 40 U.S.C. 276c; Reorganization Plan No. 14 of 1950; 
and the Tennessee Valley Authority Act, 16 U.S.C. 831, the Contract 
Work Hours and Safety Standards Act, as amended, 40 U.S.C. 327, et seq. 
to the Assistant Secretary for Employment Standards Administration. See 
Secretary's Order 01-2008, issued May 30, 2008, and published in the 
Federal Register on June 6, 2008 (73 FR 32424).
    Privacy Protections: Changes are proposed in the contract labor 
standards clauses that are required to be included in federally funded 
and assisted construction contracts to protect the privacy of workers 
by reducing the scope of information required in certified payrolls 
provided weekly to appropriate federal agencies. The proposed 
regulatory changes would eliminate social security numbers and home 
addresses from documents that are provided weekly to non-employing 
government agencies, contractors, subcontractors, applicants, sponsors, 
and/or owners.
    The current regulations for the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts 
(DBRA), 29 CFR part 5, require that certified payrolls be provided to 
the contracting government office for each week of work: ``The payrolls 
submitted shall set out accurately and completely all of the 
information required, including ``name, address, and social security 
number of each such worker* * * .'' 29 CFR 5.5(a)(3)(i), (ii). These 
requirements flow down to subcontractors as well. Id. 5.5(a)(6). 
Stakeholders in the regulated community have noted concerns with 
requiring private information like individual workers' social security 
numbers and addresses on the required payroll submissions.
    There is no statutory requirement that the Department require 
social security numbers or addresses on certified payrolls. In the 
1980s, the Employment Standards Administration proposed

[[Page 62231]]

eliminating the requirement for weekly submission of the certified 
payrolls altogether. The final rule was successfully challenged by the 
American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-
CIO) as eliminating an important compliance monitor. See Building & 
Const. Trades' Dept., AFL-CIO v. Donovan, 712 F.2d 611 (DC Cir. 1983). 
The court held that the Copeland Act required covered contractors and 
subcontractors performing work on most federally financed or assisted 
construction contracts to furnish weekly a statement with respect to 
the wages paid each worker during the preceding week. Importantly, 
however, the court noted that there was no specific requirement for 
what individualized wage information for each covered worker was 
necessary on the certified payroll submissions. See Id. at 633.
    The requirements for including social security numbers and home 
addresses also does not comport with recent guidance on limiting the 
use of personally identifying information, nor the Department's 
interests in protecting workers' privacy and preventing identity theft. 
On May 22, 2007, the Office of Management and Budget issued a 
Memorandum on ``Safeguarding Against and Responding to the Breach of 
Personally Identifiable Information.'' Under the memo, government 
agencies are to reduce ``the volume of collected and retained [personal 
identifying] information to the minimum necessary; [and limit] access 
to only those individuals who must have such access.'' OMB Memorandum 
M-07-16 at 2. The Department of Labor's own Guidelines on the 
Protection of Personal Identifiable Information (PII), define PII as 
including ``name, address [and] social security number'' and direct 
that DOL employees and contractors to safeguard the information. See 
DOL Guidance at https://www.dol.gov/dol/ppii.htm. ``Because DOL 
employees and contractors may have access to personal identifiable 
information concerning individuals * * *, we have a special 
responsibility to protect that information from loss and misuse.'' Id.
    Congress has also focused on protecting the privacy interests of 
workers in legislation, including for example, the Privacy Act, and the 
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Likewise, 
a number of federal courts have previously recognized concerns that any 
potential release of certified payrolls has substantial personal 
privacy implications. For example, courts have held that the release of 
workers' names, addresses, and social security numbers on Davis-Bacon 
payroll records under the Freedom of Information Act constitutes a 
clearly unwarranted invasion of the workers' privacy. See Sheet Metal 
Workers Int'l Ass'n, Local No. 19 v. U.S. Veterans Affairs, 135 F.3d 
891 (3d Cir. 1998) (disclosure of names, social security numbers, or 
addresses would constitute unwarranted invasion of privacy); Sheet 
Metal Workers Int'l Ass'n, Local 9 v. U.S. Air Force, 63 F.3d 994 (10th 
Cir. 1995) (holding release of names alone violated substantial privacy 
interest); Painting Indus. Of Haw. Mkt. Recovery Fund v. United States 
Dep't of Air Force, 26 F.3d 1479 (9th Cir. 1994) (names and addresses); 
Painting & Drywall Work Preservation Fund v. HUD, 936 F.2d 1300 (DC 
Cir. 1991) (same); Hopkins v. HUD, 929 F.2d 81 (2d Cir. 1991) (same).
    With regard to addresses of covered construction workers, it should 
be noted that the Department has for some time provided for limitations 
on mandatory weekly disclosures on certified payrolls. The instructions 
to WHD's optional Form WH-347, which is a model for certified payroll 
submissions, currently specifies that addresses are only required for 
the first time the laborer or mechanic performs work on the contract 
and whenever there is a change of address. The proposal will bring the 
regulatory provisions in line with the Department's information 
collection needs.
    The Department believes government agencies can ably enforce the 
requirements of the Copeland Act and Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, 
without needlessly continuing to expose workers to potential identity 
theft from weekly transmission of personally identifiable information 
on payroll records. Construction workers' addresses and social security 
numbers will continue to be required to be maintained by construction 
contractors and subcontractors, and government agencies responsible for 
ensuring compliance with these contract provisions and the WHD will 
continue to be able to access the social security numbers and addresses 
of employees from the contractor or subcontractor if necessary for 
purposes of an audit or investigation, 29 CFR 5.5(a)(3)(i), (iii). For 
example, certified payrolls are not provided weekly under the Service 
Contract Act. Consequently, the Department believes that elimination of 
the weekly submissions of construction workers' social security numbers 
and address information will not be a barrier to effective enforcement. 
Accordingly, for the forgoing reasons, it is proposed that section 
5.5(a)(3)(ii) of title 29 of the CFR be revised to eliminate the 
requirement of social security numbers and addresses on weekly 
submissions of detailed payrolls to the appropriate federal agency. 
After detailed review of the Copeland Act and consideration of the 
regulation in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the 
Department has determined that the statutory requirement to furnish 
weekly a detailed payroll with respect to the wages paid each employee 
during the preceding week can be satisfied by a weekly submission of a 
payroll without this information. This change is in keeping with the 
Administration's objective of protecting the privacy interests of this 
nation's workers and reducing reporting burdens imposed on the public. 
Importantly, the proposed regulation would still require that the 
addresses and social security numbers of covered workers be maintained 
and made available to government agencies upon request to permit 
government agencies to investigate compliance with the requirements of 
the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts. The Department also requests input on 
whether it would be appropriate, as an alternative to eliminating 
personal addresses altogether from certified payroll submissions, to 
instead require that the addresses of subcontractor personnel (and any 
changes of address) be provided to the contractor (or other entity) in 
direct privity with the government, but not included in weekly 
submissions.
    In addition, WHD's optional Form WH-347, which is a model for 
certified payroll submissions, will be amended to reflect these 
requirements and is the subject of a Paperwork Reduction Act notice as 
discussed more fully below.
    The Department also proposes two minor changes to the regulations 
to reflect current practices. The first of these would eliminate 
references in the regulations to Form WH-348, as the agency no longer 
sponsors the form. See 29 CFR 3.3(b). The information previously 
presented on Form WH-348 appears on Form WH-347 and was duplicative. In 
addition, the proposed rule revises how interested parties may obtain 
Form WH-347, as the form is no longer available for purchase through 
the Government Printing Office. See 29 CFR 3.3(b) and 5.5(a)(3)(ii)(A).

III. Paperwork Reduction Act

    As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burden, the Department conducts a preclearance consultation program to 
provide the general public and federal agencies with an opportunity to 
comment on proposed and continuing

[[Page 62232]]

collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA) 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A). This program helps to ensure 
that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting 
burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection 
instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection 
requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The PRA typically 
requires an agency to provide notice and seek public comments on any 
proposed collection of information contained in a proposed rule. See 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(B); 5 CFR 1320.8. Persons are not required to respond 
to the information collection requirements as contained in this 
proposal unless and until they are approved by the OMB under the PRA at 
the final rule stage.
    Purpose and Use: The Copeland Act requires contractors and 
subcontractors performing work on most federally financed or assisted 
construction contracts to furnish weekly a statement with respect to 
the wages paid each worker during the preceding week. See 40 U.S.C. 
3145; 29 CFR 3.3(b), 3.4. Contractors must submit weekly a copy of all 
payrolls to the federal agency contracting for or financing the 
construction project, if the agency is a party to the contract, but if 
the agency is not such a party, the contractor will submit the payrolls 
to the applicant, sponsor, or owner, as the case may be, for 
transmission to the contracting agency. 29 CFR 5.5(a)(3)(ii)(A). A 
signed ``Statement of Compliance'' indicating the payrolls are correct 
and complete and that each laborer or mechanic has been paid not less 
than the proper Davis-Bacon Act prevailing wage rate for the work 
performed must accompany the payroll. Id. 3.3(b), 5.5(a)(3)(ii)(B). 
Contractors must also maintain these records for three years after 
completion of the work. Id. 3.4(b), 5.5(a)(3)(i).
    More specifically, the current regulations require contractors 
performing work on projects subject to Davis-Bacon Act provisions to 
retain the name, address, social security number, correct 
classification, hourly rates of wages paid (including rates of 
contributions or costs anticipated for bona fide fringe benefits or 
cash equivalents thereof of the types described in Davis-Bacon Act 
section 1(b)(2)(B)), daily and weekly number of hours worked, 
deductions made, and actual wages paid to each worker on the contract. 
Id. 5.5(a)(3)(i). Whenever the Secretary of Labor has found under 29 
CFR 5.5(a)(1)(iv) that the wages of any laborer or mechanic include the 
amount of any costs reasonably anticipated in providing benefits under 
a plan or program described in Davis-Bacon Act section 1(b)(2)(B), the 
contractor must maintain records showing that the commitment to provide 
such benefits is enforceable, that the plan or program is financially 
responsible, that the plan or program has been communicated in writing 
to the laborers or mechanics affected, and the anticipated or actual 
costs incurred in providing such benefits. Id. Contractors employing 
apprentices or trainees under approved programs must maintain written 
evidence of the registration of apprenticeship programs and 
certification of trainee programs, the registration of the apprentices 
and trainees, and the ratios and wage rates prescribed in the 
applicable programs. Id. The Department proposes to remove the 
regulatory requirement that the weekly payroll submitted to the 
contracting agency contain each worker's social security number and 
address. The proposal does not remove the requirement for worker 
addresses and social security numbers to be retained in records 
maintained by the contractor or subcontractor. Id. 5.5(a)(3)(i). See 
also Id. 5.5(a)(6). Government contracting officials and WHD staff use 
the records maintained by contractors and subcontractors as well as the 
weekly certified payrolls to verify payment of the required wages for 
the work performed.
    The Department has developed optional use Form WH-347, Payroll 
Form, which contractors may use to meet the payroll reporting 
requirements. Id. 3.3(b), 5.5(a)(3)(ii)(A). The form contains the basic 
payroll information that contractors must furnish each week they 
perform any work subject to Davis-Bacon Act provisions. The contractor 
also completes, dates, and signs a statement on the reverse side of the 
form to meet the certification requirement. The contractor submits the 
completed form weekly to the contracting agency. 29 CFR 
5.5(a)(3)(ii)(A). The contractor may substitute copies of its payroll 
containing all of the required information and provide the required 
certification. Id.
    Information Technology: In accordance with the Government Paperwork 
Elimination Act (GPEA), 44 U.S.C. 3504, the WHD has posted Form WH-347 
on the Internet (https://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/forms/wh347.pdf) in a 
printable and fillable format that automatically performs some 
mathematical calculations. Individual contracting agencies determine 
any electronic submission options, because contractors submit the 
information directly to each contracting agency, not to the Department. 
29 CFR 5.5(a)(3)(ii)(A). In 2004, WHD issued a letter to the U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers and the Federal Highway Administration advising that 
the submission of electronic signatures satisfied the requirements of 
the Copeland Act and its regulations. It is the Department's 
understanding that some agencies have set up systems to gather these 
records electronically and the Department encourages these and other 
initiatives to increase efficiency and requests comments on any 
additional methods to improve efficient compliance with the certified 
payroll requirements.
    Similarly, the submission of photocopies or other automated 
duplication of the contractor's regular payrolls containing all of the 
required information pertinent to the government construction 
project(s) is sufficient to satisfy the payroll data requirements. 29 
CFR 5.5(a)(3)(ii)(A).
    Public Burden Estimates: This proposed rule introduces no new 
information collection requirements nor proposes any substantive or 
material changes to the existing information collection requirements 
noted above. The Department, however, is proposing to remove the 
requirement to report an employee's social security number and address, 
which the Department estimates will reduce the average reporting time 
from an average of 56 minutes per response to 54 minutes per response.
    The Department bases the following burden estimates for this 
information collection on agency experience, except as otherwise noted. 
F.W. Dodge Report data for the period June 1, 2007, through May 31, 
2008, indicate there were 109,323 State and local construction projects 
and 3032 federal construction projects. The Department estimates that 
approximately 33 percent of State and local construction projects 
utilize federal funds, resulting in an estimated 36,077 State and local 
construction projects being subject to Davis-Bacon labor standards 
(109,323 projects x 33 percent). Added to the 3032 federal projects, 
this would be an estimated 39,109 annual projects subject to Davis-
Bacon labor standards.
    The Department estimates these projects have an average of 8 
contractors or subcontractors, resulting in 312,872 individual 
contractor and subcontractor projects (39,109 projects x 8 contractors 
and subcontractors per project = 312,872 individual projects).
    To yield the estimated number of respondents, the Department 
estimates that, on a per capita basis, each covered construction 
contractor annually works

[[Page 62233]]

on an average of four projects subject to Davis-Bacon Act provisions. 
Thus, 312,872 individual projects divided by 4 Davis-Bacon projects per 
contractor equals 78,218 respondents.
    The Department also estimates that a typical contractor or 
subcontractor on average submits 23 certified payrolls per individual 
project. Thus, 312,872 individual projects multiplied by 23 weekly 
responses equal 7,196,056 total annual responses.
    The 7,196,056 responses multiplied by 54 minutes (estimated time to 
complete Form WH-347 or its equivalent) equal 388,587,024 minutes or 
6,476,450 hours (rounded).
    Public Comments: Stakeholders have expressed concerns about 
requiring submission of personal identifying information, particularly 
social security numbers and personal home addresses, on the weekly 
payroll submissions. The proposed regulations would remove the 
requirement for workers' addresses and social security numbers to 
appear on payrolls submitted to contracting agencies; however, federal 
construction contractors will still be required to maintain this 
information in the payroll records the contractors maintain for 
projects subject to Davis-Bacon Act provisions.
    The Department seeks additional public comments regarding the 
burdens imposed by information collections contained in this proposed 
rule. In particular, the Department seeks comments that: Evaluate 
whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; evaluate the accuracy of 
the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses. Commenters may send their views 
about these information collections to the Department in the same way 
as all other comments (e.g., through the regulations.gov Web site).
    An agency may not conduct an information collection unless it has a 
currently valid OMB approval and the Department has submitted the 
identified information collections contained in the proposed rule to 
the OMB for review under the PRA under Control Number 1215-0149. See 44 
U.S.C. 3507(d); 5 CFR 1320.11. While much of the information provided 
to the OMB in support of the information collection request appears in 
this preamble, interested parties may obtain a copy of the full 
supporting statement by sending a written request to the mail address 
shown in the Addresses section at the beginning of this preamble or by 
visiting the https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain Web site.
    In addition to having an opportunity to file comments with the 
Department, comments about the paperwork implications of the proposed 
regulations may be addressed to the OMB. Comments to the OMB should be 
directed to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention 
OMB Desk Officer for the Employment Standards Administration (ESA), 
Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, 
Telephone: 202-395-7316/Fax: 202-395-6974 (these are not toll-free 
numbers).
    Please note that the current authorization for the Davis-Bacon 
Certified Payroll information collection expires April 30, 2009. On 
October 1, 2008, the Department published a routine Paperwork Reduction 
Act notice in the Federal Register seeking comments on the existing 
Davis-Bacon information collection requirements that are also the 
subject of this proposal. 73 FR 57153. Any comments submitted to the 
October 1 request will be reviewed in light of the current proposal.

IV. Executive Order 12866; Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 
Fairness Act; Regulatory Flexibility

    This proposed rule is not economically significant within the 
meaning of Executive Order 12866, or a ``major rule'' under the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act or Section 801 of the Small Business 
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act.
    The Department believes that a reduction in the amount of 
information required on certified payrolls provided weekly under Davis-
Bacon is a reduction in regulatory compliance costs. While some 
contractors may have to slightly reconfigure their systems to produce 
the revised version, most have access to computerized systems that can 
easily be revised to remove data. Those contractors who currently use 
the optional WH Form will actually have an overall decrease of total 
administrative costs.
    Conclusion: The Department concludes that incorporating these 
changes into the Davis-Bacon regulations will not impose any measurable 
costs on any private or public sector entity.
    Furthermore, because the proposed rule will not impose any 
measurable costs on employers, the Department certifies that it would 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. Accordingly, the Department need not prepare an initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.). The Department has certified this conclusion to 
the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration.

V. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    This proposed rule has been reviewed in accordance with the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA). 2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq. For 
the purposes of the UMRA, the Department certifies that this rule does 
not impose any federal mandate that may result in increased 
expenditures by State, local, or tribal governments, or increased 
expenditures by the private sector, of more than $100 million in any 
year.

VI. Executive Order 13132 (Federalism)

    The Department has reviewed this rule in accordance with the 
Executive Order on Federalism (Executive Order 13132, 64 FR 43255, Aug. 
10, 1999). This rule does not have federalism implications as outlined 
in E.O. 13132. The rule does not have substantial direct effects on the 
states, on the relationship between the national government and the 
states, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government.

VII. Executive Order 13175, Indian Tribal Governments

    The Department has reviewed this rule under the terms of Executive 
Order 13175 and determined it did not have ``tribal implications.'' The 
rule does not have ``substantial direct effects on one or more Indian 
tribes, on the relationship between the federal government and Indian 
tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities between 
the federal government and Indian tribes.'' As a result, no tribal 
summary impact statement has been prepared.

VIII. Effects on Families

    The Department certifies that this rule will not adversely affect 
the well-being of families, as discussed under section 654 of the 
Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 1999.

[[Page 62234]]

IX. Executive Order 13045, Protection of Children

    The Department has reviewed this rule under the terms of Executive 
Order 13045 and determined this action is not subject to E.O. 13045 
because it is not economically significant as defined in E.O. 12866 and 
it does not impact the environmental health or safety risks of 
children.

X. Environmental Impact Assessment

    The Department has reviewed this rule in accordance with the 
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 
42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., the regulations of the Council of Environmental 
Quality, 40 CFR 1500 et seq., and the Departmental NEPA procedures, 29 
CFR part 11, and determined that this rule will not have a significant 
impact on the quality of the human environment. There is, thus, no 
corresponding environmental assessment or an environmental impact 
statement.

XI. Executive Order 13211, Energy Supply

    The Department has determined that this rule is not subject to 
Executive Order 13211. It will not have a significant adverse effect on 
the supply, distribution or use of energy.

XII. Executive Order 12630, Constitutionally Protected Property Rights

    The Department has determined that this rule is not subject to 
Executive Order 12630 because it does not involve implementation of a 
policy ``that has taking implications'' or that could impose 
limitations on private property use.

XIII. Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform Analysis

    The Department drafted and reviewed this proposed rule in 
accordance with Executive Order 12988 and determined that the rule will 
not unduly burden the federal court system. The rule was: (1) Reviewed 
to eliminate drafting errors and ambiguities; (2) written to minimize 
litigation; and (3) written to provide a clear legal standard for 
affected conduct and to promote burden reduction.

List of Subjects

29 CFR Part 3

    Government contracts, Labor, Paperwork, Law enforcement.

29 CFR Part 5

    Government contracts, Labor, Paperwork, Law enforcement.

    Signed at Washington, DC. this 14th day of October, 2008.
Victoria A. Lipnic,
Assistant Secretary, Employment Standards Administration.
Alexander J. Passantino,
Acting Administrator, Wage and Hour Division.
    For the reasons set forth above, the Department proposes to amend 
Title 29, Parts 3 and 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 3--CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS ON PUBLIC BUILDING OR PUBLIC 
WORK FINANCED IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY LOANS OR GRANTS FROM THE 
UNITED STATES

    1. The authority citation for Part 3 is proposed to be revised to 
read as follows:

    Authority: R.S. 161, sec. 2, 48 Stat. 848; Reorg. Plan No. 14 of 
1950, 64 Stat. 1267; 5 U.S.C. 301; 40 U.S.C. 3145; Secretary's Order 
01-2008; and Employment Standards Order No. 2001-01.

    2. Section 3.3 is amended by revising paragraph (b) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  3.3   Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages.

* * * * *
    (b) Each contractor or subcontractor engaged in the construction, 
prosecution, completion, or repair of any public building or public 
work, or building or work financed in whole or in part by loans or 
grants from the United States, shall furnish each week a statement with 
respect to the wages paid each of its employees engaged on work covered 
by this part 3 and part 5 of this title during the preceding weekly 
payroll period. This statement shall be executed by the contractor or 
subcontractor or by an authorized officer or employee of the contractor 
or subcontractor who supervises the payment of wages, and shall be on 
the back of Form WH 347, ``Payroll (For Contractors Optional Use)'' or 
on any form with identical wording. Copies of Form WH 347 may be 
obtained from the Government contracting or sponsoring agency or from 
the Wage and Hour Division Web site at https://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/
forms/wh347instr.htm or its successor site.
* * * * *

PART 5--LABOR STANDARDS PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS COVERING 
FEDERALLY FINANCED AND ASSISTED CONSTRUCTION (ALSO LABOR STANDARDS 
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO NONCONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS SUBJECT TO THE 
CONTRACT WORK HOURS AND SAFETY STANDARDS ACT)

    3. The authority citation for part 5 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; R.S. 161, 64 Stat. 1267; Reorganization 
Plan No. 14 of 1950, 5 U.S.C. appendix; 40 U.S.C. 3141 et seq.; 40 
U.S.C. 3145; 40 U.S.C. 3148; 40 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.; and the laws 
listed in 5.1(a) of this part; Secretary's Order 01-2008; and 
Employment Standards Order No. 2001-01.

    6. Section 5.5 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(3)(ii)(A) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  5.5  Contract provisions and related matters.

    (a) * * *
    (3) * * * (ii)(A) The contractor shall submit weekly for each week 
in which any contract work is performed a copy of all payrolls to the 
(write in name of appropriate federal agency) if the agency is a party 
to the contract, but if the agency is not such a party, the contractor 
will submit the payrolls to the applicant, sponsor, or owner, as the 
case may be, for transmission to the (write in name of agency). The 
payrolls submitted shall set out accurately and completely all of the 
information required to be maintained under 29 CFR 5.5(a)(3)(i), except 
that social security numbers and home addresses shall not be included 
on any weekly transmittals. The required weekly information may be 
submitted in any form desired. Optional Form WH-347 is available for 
this purpose from the Wage and Hour Division Web site at https://
www.dol.gov/esa/whd/forms/wh347instr.htm or its successor site. The 
prime contractor is responsible for the submission of copies of 
payrolls by all subcontractors.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. E8-24762 Filed 10-17-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-27-P